Darius in the book of daniel

Critics on daniel placement in canon jesus ben sirach historical issues linguistic issues indications of early date the 4 kingdoms issue video series. The bible, however, speaks of both cyrus and darius. I am not qualified enough to say that i can argue this case from a thorough knowledge of archaeology, but internal evidence within the scriptures appears to compel us. Darius the mede is mentioned in the book of daniel as king of babylon between belshazzar and cyrus the great, but he is not known to history, and no additional king can be placed between the known figures of belshazzar and cyrus. Darius the mede encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The final video in the dating of the book of daniel series. According to the bible, daniel was alive during the time of nebuchadnezzar, and esther was around the time of king xerxes. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss verses 12. This darius was not darius the persian, under whom the temple was built, as some have asserted, to invalidate the credibility of this book. Its the encouraging, satisfying triumph of faith, righteousness, and justice over wickedness and evil in high places. Once again in the book of daniel, we are reminded that god is able to deliver his people, even in a distant land. This king is called cyaxares ii by the greek historian xenophon, but is known by his throne name darius in the book of daniel. The fact that such an event should be given the same amount of space in scripture as the panoramic view of world history recorded in chapter 7 leads to the conclusion that, from gods viewpoint, this was an important event not only to daniel but to all students of scripture.

However, several internal inconsistencies give rise to certain questions and we are forced to ask. Nov 01, 2018 a historically controversial figure takes over the babylonian empire. I personally believe that this socalled darius the mede is the darius mentioned in chapters 5, 6 and 11 of the book of daniel but the darius mentioned in chapter 9 of the book of daniel may be a different darius. Darius the mede is a major character in daniel 6, and the vision of daniel 9 is said to have occurred during his reign. Daniel, considering the time of the captivity, daniel 9.

Daniel bridges the entire 70 years of the babylonian captivity from 605 to 536 b. Daniel, book of, a book of the third division of the hebrew bible, the hagiographa, named for a man daniel whose fortunes and predictions are the subject of the book. Cyrus did not make a hostile conquest of media, did not dethrone the last median king, and did not become the highest regent. He is a man who is unknown to history outside of the book of daniel. A study of the book of daniel gene taylor1preface the study of any of the old testament prophets is a worthwhile endeavor. The first half of the book chapters 16 contains stories in the third person about the experiences of daniel and his. In this video, we address the most controversial topic in the book of daniel on who was darius the mede.

The book of daniel is no exception for it provides a wealth of information to those who would diligently consider it and its teachings. So was it with darius and when he heard the accusation against daniel, he was. The first is the babylonian king whom daniel records was feasting when babylon fell dan. Darius the mede in the book of daniel orthodox christian.

The book of daniel is included in the listing of major prophets. With robert miano, andrew bongiorno, lance henriksen, kevin mccorkle. Provides archeological and historical proof for the identification of darius the mede and cyrus the persian, both found in the book of daniel. Daniel a nobleman like ezekiel, had been taken as a young man captive to babylon by nebuchadnezzar. The biblical book of daniel describes a figure called darius the mede, the son of ahasuerus, who is said to have assumed rule over the neobabylonian empire after the fall of babylon to a medopersian force dan 5. Belshazzar and darius the mede bible believers archaeology. We explore issues surrounding the figure darius the mede, as well as certain details concerning the visions in chapters 712, and the. This darius ruled for only two years 538536 bc and is best known as the ruler who promoted daniel to a high position in the kingdom and then cast him into the lions. The book of daniel our english versions of the old testament have the books arranged in sections. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Cyrus arrives in babylon 605 bc 515 bc 556 bc 560 bc 562 bc 586 bc 604 bc 603 bc 602 bc 553 bc 551 bc 539 bc 538 bc 53 6 bc 3rd year of the rule of jehoiakim.

A solution to his identity but daniel s book is far from consecutive. This language is in the passive voice, which is an odd way to describe cyrus actively conquering babylon. Darius the mede is mentioned in the book of daniel as king of babylon between belshazzar and cyrus the great, but he is not. The first half of the book chapters 16 contains stories in the third person about the experiences of daniel and his friends under kings nebuchadrezzar ii, belshazzar, darius i, and cyrus ii. He ends up taking back the cream of the crop, the most elite and noble israelites, to serve at his court in babylon. Unlike belshazzar and nebuchadnezzar, darius doesnt seem to have bad intentions. The only darius listed in the achaemenid dynasty is far too late to fit with the book of daniel. His legends of belshazzars feast in daniel 5 and darius the mede in daniel 6 demonstrate that. Apr 11, 2014 it is my contention that in the book of daniel, the author is not conflating the two figures, because in consecutive chapters nine and ten both kings are addressed as two separate people and interestingly enough, darius the mede precedes cyrus the persian chronologically. Which meant that daniel, served under king nebuchadnezzar, his son balthazar, then the persian king darius, who, according to daniel 9 is the son of xerxes. The first, chronologically, occurs in the book of daniel, where the ruler is called darius the mede daniel 6. Most scholars view him as a literary fiction, but some have tried to harmonise the book of daniel with history by identifying him with various known figures, notably cyrus or gobryas, the general who was first to enter babylon when it fell to the persians in 539 bce. Daniel and his associates are portrayed as jewish exiles in babylon during that period. But who is he and what does the writing on the wall have to do with it.

Daniel who through the book received revelations from god. There are three references to rulers named darius in the bible. The king said to daniel, may your god, whom you serve continually, rescue you. Correctly, two christian authors have compared daniels experience. Jan 02, 2020 in daniel 6, the satraps serving under king darius had daniel as one of their overseers. That very night, belshazzar is killed and darius the mede receives the kingdom. The first is the babylonian king whom daniel records was feasting when. A historically controversial figure takes over the babylonian empire. Darius the mede is first mentioned in the story of belshazzars feast.

Darius the mede and the four world empires in the book of. Feb 07, 2020 the final video in the dating of the book of daniel series. It pleased darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was daniel. Daniel as an example of boldness and faithfulness to god in the most difficult. Steven anderson says that daniel presents the reigns of darius and cyrus consecutively throughout the book, which means he intended two separate individuals. Daniel 5 informs the reader of belshazzar s defeat and the end of the babylonian kingdom, the head of gold of daniel 2. The book of daniel, also called the prophecy of daniel, a book of the old testament found in the ketuvim writings, the third section of the jewish canon, but placed among the prophets in the christian canon. The name darius is common in persian history, including darius the great 550486 bc, sometimes called darius i hystaspes ruled over the persian empire and he did organize the empire into satrapies but he ruled 18 years after the fall of babylon under cyrus. Feb 18, 2016 often a confusion which almost everyone faces.

The biblical book of daniel describes a figure called darius the mede, the son of ahasuerus, who is said to have assumed rule over the. In the old testament book of daniel darius the mede is mentioned 5. Daniel 6 the scheme of the administrators and the satraps. The absence of knowledge about him outside of the bible has lead most historians and. This book offers a most fascinating study from several. Outside of the pentateuch, no book of the ot has been subjected to as much scrutiny as the book of. Darius, the son of hystaspes the founder of the persoarian dynasty. The failure of daniels prophecies 2007 chris sandoval. Darius the mede is a major character in daniel 6, and the vision of daniel 9 is. Daniel, darius, the lions and the rebuilding of the temple. But god shuts up the mouths of the lions, and the next morning darius rejoices to find him unharmed. Jerusalem was conquered by the babylonians and many of their best young men were taken into captivity, including daniel.

The book of daniel, a book of the old testament found in the ketuvim writings, the third section of the jewish canon, but placed among the prophets in the christian canon. This darius is probably the same as astyages, the last king of the medes. After the sun had set, the administrators and the satraps came to darius to make sure that not another day would pass before daniel was thrown to the lions. His legends of belshazzars feast in daniel 5 and darius the mede in daniel 6 demonstrate that he could indulge in creative anachronism when he wanted to. In the first year of darius that is, immediately after the overthrow of the kingdom of babylon, which was the year of the jews deliverance from captivity. Daniel was gods mouthpiece to the gentile and jewish world, declaring gods current and future plans. Dec 04, 2018 a favorite target of critics of faith concerns two kings mentioned eight times each in the book of daniel. Foretold to occur in the days of the persians, greeks, and romans 3. Cyrus arrives in babylon 605 bc 515 bc 556 bc 560 bc 562 bc 586 bc 604 bc 603 bc 602 bc 553 bc 551 bc 539 bc 538 bc 53 6 bc 3rd year of the rule of jehoiakim mayjun.

Well, the darius mentioned in both books are not the same darius the mede, daniel 6. Daniels superior way of life earns him great respect in the babylonian government. Belshazzar, king of babylon, holds a great feast, during which a hand appears and writes on the wall. Timeline of the book of daniel welcome to threemacs. In this book, we learn that the rule of god would be especially manifested.

In daniel 6, the satraps serving under king darius had daniel as one of their overseers. He probably shouldnt have signed an order making everyone pray only to him for a month, but the story puts the blame for that more on the conniving band of wicked satraps. Ahasuerus was a name common to many of the kings of medopersia. These are often subdivided into major prophets and minor prophets. He is shown as the depicted as the one who conquered the babylonian empire and became king.

Darius the mede and the four world empires in the book of daniel. In chapter 9, the darius is said to be the son of ahasuerus, of the seed of the medes. Highlights from the book of daniel watchtower online library. Nine of the 12 chapters relate revelation through dreams and visions.

In daniel chapter 5, a babylonian king by the name of belshazzar mocks god by. The book of daniel begins with king nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of babylon, ransacking jerusalem. A historical study of contemporary theories rowley, h. The author of the book of daniel presumably daniel himself viewed the shadowy character of darius the mede as a separate ruler from cyrus the great. While daniel deservedly commands center stage of our text, much can be learned from king darius and even daniels peers, who seek to arrange his downfall and destruction. I am not qualified enough to say that i can argue this case from a thorough knowledge of archaeology, but internal evidence within the scriptures appears to compel us to come to the conclusion. The first half of the book chapters 16 contains stories in the third person about the experiences of daniel and his friends under kings nebuchadrezzar ii, belshazzar, darius i, and. May 29, 2019 according to the bible, daniel was alive during the time of nebuchadnezzar, and esther was around the time of king xerxes. Daniel continues to pray three times a day to god towards jerusalem.

Yet some people use it as a weapon to try to discredit the scriptures. Book of daniel is written in exile in babylon during the 6th century b. The book of daniel gives more information concerning the personal background of darius the mede than of belshazzar or even of nebuchadnezzar. Chapter 6 begins the stories with darius the mede, but chapter 7 relates a vision in the first year. This darius ruled for only two years 538536 bc and is best known as the ruler who promoted daniel to a high. Daniel was advanced by the king to the highest dignity, daniel 6. Wiseman, some historical problems in the book of daniel, notes on some problems in the book of daniel, 916. Cyrus the persian as darius the mede in the book of daniel.