Daniel Prophecy Literary Parallels

Biblical authors often made use of Hebrew literary devices in the structure of their writings. When an author wishes to emphasize some point, he may use a variety of literary devices and structure. A reader who is unaware of or ignores these devices can miss an author's true message.

Hebrew poetry consisted of juxapositions of related or contrasting ideas. A common structure was the chiasm. According to William Shea the Book of Daniel has been arranged as a double chiasm. This has important implications for the prophetic dreams and visions recorded in it.

Literary structure

William H. Shea Ph.D. (Archeology) [William H. Shea, "The Prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27", in Holbrook, Frank. ed., The Seventy Weeks, Leviticus, and the Nature of Prophecy, 1986, Daniel and Revelation Committee Series, Vol. 3, Review and Herald Publishing Association] notes that the book of Daniel was composed as a double chiasm.

Related themes have common label

Related sections have a common label. For instance those labeled A, A', A" and A"' are placed in parallel because they all have a similar theme, i.e. prophecies. God's people are faced with life or death trials to worship God or not in the parts labeled B, B', B" and B"'. The decision of kings to choose God or to go against his will are the themes in C, C', C" and C"'. The trial faced by of the King of kings--the Messiah--is portrayed in the focal point of the book ( D ).

Language emphasizes structure

To empasize the importance of the chaismic structure, the first chiasm was written in Aramaic and the second in Hebrew.

tructure has precedence over chronology

The literary structure of the book takes precedence over chronology. The first 6 narrative chapters are fit into the structure rather than defining it. For instance, Chapter six ( B' ), which ought to follow chapter seven ( A' ) chronologically, is put in parallel with chapter 3 ( B ) because they both deal with the worship of God. And Chapter 5 ( C' ) should follow not only chapters 6 and 7, but also 8 ( A" ). Instead, it is put in parallel with Chapter 4 ( C ) where the kings are faced with choosing to accept God or not.

Grouping Emphasizes Prophecies

This chiasmic grouping of chapters having the same theme has important implications when it comes to the chapters containing prophecies ( A, A', A", A'" ). More than just the fact that some prophecies are grouped together, they deal with the same topic. This parallelism between the prophecies has been recognized for millinia.

The Visions Considered Parallel by Christians of all Ages

The first recognition of a parallel between the visions of chapters 2, 7, and 8 is probably lost in history, however, one of the earliest Christian theologians, Hyppolytus in about 170-236 AD, was likely the first to put it to paper in the following interpretation.

"The "golden head" of the image is identical with the "lioness", by which "the Babylonians" were represented.

"The golden shoulders and the arms of silver" are the same with the "bear," by which the "Persians and Medes" are meant.

"The belly and thighs of brass" are the "leopard," by which the "Greeks" who ruled from Alexander onwards are intended.

The "legs of iron" are "the dreadful and terrible beast", by which "the Romans" who hold the empire now are meant.

The "toes of clay and iron" are "the ten horns" which "are to be".

The one "other little horn" springing up in their midst is "the antichrist".

"The stone that smites the image and breaks it in pieces", and that filled the whole earth, "is Christ", who comes from heaven and brings judgment on the world." [Hyppolytus, 170-236 AD, Commentary on Daniel [translated] , "The Ante-Nicene Fathers", Volume 5, p. 178, 179]

More important than Hyppolytus' interpretation is that in order to make such an interpretation, Hyppolytus had to consider the prophecies of chapters 2, 7, and 8 parallel. It is worth noting, however, that he did not consider the fourth kingdom or "little horn" of chapter seven to parallel the little horn of chapter eight. Along with most early Christian and Jewish commentators he identified the ram and goat of chapter eight with the second and third kingdoms of chapter seven, but applied the arrogant horn of chapter eight to Antiochus Epiphanes. The parallel with chapter eight, consequently, is more limited. He was not the only theologian to make the same parallel connection:

* "2nd - 3rd Century"--Justin Martyr; Irenaeus

* "5th Century"--Augustine; Jerome

* "7th Century"--Andreas; Sargis d'Abergia

* "8th - 9th Century"--Eleazar ben Judah Kalonymu * [* Jewish expositors]

* "9th Century"--Berengaud

* "10th Century"--Japet Ibn Ali *; Saadia *

* "12th Century"--Rashi *; Abraham Ibn Ezra *; Peter Comestor

* "13th Century"--Joachim of Fiore; Thomas Aquinas

* "14th Century"--John Wycliffe; Walter Brute

* "16th Century"--Martin Luther; Johann Oecolampadius; Philipp Melanchthon; George Joye; Hugh Latimer; Virgil Solis; Nikolaus Selinecker

* "17th Century"--George Downham; Thomas Brightman; Joseph Mede; John Tillinghast; Henry More; William Sherwin; Thomas Beverley

* "18th Century"--Johannes Cocceius; Heinrich Horch; Sir Issac Newton; John Willison; Thomas Newton; Hans Wood; Pierre Jurieu; Christian G. Thube; James Bicheno; Uzal Ogden; Edward King; Jeremy Belknap; Jno. H. Livingstone

* "19th Century"--Jean G. de la Flechere; Benj. Farnham; Eliphaiet Nott; Asa McFarland; John King; John Rameyn; Elias Smith; William Miller; Jedediah Morse; Ethan Smith; William C. Davis; Timothy Dwight; Edw. D. Griffin; Aaron Kinne; Elias Boudinot; Amzi Armstrong; Robert Reid; T. R. Robertson; Joshua L. Wilson; Sam'l M. McCorkle; Alex. Campbell; Robt. Scott; Adam H. Burwell; A.L. Crandall; Rich. C. Shimeall; Edward Winthrop; Elias A. Burdick [Froom, LeRoy Edwin, 1948, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, 4 Volumes, Review and Herald Publishing Association. Pp. 4000+/-]

* "20th Century"--

"The same succession of empires, as was portrayed in Nebuchadnezzar’s image, now appears as fierce beasts with many added details." [Anderson, R.A., 1975, Unfolding Daniel’s Prophecies, Pacific Press, p. 88-89]

"A closer look reveals that the four beasts, which march onto the scene of history and represent universal kingdoms, are nothing but a broader and more precise restating of the data in chapter 2." [Doukhan, Jacques, 1987, Daniel: The Vision of the End, Andrews University Press, p. 17]

* 21st Century--

"In Daniel 7, which is a transitional chapter, we turn from the historical accounts of the prophet’s life to his visions. Its use of the Aramaic language and its parallelism with chapter 2 connect it with the preceding chapters while its subject matter binds it to what follows." [Pfandl, Gerhard 2004, Daniel, the Seer of Babylon, Review and Herald Publishing Association. p. 59.]

Parallel Elements between Chapters 2 and 7

There are several purely literary reasons why Chapter 2 and 7 were considered parallel by theologians for nearly 2 millinia.

4 Metals, 4 Beasts -- Kingdoms

Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that He and his kingdom is represented by the head of gold. Then Daniel proclaimed, "After you, another kingdom, will arise" (silver), then "a third kingdom ... will rule," (bronze) and "Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom." (iron). Each metal represented a kingdom.

In Chapter 7, we are told plainly that "four great beasts are four kingdoms." (vs. 17)

That 4 metals and 4 beasts represent 4 kingdoms is not lost on Hyppolytus who uses this parallel to tie the two visions together.

Kingdoms in sequence

In chapter 2 the sequential order of the kingdoms is indicated by the Hebrew 'vaw' connective that always indicates sequence and order. It is translated in verse 2:39 as After you (2nd metal), Next (3rd metal), and in verse 40 as Finally (4th metal).

The very same 'vaw' connective is used as the four beasts arise out of the sea. In verse 7:5 And there (2nd beast), and verse 6 After that (3rd beast), and verse 7 After that (4th beast).

So, 4 kingdoms arrive in sequential order in each chapter.

Literary Parallels in both Visions for the 1st Kingdoms

There are similar phrases found in the descriptions of chapter 2's kingdom of Gold and chapter 7's Lion-like kingdom.

These two sets of three similar phrases are only found in chapters 2 and 7. And only found in the descriptions of the first kingdom. This parallel of concepts is one reason why Bible students of prophecy for nearly 2 milinia have considered the lion-like beast of chapter 7 to also represent Babylon, the head of Gold of chapter 2.

trong as Iron

The kingdom of the iron legs, the fourth metal kingdom, is describe as strong as iron, breaking and smashing things to pieces. It will crush and break the other kingdoms.

Similar figures of speech tie the fourth beast to the kingdom of Iron legs. With its iron teeth it will devour the earth, trampling it down and crushing it.

God's Kingdom last kingdom in both visions

Not only is God's kingdom listed last in both visions, but both texts claim it will be the last kingdom ever.

* Dan 2:44 The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people.

* Dan 7:27 His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom.

Visual Illustration of Literary Parallels between Chapters 2 and 7

Daniel 8 parallel with Chapter 7

The identification of the second and third kingdoms in Chapters 2 and 7 by Hippolitus and many others since the 2nd century as Media-Persia and Greece illustrates the point that many theologians consider the first two beast/kingdoms of Chapter 8 to be parallel with the second and third kingdoms of Chapter 7. This is because it is only in Chapter 8 that Media-Persia and Greece are mentioned.

Purely literary reasons listed below illustrate why the second and third beasts of Chapters 7, and the ram and goat of Chapter 8 have been considered parallel by theologians for nearly 2 millennia.

Parallels between Bear and Ram

The Bear was "raised up on one side" and "one horn of the Ram was longer than the other". Since a horn represents a king or kingdom this may mean these beasts represent two kingdoms in accord and that one was stronger than the other. We are told that the Ram represented Media and Persia.

The Bear had "three" ribs in its mouth. The Ram charged toward "three" directions--West, North and South.

The Bear was told to "eat his fill". And, no animal could "stand against" the Ram.

Parallels between Winged Leopard and Unihorned Goat

The Leopard had "wings like a bird" and the Goat crossed the "whole earth without touching the ground". The implication is one of great speed.

The Leopard was given "authority to rule" and the Goat "became very great".

The Leopard had "four heads" while "four prominent horns [four kingdoms] grew up" out of the Goat's broken off great horn.

Parallels between the fourth Beast and the Little Horn

The "fourth beast is a fourth kingdom" and the little horn is "a stern-faced king".

The fourth beast is "terrifying, frightening, powerful" and "different from all the other kingdoms." This is what one would expect from "a master of intrigue".

The fourth beast will "devour the whole earth and trample underfoot whatever is left" while the little horn "will cause astounding devastation".

"The saints will be handed over" to both the fourth beast and the little horn.

Visual Illustration of Literary Parallels between Chapters 7 and 8

Differences in Interpretation

It is worth observing, however, that the same theologians have "not" seen a parallel between the fourth beast or little horn of chapter seven and the little horn of chapter eight. All of the leading Jewish and Christian commentators on Daniel (such as Josephus, Hippolytus, Jerome, Luther and Calvin) have identified the latter as Antiochus Epiphanes. These apparent parallels suggest that either the little horn of chapter eight should be interpreted as Rome (e.g. Seventh Day Adventists) or that the fourth beast of chapter seven should be interpreted as Greece (most modern scholars [See J.J.Collins "Daniel" (Fortress Press, 1993), pp122-123] and a notable tradition in Syriac Christianity).

See also

*Nebuchadnezzar's statue vision in Daniel 2
*Daniel's Vision of Chapter 7
*Daniel's Vision of Chapter 8
*Prophecy of Seventy Weeks
*The writing on the wall
*Fiery Furnace

Notes

References