READER NOTE: We begin a four-part series commentary identifying Daniel’s chapter 11 pronouns by giving or identifying the (NOUNS) persons, places, and things he prophecies. We do this by researching the secular history that parallels the same time periods of his chapter 11 prophecies. The reader can now read the scripture and then see the who’s who. This first article covers background for a better understanding of the time and events of Judah’s Babylonian captivity.

Introduction to Daniel

There is as much prophecy in the book of Daniel as there is controversy over its prophecies. Recall that Daniel was one of the first from the Kingdom of Judah to be removed from Judah by Nebuchadnezzar then taken to Babylon. He was a cohort of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of the fiery furnace fame; Daniel 1-3. Their Hebraic names were Hananiah (חֲנַנְיָה), Mishael (מִישָׁאֵל) and Azariah (עֲזַרְיָה) in the same order as I just mentioned.

AHA: Following, we play a bit with Bible Code name meanings. Please be reminded: Hananiah (Shadrach) means “God who is gracious”; Mishael (Meshach) means “Who is like God”; and Azariah (Abednego) means “God is our help, or God has helped”. BONUS: Daniel means “God is my judge.”  Reading these four meanings together reveals a New Testament message: God is gracious; who can be like God; God is my help/salvation; God is my judge. This is what the New Testament is all about, but announced in the Book of Daniel.

Just as contrasting as interesting are their Babylonian name meanings: Shadrach means “command of Aku”, Aku being the name of the Babylonian god of the moon; Meshach means “who is what Aku is?“ Abednego means “servant of Nebo,” the Babylonian god of wisdom.

While studying the Book of Daniel, we should also note that the name Babylon is used within prophecy often but does not always mean the geographic location. Just as often the use of the name Babylon is symbolic or analogous to events characteristic of end-time prophecies. One cannot look at the Book of Daniel without including some references to Revelations and a few other helping or supportive scriptures. This commentary will be Daniel’s near-future article and the parallel to End Time Tribulation prophecy.

In a broad sense, the Book of Daniel prophecies can be defined under four categories:

1. Prophecies of things in the distant future (End Time)
2. Prophecies of imminent events soon to happen
3. Prophecies of intermediary or mid-time events
4. Words of support and encouragement in the faith

There are only 12 chapters in the Book of Daniel unless one includes Susannah (c13) & Bel and the Dragon (c14). The Book of Daniel is relevant to current events at the time of Daniel; prophecies of things to shortly happen with a look into the near future, and our modern times all in one book of the Bible.

It will be our honor, and one of our greatest challenges, to translate Daniel 11 by inserting the actual historical character names and places instead of the generic place/descriptive names found in this scripture. In fact, there is reasonable thought that since these prophecies have dual times, places, and people, this is why Daniel used pronouns. Chapter 11 is probably the most controversial in this great Old Testament book. The contentiousness of chapter 11 is not so much over what it contains, but its pinpoint accuracy. It is so accurate, some theologians and wise guys insist it had to be written by others “after the fact”, then inserted into the Book of Daniel.

[JIV] Unfortunately, some Christians have difficulty understanding that our sovereign Lord is the Aleph–Tav; knowing the beginning and the end; God himself is the Alpha–Omega.

One will find a general overview outline of the Book of Daniel on the next page(s) and following article commentary. Then a by-name, place, and event translation of unnamed persons, places, and things in Daniel 11. If there is an error on our behalf when inserting names and place identities, as mentioned in chapter 11, we accept full responsibility. One can only be more confident if s/he looks things up for him or herself. If God or Jesus says it… don’t question it.

Historical background:
It helps when one can put an event or series of events into perspective within other historical events of secular history. Remember that the bible does not need to prove itself according to history. History needs to portray itself against the bible.

1. King Pekah of the Northern Kingdom of Israel along with his ally King Rezin of Aram, threatened Judah and the capital city of Jerusalem. Ahaz, the king of Judah, called upon King Pul [aka Tiglath-Pileser III] of Assyria to intervene. King Pul of Assyria consequently defeated the Kingdom of Israel; executed King Rezin of Aram (AKA: Damascus).
   1. Assyria was a Semitic nation, off spring of Shem, but not Israeli.
   NOTE: Shem also fathered the Israelis (Genesis 11:10-32)
2. Assyrians were offspring of Shem’s (a son of Noah) sons Elam and Asshur: Genesis 10:22, Ezra 4:9
3. During this time, Damascus, often called Aram, was not yet the capital of Syria. It was an independent and large city-state with its own king.
4. Assyrians attacked the Kingdom of Israel (ten northern tribes) initially dispersing the east Jordan tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in 732 B.C. [2 Kings 16:9]
5. 720 B.C.: Assyria invades the remaining tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel including a few cities within the northern borders of the Kingdom of Judah. All captives are exiled to unsettled lands of the middle east, toward east Europe, and north of the Caucus Mountains. NOTE: This is an amazing historical study.
   Look up Khazar Empire. Secularists will not identify this ancient empire as Hebrew. Why do we know the Khazar Empire was the dispersed people of the Kingdom of Israel. Judaism was their chosen religion. a few of their kings had names like Obadiah, Hezekiah, Manasseh I & II, Isaac, Zebulon, Aaron I & II, Benjamin, Joseph…does the reader need more convincing?
6. Daniel is a contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men lived in the southern Kingdom of Judah.
7. Daniel lived during the time of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, father and (grand)son kings of Babylon, and the Medo-Persian ruler Cyrus (King Darius the Mede).
8. He lived in Babylon during the entire 70-year captivity and a few years beyond.
9. Daniel never left Babylon. He continued in the service of their Persian conquerors.
10. Sequence of nations:
    • Israel was a nation under kings Saul, David, and Solomon. During their reigns, Israel co-existed with Assyria for some 120 years
      1. Israel divided: the Kingdom of Israel to the north [ten tribes] and the Kingdom of Judah to the south with 2 tribes plus stragglers from the northern kingdom who were faithful to Judaism and worship in Jerusalem.The ten tribes to the north are eventually dispersed; first by Tiglath-Pileser III [sometimes called King Pul], then Shalmaneser V, and finally by Sargon II; each a king of Assyria. This was around 740 B.C.E. to around 720 [?] B.C.E. The Kingdom of Judah continued to exist for another 120 plus years; until about 606 B.C.E. Babylon rebels against and overthrows Assyria; 637 B.C.E. to around 612 B.C.E.
      1. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades the Kingdom of Judah and begins a series of dispersions bringing Judean Jews, including Daniel, to Babylon. [Daniel 1:1-4]
         1. 605 B.C.; 597 B.C.; 586 B.C. [three periods of dispersion of Judah]
11. Daniel becomes an advisor and dream interpreter for Nebuchadnezzar [Daniel 2:1-49]
12. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face the fire and furnace [Daniel 3:1-30]
13. Nebuchadnezzar goes insane and eats grass with the wild animals of his kingdom [Daniel 4:1-37]. As Daniel was #2 in that kingdom at the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s mental lapse, it is conceivable he ruled Babylon thus protecting the insanity of Nebuchadnezzar.
    AHAMOMENT: Daniel chapter 4 was narrated or written by King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Read Daniel 4:1,2 (especially verse 4) to better understand. It appears that at this time in history, Nebuchadnezzar has accepted Daniel’s God as his own God.
14. Daniel interprets for *Belshazzar the writing on the wall from the finger of God [Daniel 5:1-31]
    1. *Belshazzar was the son or the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. He was overthrown by Medo-Persians (King Cyrus of Persia and General Darius the Mede). As Daniel had wasrned Belshazzar, he died the night of his overthrow
    1. King Cyrus, the first Persian ruler over Babylon, signs a decree releasing all Israeli captives within his newly conquered empire; [538 B.C. – Ezra 1:2-4; also 6:2-5]
       1. Cyrus was King of all Persia. In alliance with the Medes, Babylon fell. The lead General of the invading forces, a Mede named Darius, temporarily ruled Babylon.
15. Daniel and the Lions’ den under the Medo-Persian ruler of Babylon, King Darius [Daniel 6:1-28]
16. The prophetic future according to the dreams of Daniel
    1. The 4 beasts [Daniel 7:1-28] Daniel’s dream of the goat and the ram [Daniel 8:1-28] Daniels 70 week or years dream [Daniel 9:1-27]
17. Daniel views the future and end times (aha articles: “Are We There Yet”?) [Daniel 10:1 – 12:13]