Can God Deliver His Servants? Two Theological Problems in the Daniel Narratives (Dan 1:9; 3:17–18)
In: Vetus TestamentumSearch for other papers by Naama Golan in
Current site
Google Scholar
Search for other papers by Shai Gordin in
Current site
Google Scholar
Abstract
This article addresses two cases from the narratives in Daniel in which a similar theological question arises concerning the uncertainty of God’s ability to deliver his servants: (1) The chief officer’s denial of Daniels’ request (Dan 1:10) despite the fact that God granted Daniel grace and compassion from the chief officer, and (2) the speech of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan 3:17–18), in which they entertain the possibility that God will not, or perhaps cannot, save them. Commentators and translators throughout the generations have struggled with these theological problems, and we can identify a clear trend seeking to read the relevant verses in a way that removes the uncertainty, replacing it with certain faith in God’s deliverance.
In this article, we demonstrate how this interpretive trend surprisingly continues even with modern biblical scholars. Based on a literary analysis, we suggest that reading the MT version without altering it to conform with certain theological preconceptions may shed new light on the Daniel narratives, thereby exposing their deep and complex message.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
-
Altschuler, Yehiel Hillel. Mezudat David. Livorno: Kashtilo Press, 1781. (Hebrew)
-
Amara, Dalia. “The Old Greek Version of the Book of Daniel.” Ph.D. dissertation. Beer Sheba, 2006.
-
Assis, Elie. Self-Interest or Communal Interest: An Ideology of Leadership in the Gideon, Abimelech and Jephthah Narratives (Judg 6–12). VTSup 106. Leiden: Brill, 2005.
-
Assis, Elie. The Book of Joel: A Prophet Between Calamity and Hope. New York: Bloomsbury, 2013.
-
Beaulieu, Paul A. “The Babylonian Background of the Motif of the Fiery Furnace in Daniel 3.” JBL 128 (2009): 273–290.
-
Cathcart, Kevin J., and Robert P. Gordon. The Targum of the Minor Prophets: Translated, with a Critical Introduction, Apparatus and Notes. ArBib 14. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1989.
-
Charles, Robert Henry. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1929.
-
Collins, John J. A Commentary on the Book of Daniel. Hermeneia 16. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1993.
-
Cook, John A. “Grammar and Theology in Daniel 3:16–18.” BBR 28 (2018): 367–380.
-
Coxon, Peter W. “Daniel III 17: A Linguistic and Theological Problem.” VT 26 (1976): 400–409.
-
Crenshaw, James L. “The Expression mî yôdēaʿ in the Hebrew Bible.” VT 36 (1986): 274–288.
-
Crenshaw, James L. Joel. AB 32. New York: Doubleday, 1995.
-
Crenshaw, James L. “Freeing the Imagination: The Conclusion to the Book of Joel.” Pages 129–147 in Prophecy and Prophets. Edited by Yehoshua Gitay. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997.
-
Dentan, Robert C. “The Literary Affinities of Exodus XXXIV 6f.” VT 13 (1963): 34–51.
-
Dozeman, Thomas B. “Inner-Biblical Interpretation of Yahweh’s Gracious and Compassionate Character.” JBL 108 (1989): 207–223.
-
Driver, Samuel R. The Book of Daniel. CBSC 19. Cambridge: University Press, 1912.
-
Ha-Cohen, Shemu’el, and Yehuda Keil. Daniel. Da‘at Mikra. Jerusalem: Mosad ha-Rav Ḳuḳ, 1994. (Hebrew)
-
Hurowitz, Victor Avigdor. “Three Biblical Expressions for Being Merciful in Light of Akkadian and Aramaic.” Pages 359–368 in Texts, Temples, and Traditions: A Tribute to Menahem Haran. Edited by Michael V. Fox et al. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1996.
-
Lambert, Meir. The Book of Daniel. Torah Nevi’im and Ketuvim with a Scientific Commentary 12. Edited by Abraham Kahana. Kiev: Shiftil Press, 1906. (Hebrew)
-
Lenglet, Adrien. “La Structure Litteraire de Daniel 2–7.” Bib 53 (1972): 169–190.
-
Pietersma, Albert, and Benjamin G. Wright, eds. A New English Translation of the Septuagint. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
-
Prinsloo, Willem S. The Theology of the Book of Joel. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1985.
-
Segal, Michael. Dreams, Riddles and Visions: Textual, Contextual and Intertextual Approaches to the Book of Daniel. Berlin: de Gruyter, 2016.
-
Sweeney, Marvin A. Zephaniah: A Commentary. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
-
Wolff, Hans Walter. A Commentary on the Books of the Prophets Joel and Amos. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 481 | 100 | 8 |
| Full Text Views | 97 | 16 | 2 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 229 | 42 | 2 |
Can God Deliver His Servants? Two Theological Problems in the Daniel Narratives (Dan 1:9; 3:17–18)
In: Vetus TestamentumSearch for other papers by Naama Golan in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Shai Gordin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
This article addresses two cases from the narratives in Daniel in which a similar theological question arises concerning the uncertainty of God’s ability to deliver his servants: (1) The chief officer’s denial of Daniels’ request (Dan 1:10) despite the fact that God granted Daniel grace and compassion from the chief officer, and (2) the speech of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan 3:17–18), in which they entertain the possibility that God will not, or perhaps cannot, save them. Commentators and translators throughout the generations have struggled with these theological problems, and we can identify a clear trend seeking to read the relevant verses in a way that removes the uncertainty, replacing it with certain faith in God’s deliverance.
In this article, we demonstrate how this interpretive trend surprisingly continues even with modern biblical scholars. Based on a literary analysis, we suggest that reading the MT version without altering it to conform with certain theological preconceptions may shed new light on the Daniel narratives, thereby exposing their deep and complex message.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 481 | 100 | 8 |
| Full Text Views | 97 | 16 | 2 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 229 | 42 | 2 |
