![]() Babylonian courts? History establishes a measure of cultural interaction between the Greeks and the Babylonians. Think too: Would it really be unusual for a handful of Greek technical terms for specialty instruments to have been used in sixth-century b.c.e. Is it rational to use one Greek word as evidence that Daniel did not write this book? Consider, however, that less than 10 percent of classical Greek writings have survived to this day. It has not yet been found in ancient Greek texts, which means there is no tangible proof it was in use in the sixth century b.c.e. Ancient documents show that this word was also in use during the sixth century b.c.e.įinally, the Prophet Daniel used the word psanterin, linked to the Greek word psalterion. This word probably refers to some kind of bagpipe-type instrument. (The Greek kitharis had long changed to kithara by the second century b.c.e.) The transliteration of this word into Daniel’s Aramaic-as kitharos-actually matches more closely with the most ancient Greek form of the word, as used by Homer in the eighth century. This probably refers to a lyre, known to have been in use as early as the eighth century b.c.e.-some 200 years before the traditional dating of the book of Daniel. Does this prove that this book was written much later than the sixth century b.c.e.? They all refer to musical instruments, and they are all listed together, repeated four times throughout the same chapter: Daniel 3:5, 7, 10 and 15. The book does contain Greek words: threeof them. A number of words transliterated into the Hebrew and Aramaic are of foreign origin. ![]() The book of Daniel is written in Hebrew (chapter 1-2:4 and chapters 8-12) and Aramaic ( 2:4 through chapter 7). To the skeptics, these unconfirmed events must be the product of a late writer’s imagination. They also note that there are details in Daniel that have not been corroborated by ancient history or archaeology. For example, they claim that since Daniel used Greek words, his book must have been written during the later, deeply Hellenistic time period in Judea. The skeptics use several arguments to make their point. Critics say the book was written during the second century b.c.e., after many of the prophecies had come to pass. How can we know which is true?īible believers accept that Daniel wrote during the sixth century b.c.e., as described in the text. So the crucial question is: On which side of those events was Daniel written? This book is either powerful proof of divine revelation, or it is an outright fake. Many events in this book are powerfully corroborated by ancient texts and archaeological evidence. To the critics, it is impossible that such incredibly accurate prophecies could have been made in advance.Īmid this debate, one thing is certain: The historical events documented in the book of Daniel occurred. They say it was written after the fulfillment of its many “prophecies” and that it is simply a clever retelling of history. Critics, however, dismiss this book entirely. ![]() This book purports to forecast multiple world-shaking events, including the emergence of specific kings and the rise and fall of empires.īecause of its prophetic nature, many believers consider the book of Daniel evidence that a divine Being inspired the Bible. The book of Daniel is probably the key book in the debate about the authenticity of the Bible. From the November 2019 Watch Jerusalem Print Edition
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