Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

•A priest who sealed the covenant drawn up by Nehemiah, B.C. 445. (Nehemiah 10:6) He is perhaps
the same as No. 3.
Daniel, Apocryphal Additions To
The Greek translations of Daniel contain several pieces which are not found int he original text.
The most important are contained in the Apocrypha of the English Bible under the titles of The
Son of the Three Holy Children, The History of Susannah, and The History of...Bel and the Dragon.
The first of these is supposed to be the triumphal song of the three confessors in the furnace, (Daniel
3:23) praising God for their deliverance, of which a chief part (35-66) has been used as a hymn in
the Christian Church since the fourth century. The second, called also The Judgment of Daniel,
relates the story of the clearing of Susannah from a charge of adultery; and the third gives an
exaggerated account of Daniel’s deliverance.
Daniel, The Book Of
stands at the head of a series of writings in which the deepest thoughts of the Jewish people
found expression after their close of the prophetic era. Daniel is composed partly in the vernacular
Aramaic (Chaldee) and partly in the sacred Hebrew. The introduction, Dan. 1-2:4 a, is written in
Hebrew. On the occasion of the “Syriac” (i.e. Aramaic) answer of the Chaldeans, the language
changes to Aramaic, and this is retained till the close of the seventh chapter (2:4 b-7). The personal
introduction of Daniel as the writer of the text, 8:1, is marked by the resumption of the Hebrew,
which continues to the close of the book. ch. 8-12. The book may be divided into three parts. The
first chapter forms an introduction. The next six chapters, 2-7, give a general view of the progressive
history of the powers of the world, and of the principles of the divine government as seen in the
events of the life of Daniel. The remainder of the book, chs. 8-12, traces in minuter detail the
fortunes of the people of God, as typical of the fortunes of the Church in all ages. In the first seven
chapters Daniel is spoken of historically ; int he last five he appears personally as the writer. The
cause of the difference of person is commonly supposed to lie int he nature of the case. It is, however,
more probable that the peculiarity arose from the manner in which the book assumed its final shape.
The book exercised a great influence upon the Christian Church. The New Testament incidentally
acknowledges each of the characteristic elements of the book, its miracles, (Hebrews 11:33,34) its
predictions, (Matthew 24:15) and its doctrine of angels. (Luke 1:19,26) The authenticity of the
book has been attacked in modern times. (But the evidence, both external and internal, is conclusive
as to its genuineness. Rawlinson, in his “Historical Evidences,” shows how some historical
difficulties that had been brought against the book are solved by the inscription on a cylinder lately
found among the ruins of Ur in Chaldea.—ED.)
Danites, The
The descendants of Dan and the members of his tribe. (Judges 13:2; 18:1,11; 1 Chronicles
12:35)
Danjaan
(Danian, i.e. belonging to Dan). (2 Samuel 24:6) Probably the same as Dan.
Dannah
a city in the mountains of Judah, (Joshua 15:49) and probably south or southwest of Hebron.
No trace of its name has been discovered.
Dara
(1 Chronicles 2:6) [DARDA]
Daric

Free download pdf