The Mysterious in the Book of Daniel: An updated understanding of an ancient visionary

Abstract

The biblical Book of Daniel (twelve chapters) is largely written in Kurdish Aramaic. One wonders why. This study offers a partial comparison of Chapters Seven and Eight ; it omits the latter half of each chapter, the chronicling of the Succession of Kings. Both chapters focus on some issues in the account of ancient visions of the Creation: the creation of human beings and the creation of the Temple site in Urshalīm al-Kuds. The source of this tradition is not dealt with. Both chapters are indicative of the traditions and beliefs governing the period of the building of the First Temple in the life of the King of Kings Suleimān (pen-name: Shlomo) and up to the time of the conquest of Judah (Judea) by the Chaldean King of Kings, Nebūchadnezzar King of Babylon. The northern province of the Kingdom of Israel had already been conquered by the Assyrians, and their fate needs to be further investigated. The ultimate objective of this research within a broader project is to show that the provincial First Temple was governed jointly by both proto-Kurds, such as Medians together with tribal notables of the Kingdom of Israel.