Introduction

This document is about Daniel (also spelt later as ‘Daniyyel’). He was captured as a young man in Yehudah (Judah) and taken to serve in Babylon. He wrote this at a time when the Jewish people were suffering a lot of mocking and persecution by those who worshipped false gods. Daniel became on of the highest officials in Babylon and we learn here about his obedience in serving God during the reigns of King Nevukadnetstsar (Nebuchadnezzar), Belshatstsar (Belshazzar), Dareyavesh (Darius), and Koresh (Cyrus). This document also has some brief but important sections telling about his three friends Hananyah, Meyshak, and Azaryah (perhaps better known as Shadrak, Meyshak, and Avednego).

God’s revelations which Daniel prophesied are also included here, concerning the strengthening and destruction of other nations starting with Babylon. It’s also prophesied here about what would happen in the ‘end-times’.

One of the themes of this document is about how God determines everything that happens in this world. He’s the one who forms nations, and he’s the one who determines their end. He also looks after his people.

This document about Daniel was written with parts in Hebrew (1:1–2:3; 7:1–12:13) and parts in Aramaic (2:4–7:28). (Modern Syria is in the former Aram region. Aramaic is most closely related to Hebrew, Syriac, and Phoenician, and was written in a script derived from the Phoenician alphabet.)

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.