The josephus trilogy, a novel by lion feuchtwanger. Here is the passage, he is shown daniel, then showed favor to the jews since he was impressed the jews predicted his rise to power. This view was first developed by the brilliant antichristian porphyry in. The forums in the christian congregations category are now open only to christian members.
Also, josephus records an incident during the time of alexander the great which supports the early authorship. The book of daniel biblical hermeneutics stack exchange. The hebrew scriptures were probably originally canonized into a twofold division. Christian members please remember to read the statement of purpose threads for each forum within christian congregations before posting in the forum. Was the biblical book of daniel written in the 6th century. After all, they reason, alexander could not have been shown a book that had not been written. Josephus, antiquities book x early jewish writings. Josephus on alexander the great and the book of daniel for his.
Generally, the maccabeean theory holds that the book of daniel was written around. Alexander preceded antiochus epiphanes by 150 years. Which means, according to josephus, that the book of daniel was written about b. There are other books written by josephus which need to be looked at as well that have more depth. Many bible commentaries refer to the work of josephus as an historian. In the book of daniel in the hebrew scriptures, or old testament. Josephus on alexander the great and the book of daniel. If you are following the math you will know that 250 bc is chronologically prior to 165 ad.
The four visions that make up the final part of daniel s book chapters 712 fall into chronological order, just as the narratives of chapters 16 did. Documents written in 5th century bce egypt 495 bce to 402 bce reveal unique textual and linguistic styles from that era. Whereupon a book was found at ecbatana, in the tower that was in media, wherein was written as follows. His complete writings, books, and antiquities were translated by william. What is fascinating is that the author, ezekiel, refers to daniel in ezekiel 14. Josephus also tells us that when alexander the great, who is foretold in daniels prophecies dan 8. However, silva also has some other classic books, as he had written 3 fiction novels prior to the allon book, 2 of them starring recurring characters in the michael osbourne series. One argument is that alexander is shown a book that was not yet written. For instance, even archskeptic richard carrier assumes a sixth century date for the book of ezekiel. The church father origen rooted out and burned copies of josephus, because josephus did not mention jesus. This date is very difficult to reconcile with the actual historical evidence. By comparing the texts of the elephantine papyri to the texts of daniel, scholars have concluded that the textual style of daniel places the book within the era of the 5th century bce. When on a tour in israel our guide also made reference to his writings. When the book of daniel was shown to alexander the great d.
Liberals hold that the book of daniel was written in the late second century. As a jewish writer living in the 90s ad, josephus would have believed the book of daniel came from a historical daniel. The book that was not yet written of course is the book of daniel. Most modern nonconservative scholars believe that daniel or at least the second half of daniel, the section containing the passages in question was written by someone other than daniel either during these events or shortly thereafter. While this is not solid proof, it is consistent with the next fact. It begins in hebrew, and then switches in the middle of 2. Flavius josephus books list of books by author flavius. If you love history, and love to read this is a great book. The difference between divine inspiration and prophecy. The church father origen rooted out and burned copies of.
The first six chapters are the history section, telling of a jew named daniel of royal descent, who was taken captive along with the rest of the people from the city of jerusalem. Could chapters 1011 be a very early interpolation, since josephus wrote that there were many books plural of daniel, and that a scroll ends. A portion of the book of daniel was written in aramaic, the language of the gentiles of that day. The source material for the xian new testament gospels.
Flavius josephus complete works and writings bible study tools. Daniel as scripture perhaps the most important point to ask in dating the book of daniel is when it began to be regarded as scripture. A good deal of biblical scholarship on the book of daniel assumes that daniel 7 12 was written after 165 b. In both the hebrew and greek canons the book is titled after its main character, daniel. Introduction to daniel bible exposition commentary. Therefore, the book of daniel was made part of the biblical section of ketuvim. Cyrus the king, in the first year of his reign, commanded that the temple should be built in jerusalem. Daniel silva is an american author of spy thriller and historical fiction novels.
The works of flavius josephus ultimate bible reference. Josephus wrote that alexander the great personally read. Josephus was clearly of the opinion that the book of daniel was in existence prior to the arrival of alexander in the fourth century before christ. The original source material for the xian new testament gospels. About the same time also the king of assyria wrote an epistle to hezekiah.
Containing twenty books of the jewish antiquities, seven books of the jewish war, and the life of josephus, written by himself. Daniel is in fact josephus primary source of history in book 10 of his antiquities. Flavius josephus eyewitness to romes firstcentury conquest of judea, mireille hadaslebel, macmillan 1993, simon and schuster 2001. Flavius josephus was a famous jewish historian, priest, and scholar.
Daniel, book of the book of daniel was written during the persecutions of israel by the syrian king antiochus epiphanes. So rather than accept daniel s book as a work inspired by god through the jewish prophet in babylon during the sixth century b. Whether daniel was still in public office, we do not know for sure, yet daniel 1. Long standing jewish tradition says the book of daniel existed before 450 bc. Daniel overview john gills exposition on the whole bible. That he wrote books, which were received, read, and believed by the jews as of god, is affirmed by josephus f6 antiqu. But before we look at josephus we need to look at a couple of other old friends, namely aristotle and isaac newton. Pdf josephus, daniel, and the flavian house steve mason. Porphyry determined that daniel must have written the. The illustrations and information complements the bible which enhances scripture.
Thirdly, and to follow on, i have always loved the story of alexander the great as recounted by josephus who wrote about 80 ad. Most critics widely accept the book of ezekiel as being written between 586 bc and 538 bc. A good deal of biblical scholarship on the book of daniel assumes that daniel 712 was written after 165 b. Alexander reads about himself in the book of daniel united.
Accordingly arioch informed the king of what daniel desired. To further unlock the book of daniel involves a look again at our good friend josephus. The book of daniel lesson 10 chap 10, 11, 12 by walter c. But since accusations that daniel was a fraud werent made yet for centuries when josephus wrote this he had no motive to lie or make up his account. Porphyry determined that daniel must have written the book in hindsight, not in advance. Now concerning this sennacherib herodotus also says, in the second book of his. The book of daniel that you and i read today was and is there in the septuagint. Josephus mentions most of the first chiasm, which was written in aramaic not hebrew, but provides only sparse information regarding the jewish portion second chiasm, which was predictive prophecy alluding to eventual destruction of the roman empire by. Josephus mentions most of the first chiasm, which was written in aramaic not hebrew, but provides only sparse information regarding the jewish portion. Alexander reads about himself in the book of daniel. Josephus believed that the book of daniel was shown to alexander the great, when he came to jerusalem in 330 bc. Works of flavius josephus translated by william whiston 1737 this work is in the public domain.
Copy freely war of the jews antiquities of the jews autobiography concerning hades against apion josephus was born joseph ben mattathias in 37 c. His complete writings, books, and antiquities were translated by william whiston. Josephus asserts that alexander the great was shown the prophecies in daniel by the high priest juddua, and was so delighted that he offered to confer favor on the jews. Josephus also has no word of the discovery of daniel, although he relates the finding of the book of. Josephus denies embellishment, and as noted, does not contradict the book of daniel in any points other than whether daniel received onethird of the kingdom from belshazzar versus was third in command as noted in the masoretic text. The book of daniel is an apocalyptic of the old testament.
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