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Bible Dictionaries
Daniel
Smith's Bible Dictionary
or Dan'iel. (judgment of God).
1. The second son of David, by Abigail, the Carmelitess. 1 Chronicles 3:1. In 2 Samuel 3:3, he is called Chileab. (B.C. About 1051).
2. The fourth of 'the greater prophets'. Nothing is known of his parentage or family. He appears, however, to have been of royal or noble descent, Daniel 1:3, and to have possessed considerable personal endowments. Daniel 1:4. He was taken to Babylon in "the third year of Jehoiakim" (B.C. 604), and trained for the king's service. He was divinely supported in his resolve to abstain from the "king's meat" for fear of defilement. Daniel 1:8-16.
At the close of his three years discipline, Daniel 1:5; Daniel 1:18, Daniel had an opportunity of exercising his peculiar gift, Daniel 1:17, of interpreting dreams, on the occasion of Nebuchadnezzar's decree against the Magi. Daniel 2:14. Ff. In consequence of his success, he was made "ruler of the whole province of Babylon." Daniel 2:48. He afterwards interpreted the second dream of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:8-27, and the handwriting on the wall which disturbed the feast of Belshazzar. Daniel 5:10-28.
At the accession of Darius, he was made first of the "three presidents" of the empire, Daniel 6:2, and was delivered from the lion's den, into which he had been cast for his faithfulness to the rites of his faith. Daniel 6:10-23. Compare Bel and the Dragon 29-42. See Daniel 14:29-42. (Apocrypha)
At the accession of Cyrus, he still retained his prosperity, Daniel 6:28, compare Daniel 1:21. Though he does not appear to have remained at Babylon, compare Daniel 1:21, and in "the third year of Cyrus" (B.C. 534), he saw his last recorded vision, on the banks of the Tigris. Daniel 10:1; Daniel 10:4.
In the prophecies of Ezekiel, mention is made of Daniel as a pattern of righteousness, Ezekiel 14:14; Ezekiel 14:20, and wisdom. Ezekiel 28:3. The narrative in Daniel 1:11 implies that Daniel was conspicuously distinguished for purity and knowledge at a very early age.
3. A descendant of Ithamar, who returned with Ezra. Ezra 8:2.
4. A priest who sealed the covenant drawn up by Nehemiah, B.C. 445. Nehemiah 10:6. He is perhaps the same as Daniel, 3.
These files are public domain.
Smith, William, Dr. Entry for 'Daniel'. Smith's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/sbd/d/daniel.html. 1901.
