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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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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

Did you know that the book of Daniel could have been called Belteshazzar?

Read Daniel 1.

If you have been traveling with us in Bible Journey through the Old Testament, the opening lines of this book will recall to you stories from the historical books. There we learned that Babylon engaged in a series of invasions of Judah, eventually leading to the total destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of a number of survivors. 

In Daniel 1, we learn a bit more detail about Babylon’s policy of exiling conquered peoples. At least part of their objective was to take youths from the upper course for training in service to the royal court. Daniel and his fellow Israelite youths were to be completely acculturated into Babylonian culture and society. One of the first things the Babylonians did with these youths was to give them new names. Thus, Daniel received the name Belteshazzar.

  1. Why do you think the Babylonians gave these exiled youths new names?
  1. Given what we learned about the state of Judah before its destruction by Babylon—especially with a view to their worship of YHWH—are the actions of Daniel and his companions surprising? Why?
  1. From this chapter, what characteristics do you observe in Daniel?