title: Daniel Believers Church Bible Commentary author: Lederach, Paul M. publisher: Herald Press isbn10 | asin: 0836136632 print isbn13: 9780836136630 ebook isbn13: 9780585234335 language: English subject Bible.--O.T.--Daniel--Commentaries. publication date: 1994 lcc: BS1555.3.L43 1994eb ddc: 224/.5077 subject: Bible.--O.T.--Daniel--Commentaries. Page 1 Elmer A. Martens and Willard M. Swartley, Editors Page 2 EDITORIAL COUNCIL David W. Baker Brethren Church Estella B. Horning Church of the Brethren Robert B. Ives Brethren in Christ Church Lydia Harder General Conference Mennonite Church Gordon H. Matties Mennonite Brethren Church Paul M. Zehr Mennnonite Church OLD TESTAMENT EDITOR Elmer A. Martens Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary Fresno, California NEW TESTAMENT EDITORS Willard M. Swartley Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries Elkhart, Indiana Howard H. Charles (for Matthew) Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries Elkhart, Indiana Page 3 Daniel Paul M. Lederach Page 4 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lederach, Paul M. Daniel / Paul M. Lederach. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8361-3663-2 1. Bible. O.T. DanielCommentaries. I. Bible. O.T. Daniel. English. New Revised Standard. 1994. II. Title. BS1555.3.L43 1994 224'.5077dc20 94-19516 CIP The paper used in this publication is recycled and meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV), copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. It is used by permission, as are other versions used briefly in making comparisons: JB, Jerusalem Bible; KJV, King James Version; NIV, New International Version, REB, Revised English Bible; RSV, Revised Standard Version; TEV, Today's English Version (Good News Bible). BELIEVERS CHURCH BIBLE COMMENTARY: DANIEL Copyright © 1994 by Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa. 15683 Published simultaneously in Canada by Herald Press, Waterloo, Ont. N2L 6H7. All rights reserved Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 94-19516 International Standard Book Number: 0-8361-3663-2 Printed in the United States of America Cover by Merrill R. Miller 03 02 01 00 99 98 97 96 95 94 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Page 5 To Mary, my spouse of over forty years, Proverbs 31:28-29 Page 6 BELIEVERS CHURCH BIBLE COMMENTARY VOLUMES AVAILABLE TO 1995 Old Testament Genesis, by Eugene F. Roop Jeremiah, by Elmer A. Martens Daniel, by Paul M. Lederach New Testament Matthew, by Richard B. Gardner Acts, by Chalmer E. Faw Colossians, Philemon, by Ernest D. Martin 1 and 2 Thessalonians, by Jacob W. Elias Other Volumes in Process Page 7 CONTENTS Series Foreword 9 Author's Preface 11 Becoming Acquainted 16 Chart of the Book of Daniel 21 Part 1: Introduction, 1:1-21 (in Hebrew) Faithfulness in an Alien World, 1:1-21 30 Part 2: A Tract to the Nations, 2:1-7:28 (2:4b-7:28 in Aramaic) Chart of A Tract to the Nations 55 God the Revealer: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream, 2:1-49 57 God the Deliverer: Escape from the Fiery Furnace, 3:1-30 76 The God Who Humbles the Proud: 91 Nebuchadnezzar Admits the Rule of God, 4:1-37 The God to Be Honored: Belshazzar's Feast, 5:1-30 109 The Living God: Rescue from the Lions' Den, 6:1-28 125 The Rule of God, His Angels, and His People: 148 Daniel's Dream, 7:1-28