In my last post, I argued that Jeremiah’s Aramaic declaration is directly linked to the Aramaic section of Daniel. In fact, this verse and its corresponding chapters in Daniel are exactly what one would expect in light of Israel’s history with Aramaic as well as its role within the writings…
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Answering an Aramaic Enigma: Part Three
Daniel’s Aramaic chapters stand out as a distinct literary segment written in an “unauthorized” language. Why would the author of this book suddenly shift languages midsentence to compose only part of Daniel in a language that had never been used to compose Hebrew Scripture? To answer this question, we will…
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Answering an Aramaic Enigma: Part Two
Over the past three posts, we have sought out the reasons behind the Aramaic composition of Daniel 2–7. Our investigation has required us to set aside the assumption that the Bible is merely a collection of human writings. This step may feel backwards and ignorant—a return to pre-scientific ideas of…
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Answering an Aramaic Enigma: Part One
Men have argued that stripping Scripture of its inerrancy and historicity doesn’t affect its value as God’s inspired word. Nothing could be further from the truth; these are merely the words of men who would rejoice in the quiet of a graveyard. If we gag God in our hearts, how…
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The First Riddle: Part Two
We are on a quest to understand why nearly half of the Book of Daniel is written in Aramaic, a situation unparalleled in the rest of Scripture. Aramaic is the minor player of the three languages that compose the Bible, appearing infrequently and only in scattered segments (Ezra 4:11–16; 7:11–26),…
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The First Riddle: Part One
Much is said about the Bible and, unfortunately, most of it is faulty. The Book of Daniel is no exception; in fact, this book’s remarkable features have made it a magnet for mystics and skeptics alike. Fortunately, the Scripture is given to us as for our learning, so we can…
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The Third Unknown of Daniel 2: An Unknown Message
God chose a strange dreamer and an odd interpreter, so we should expect by now that the dream itself would be something off the charts. Let’s dig into this challenging dream, beginning with the question of relevance: why is this dream important anyway?
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Of Miles & Malls: Why We Misread Scripture
So far, we’ve considered two of three remarkable features of Daniel 2. Both the unprecedented nature of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s prophetic calling are meant to catch our attention. Why is it then that these developments are missed entirely by avid readers of Scripture? This question is worth considering, but…
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Daniel, the (Lonely) Prophet
As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:17 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Daniel 2:1…
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Daniel, the (Un)Prophet
Who doesn’t like “easy” when tools are involved? Speedy, simple installations and repairs are a big plus for me, but “wishes aren’t fishes,” and I find that most hardware jobs are much more difficult than they appear. Objects rust and clog, drill bits break, and kits arrive lacking the hardware…
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Three Unknowns of Daniel 2: Part Two
God had yet another surprise in store for captive Israel, embodied in the form of an impromptu prophet. Daniel came out of nowhere and became a prophet unlike any before him. In fact, had the Lord Jesus not called him a prophet (Mt. 24:15) we might have wondered what to…
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Three Unknowns of Daniel 2: Part One
Familiarity breeds contempt—especially in Bible study! The story of Daniel’s miraculous interpretation of the king’s dream is standard issue material for Sunday Schools and required reading for almost any study on prophecy. But for all its familiarity, this passage presents three key unknowns, which we would do well to consider.…
