DANIEL (dan'i-el or yel), (Heb. daw nee-yale', God is my judge).
1. A celebrated prophet in the Chaldean and Persian period. There are in the Bible two other persons of the same name—a son of David (t Chron. iii:i), and a Levite of the race of Ithamar (Ezra viii :2; Neh. x :6).
(1) Early Life. Daniel was descended from one of the highest families in Judah, if not even of royal blood (Dan. i :3 ; comp. Joseph. x:io, ). Jerusalem was thus probably his birth place, though the passage (Dan. ix:24) quoted in favor of that opinion, is considered by many commentators as not at all conclusive.
We find the lad Daniel, at the age of twelve or sixteen years, already in Babylon, whither he had been carried, together with three other Hebrew youths of rank, Ananiah, Mishael and Arariah, at the first deportation of the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim.
(2) Enters the King's Service. He and his companions were obliged to enter the service of the royal court of Babylon, on which occasion he received the Clialdxan name of Belshat.s.ar (i. e., Bell prineeps, princeps cui Belus favet), accord ing to eastern custom when a change takes place in one's condition of life, and more especially if his personal liberty is thereby affected (comp. 2 Kings xxiii :34 ; xxiv :t7 ; Esth. ii :7 ; Ezra v: 14).
In this his new career, Daniel received that thorough polish of education which Oriental eti quette renders indispensable in a courtier (comp. id :6; Plat. il/cib, sec. 37), and was more espe cially ;instructed 'in the writing and speaking Chaldean' (Dan. i :4). That Daniel had distin guished himself, and already at an early period acquired renown for high wisdom, piety and strict observance of the Mosaic law (comp. Ezek. xiv: 14, 20; xxviii:3; Dan. i :8-16) is very evident.
A proper opportunity of evincing both the acute ness of his mind and his religious notions soon presented itself in the custom of the Eastern courts to entertain the officers attached to them from the royal table (Athenxus, iv:to, p. 145, ed. Casaub). Daniel was thus exposed to the tempta tion of partaking of unclean food, and of partici pating in the idolatrous ceremonies attendant on heathen banquets. His prudent proceedings, wise
bearing and absolute refusal to comply with such customs were crowned with the Divine blessing and had the most splendid results.
(3) Interprets Dreams. After the lapse of the three years fixed for his education, Daniel was attached to the court of Nebuchadnezzar, where, by the Divine aid, he succeeded in interpreting a dream of that prince to his satisfaction, by which means—as Joseph of old in Egypt—he rose into high favor with the king, and was entrusted with two important offices—the governorship of the province of Babylon and the head inspectorship of the sacerdotal caste (Dan. ii :48).
Considerably later, in the reign of Nebuchad nezzar, we find Daniel interpreting another dream of the king's, to the effect that, in punishment of his pride, he was to lose, for a time, his throne, but to be again restored to it after his humiliation had been completed (Dan. iv). Here he dis plays not only the most touching anxiety, love, loyalty and concern for his princely benefactor, but also the energy and solemnity becoming his position, pointing out with vigor and power the only course left for the monarch to pursue for his peace and welfare.
(4) In Retirement. Under the unworthy suc cessors of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel and his de• servings seem to have been forgotten, and he was removed from his high posts. His situation at court appears to have been confined to a very inferior office (comp. Dan. viii :27) ; neither is it likely that he should have retained his rank as head inspector of the order of magians in a country where these were the principal actors in effecting changes in the administration whenever a new succession to the throne took place.
We thus lose sight of Daniel until the first and third year of King Belshazzar (Dan. v :7, 8), generally understood to have been the last king of Babylon. He was regent or co-king with his father, Nabonidus, and was slain when the Per sians obtained the city. (See BELSHAZZAR ; BABY