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Ezekiel and Daniel: Babylonian Crisis

  1. Lesson One
    Ezekiel's Prophetic Word (Ezekiel 1–24)
    19 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Ezekiel: Israel's Shame and Restoration (Ezekiel 25–39)
    22 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    Ezekiel's Distinctive Message (Ezekiel 40–48)
    24 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Daniel: Dreams and Prophecies (Daniel 1–3, 9–12)
    18 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Daniel: Kings and Kingdoms (Daniel 4–8)
    18 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Daniel’s story has deep roots in the Pentateuch. Like Joseph who was exiled to a foreign land, Daniel is committed to remaining faithful to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Both men are “exiled” in shame, face likely death and could be tempted to despair in a foreign land. Instead, they both trust in the God of their forefathers and discover that God has surprising plans for their futures. 

Both stories hinge on crises rooted in the mysterious dreams of foreign rulers. The Egyptian Pharaoh and Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar have dreams they find disturbing.

JosephDaniel
So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:8 ESV)Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams . . . The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand.” (Daniel 2:1-3 ESV)

When no one is able to interpret these royal dreams, the comedic arc of Joseph and Daniel’s stories begins its upswing. 

JosephDaniel
[Pharaoh:] I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. (Genesis 41:15 ESV)[Nebuchadnezzar:] I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. (Daniel 5:16, ESV)
Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” (Genesis 41:16 ESV)[Daniel:] This mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have . . . but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king. (Daniel 2:3 ESV)
And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me. (Genesis 41:24 ESV)Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in … but they could not make known to me its interpretation. (Daniel 4:7 ESV)
And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38 ESV)[Nebuchadnezzar:] At last Daniel came in before me . . . and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. (Daniel 4:8 ESV)

The outcome of this rise is also strikingly similar. Both men are clothed in royal garments and have a gold chain put around their neck. 

JosephDaniel
Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him ride in his second chariot. (Genesis 41:42-43 ESV)Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:29 ESV)

Tables adapted from: James M. Hamilton Jr., With the Clouds of Heaven, 2014, pp. 230-232.

Joseph and Daniel were also both brought out of a literal pit. In the next lesson, we’ll look at a later messianic figure in the Bible who also came out of a pit and had a royal status. That figure will take the comedic arc that we see here to a whole new level.