Daniel

472 Pages·2015·8.804 MB·English

by  Carol A. Newsom and Brennan W. Breed

The Old Testament Library The Old Testament Library
. . . provides fresh and authoritative treat- GENESIS, A Commentary. Revised Edition. by gerhard von rad D The Old Testament Library The Old TesTamenT library
ments of important aspects of Old Testament THE BOOK OF EXODUS, A Critical, Theological Commentary. by brevard s. childs A
study through commentaries and general LEVITICUS, A Commentary. by erhard s. gerstenberger DANIEL
N
surveys. The contributors are scholars of NUMBERS, A Commentary. by martin noth
international standing. The editorial board DEUTERONOMY, A Commentary. by richard d. nelson I
consists of William P. Brown, William DEUTERONOMY, A Commentary. by gerhard von rad E Carol A. Newsom
JOSHUA, A Commentary. by richard d. nelson
Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old L
JUDGES, A Commentary. by susan niditch with Brennan W. Breed
Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
JUDGES, A Commentary. by j. alberto soggin
in Decatur, Georgia; Carol A. Newsom, RUTH, A Commentary. by kirsten nielsen
Charles Howard Candler Professor of Old i & ii samuel, A Commentary. by a. graeme auld “This literate and learned book is the
Testament, Candler School of Theology at I & II SAMUEL, A Commentary. by hans wilhelm hertzberg first major commentary on Daniel of the
Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia; and I & II KINGS, A Commentary. by marvin a. sweeney twenty-first-century. It is distinguished from
Brent A. Strawn, Professor of Old Testament, I & II CHRONICLES, A Commentary. by sara japhet previous commentaries by the extensive
EZRA-NEHEMIAH, A Commentary. by joseph blenkinsopp
Candler School of Theology at Emory treatment of the history of reception, but
ESTHER, A Commentary. by jon d. levenson
University in Atlanta, Georgia. it also provides an informed and engaging
THE BOOK OF JOB, A Commentary. by norman c. habel
THE PSALMS, A Commentary. by artur weiser treatment of the book in its ancient histori-
“Carol Newsom’s superb commentary on
PROVERBS, A Commentary. by richard j. clifford cal context.”
Daniel focuses on its central narrative—the
ECCLESIASTES, A Commentary. by james l. crenshaw —John J. Collins, Holmes Professor
quest to uncover the mysteries of heaven SONG OF SONGS, A Commentary. by j. cheryl exum of Old Testament Criticism and
and understand the true nature of God’s ISAIAH, A Commentary. by brevard s. childs Interpretation, Yale Divinity School
relationship with history and humanity. ISAIAH 1–12, A Commentary. Second Edition. by otto kaiser Daniel
Supplementary sections by Brennan Breed ISAIAH 13–39, A Commentary. by otto kaiser
outline the reception history of key themes ISAIAH 40–66, A Commentary. by claus westermann “Carol Newsom’s work is a worthy suc-
of each chapter of Daniel from the ancient JEREMIAH, A Commentary. by leslie c. allen cessor to Norman Porteous’s volume on
world to the present. The result is a brilliant LAMENTATIONS, A Commentary. by adele berlin Daniel, one of the great commentaries
EZEKIEL, A Commentary. by walther eichrodt
exposition of the most enigmatic book in DANIEL, A Commentary. by carol a. newsom with brennan w. breed in the original Old Testament Library.
the Hebrew Bible that details its profound DANIEL, A Commentary. by norman w. porteous Whereas Porteous wrote against the back-
influence on Western culture and sheds new HOSEA, A Commentary. by james l. mays ground of the biblical theology movement,
light on its meaning for readers both then JOEL AND OBADIAH, A Commentary. by john barton Dr. Newsom writes against the background
and now.” AMOS, A Commentary. by james l. mays wiC A of postcolonial study and interest in recep-
Reli—gioLno,r Cenoznoc oDridTioa mUmniavseor,s iPtyr oMfeosnsotrré oafl TJOHNEA BHO, OA KC oOmF mAeMnOtaSr,y .A b yC ojammmese lnitmabruy.r bgy jörg jeremias th BAR Com toifo nth hoisset oarpy,p aronadc hheesr ctoo minmteernptraertya tiiso anw. a(rIet
MICAH, A Commentary. by james l. mays REO m was an excellent move to get Brennan
CCaAnRdOleLr PAr.o fNesEsWorS oOf MO ldis Ttheset aCmheanrtl east CHaonwdalredr NHzeAAcHGhGUaAMrI, i AaHNhAD B9 A–Z1KE4KC aUHnKAd,R A ImANHaDl 1Za–Ec8P,h HAiA , CaNo ICmAomHm,e mnAt eaCnroytam. rbymy. debnya vtdaiadrvy l.i d.b pyle .jt .pe ejr.ts emern.s reonberts NNANL A. entary Bcchrrieatiepcdtae ltr o’qs p urreoesvctiieodpnet sis ouanbb sothauinsttt oiharliy ss.t)tou rdTyi reaasdn oidft i eolanacnahl-
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Literature. She is the author and editor of Volumes I and II. by rainer albertz R our twenty-first-century context will profit
many books and coeditor of the Women’s Bible INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT. Third Edition. by j. alberto soggin ES hugely from this commentary.”
Commentary, third edition. JEWISH WISDOM IN THE HELLENISTIC AGE. by john j. collins EO
D
OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY, Volumes I and II. by horst dietrich preuss M — John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard
BRENNAN W. BREED is Assistant Professor of Old OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY, Volumes I and II. by gerhard von rad Professor of Old Testament,
Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. THEOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, Volumes I and II. Fuller Theological Seminary
by walther eichrodt ËxHSKGQEy220808zv*:+:!:+:!
ISBN-13: 978-0-664-22080-8 A Commentary by CAROL A. NEWSOM
with BRENNAN W. BREED
www.wjkbooks.com
“This literate and learned book is the first major commentary on Daniel of the
twenty-first century. It is distinguished from previous commentaries by the
extensive treatment of the history of reception, but it also provides an informed
and engaging treatment of the book in its ancient historical context.”
—John J. Collins, Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism
and Interpretation, Yale Divinity School
“Carol Newsom’s work is a worthy successor to Norman Porteous’s volume on
Daniel, one of the great commentaries in the original Old Testament Library.
Whereas Porteous wrote against the background of the biblical theology move-
ment, Dr. Newsom writes against the background of postcolonial study and
interest in reception history, and her commentary is aware of those approaches
to interpretation. (It was an excellent move to get Brennan Breed to provide sub-
stantial studies of each chapter’s reception history.) Traditional critical ques-
tions about history and language also get thorough and judicious consideration.
Serious students of Daniel in our twenty-first-century context will profit hugely
from this commentary.”
—John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament,
Fuller Theological Seminary
“Carol Newsom’s superb commentary on Daniel focuses on its central nar-
rative—the quest to uncover the mysteries of heaven and understand the true
nature of God’s relationship with history and humanity. Supplementary sections
by Brennan Breed outline the reception history of key themes of each chapter
of Daniel from the ancient world to the present. The result is a brilliant exposi-
tion of the most enigmatic book in the Hebrew Bible that details its profound
influence on Western culture and sheds new light on its meaning for readers
both then and now.”
—Lorenzo DiTommaso, Professor of Religion,
Concordia University Montréal
Newsom-Daniel.indb 1 9/17/14 12:08 PM
DANIeL
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THe OLD TeSTAMeNT LIBRARY
editorial Advisory Board
William P. BroWn
Carol a. neWsom
Brent a. straWn
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Carol A. Newsom
with Brennan W. Breed
A Commentary
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© 2014 Carol A. Newsom
First edition
Published by Westminster John Knox Press
Louisville, Kentucky
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publisher. For information, address Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon
Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396. Or contact us online at www.wjkbooks.com.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations outside the book of Daniel, with slight
adaptation, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989
by the Division of Christian education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ
in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. Other versions occasionally cited are listed
with the Abbreviations. Daniel is translated by the author.
See pp. xv–xvi, “Acknowledgments and Credits,” for other permission information.
Book design by Jennifer K. Cox
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Newsom, Carol A. (Carol Ann), 1950–
Daniel : a commentary / Carol A. Newsom, with Brennan W. Breed.—First edition.
pages cm.—(The Old Testament library)
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 978-0-664-22080-8 (hbk : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-0-664-26016-3 (pbk : alk.
paper) 1. Bible. Daniel—Commentaries. I. Breed, Brennan W. II. Title.
BS1555.53.N49 2014
224'.507—dc23
2014016541
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
Most Westminster John Knox Press books are available at special quantity discounts
when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, and special-interest groups.
For more information, please e-mail [email protected].
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To my students
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CONTeNTS
List of Figures ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments and Credits xv
Abbreviations xvii
Bibliography xxiii
Introduction 1
The Masoretic Book of Daniel in Literary Context 2
Texts and Versions 3
The Masoretic Text and Qumran 3
Greek Versions (lxx) 4
Non-Masoretic Danielic Compositions 5
Composition and Development of Daniel mt 6
Genres 12
The Court Tales: Setting and Social Function 12
Danielic Court Tales: Accommodationist or Resistance Literature? 15
The Apocalyptic Dream Visions: Origins, Genre, and Rhetoric 18
The Social Location of the Authors of Daniel 21
The Historical Context of Daniel 7–12 23
History of Daniel’s Reception, by Brennan W. Breed 28
CommentAry
Daniel 1–6 exiled Jews and Gentile Kings: Lessons in
Knowledge and Power 33
1:1–4:37 (4:34) The education of King Nebuchadnezzar 33
1:1–21 Agency, Knowledge, and Power 35
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viii Contents
2:1–49 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: The end of Divine
Delegation of Sovereignty 59
excursus 1: Origin and Development of the
Four-Kingdoms Schema 80
3:1–30 The Statue of Gold: A Clash of Sovereignties 97
4:1–37 Hubris and Humiliation, Arrogance
(3:31–4:34) and Understanding 124
excursus 2: The Harran B Inscription
and Daniel 4 130
excursus 3: Prayer of Nabonidus (4Q242) 132
5:1–6:28 The education of Feckless Kings 158
5:1–31 Belshazzar and the Handwriting on the Wall:
(5:1–6:1) A Lesson Belatedly Learned 159
6:1–28 Darius and the Pit of Lions: A Lesson
(2–29) Gratefully Learned 186
Daniel 7–12 the eschatological Clash of Sovereignties 211
7:1–28 Revisiting the end of Divine Delegation of
Sovereignty in a New Context 212
excursus 4: The Divine Throne, Judgment
Scenes, and Daniel 7:9–10 227
8:1–27 Ironies of Power: Breaking the Horn That
Challenges Heaven 252
9:1–27 Prophecy and the Deep Structures of History 283
10:1–12:13 Using History’s Deep Structures to Predict
the Future 320
10:1–11:2a Revelation and Sublime Terror 328
excursus 5: Michael 332
11:2b–45 History as Revelation 336
excursus 6: Skeleton Key to Daniel 11 338
12:1–13 Revelation of the end 360
Index of Sources Up to reformation times 375
Index of Subjects and Authors 396
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LIST OF FIGUReS
1. Manuscript page from the Book of Jamasp 32
2. Stone relief from the South-West Palace of Sennacherib, prisoners
playing lyres 43
3. Stone panel from the Palace of Sennacherib 44
4. Sculpture of Daniel the Prophet by Antônio Francisco Lisboa
(“Aleijadinho”) 57
5. “Daniel’s Dream Map” in Eine Heerpredigt wider den Türken,
Martin Luther, 1542 91
6. An illuminated vellum sheet illustrating Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
and its interpretation 96
7. Limestone relief from the east stairway of the Apadana in Persepolis
(5th c. B.C.e.) 105
8. Three youths in fiery furnace under the protection of archangel
Michael (10th century) 123
9. Stele of Nabonidus 129
10. Reconstruction drawing of the Ishtar Gate in Babylon (1918) 147
11. Nebuchadnezzar with Blue Flowers and White Dog (1969)
by Arthur Boyd 157
12. The Standard of Ur, side showing scenes of peace 167
13. Belshazzar’s Feast (ca. 1636–38) by Rembrandt Harmensz
van Rijn 169
14. The Handwriting Upon the Wall (1803) by James Gillray 184
15. Seal of Darius 199
16. Daniel in the Lions’ Den (ca. 1614/16) by Peter Paul Rubens 200
17. Daniel in the Lions’ Den. Two-Sided Pendant (1200 or later) 205
18. The Archangel Michael. Two-Sided Pendant (1200 or later) 206
19. Manuscript page from the Las Huelgas Beatus (1220) 250
20. A manuscript of the book of Jeremiah from Qumran (4QJerb) 291
21. Book of Daniel by Clarence Larkin 319
22. Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks” by Clarence Larkin 320
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