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1. Prologue: The Setting (ch. 1; in Hebrew)

A. Historical Introduction (1:1–2)

• Context: This section sets the historical backdrop, mentioning the invasion of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian exile of the Israelites.

B. Daniel and His Friends Are Taken Captive (1:3–7)

• Selection of Exiles: Daniel, along with his three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), is chosen to be trained in the royal court of Babylon. They are given new Babylonian names (Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).

C. The Young Men Are Faithful (1:8–16)

• Refusal to Defile Themselves: Daniel and his friends refuse to eat the king’s food, adhering to Jewish dietary laws. They ask for vegetables and water instead. God blesses their obedience with health and wisdom.

D. The Young Men Are Elevated to High Positions (1:17–21)

• God’s Favor: God grants them exceptional wisdom and understanding, leading to their promotion in Nebuchadnezzar’s court. Daniel serves through the reign of several kings.

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2. The Destinies of the Nations of the World (chs. 2–7; in Aramaic, beginning at 2:4b)

A. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Large Statue (ch. 2)

• The Dream: Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a giant statue made of various materials (gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay). Daniel interprets the dream, revealing that it represents successive world empires, concluding with the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.

B. Nebuchadnezzar’s Making of a Gold Image and His Decree That It Be Worshiped (ch. 3)

• The Golden Image: Nebuchadnezzar erects a golden image and orders all to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse and are thrown into a fiery furnace but are miraculously saved by God.

C. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of an Enormous Tree (ch. 4)

• The Vision and Interpretation: Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a tree that is cut down, symbolizing his pride. Daniel interprets the dream, predicting that Nebuchadnezzar will go mad and live like an animal for seven years before being restored.

D. Belshazzar’s and Babylon’s Downfall (ch. 5)

• The Writing on the Wall: Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, holds a feast and uses the sacred vessels from the temple in Jerusalem. A mysterious hand writes on the wall, which Daniel interprets as God’s judgment: Belshazzar’s reign will end, and Babylon will fall to the Medes and Persians.

E. Daniel’s Deliverance from the Lion’s Den (ch. 6)

• The Plot Against Daniel: Jealous officials conspire against Daniel by tricking King Darius into signing a decree that anyone who prays to a god other than the king should be thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel is thrown into the den, but God shuts the mouths of the lions, and he is unharmed.

F. Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts (ch. 7)

• The Four Beasts: Daniel has a vision of four beasts representing four kingdoms, with the final kingdom being the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. The vision also introduces the figure of the “Son of Man,” a messianic figure who will reign forever.

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3. The Destiny of the Nation of Israel (chs. 8–12; in Hebrew)

A. Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat (ch. 8)

• Vision of the Ram and the Goat: Daniel dreams of a ram with two horns (representing the Medo-Persian Empire) and a goat with one large horn (representing the Greek Empire). The vision predicts the rise of Alexander the Great and the division of his empire after his death.

B. Daniel’s Prayer and His Vision of the 70 “Sevens” (ch. 9)

• Prayer of Confession and Petition: Daniel prays for the restoration of Israel, confessing the sins of the people. Gabriel appears to Daniel, explaining that seventy “sevens” (or weeks) are decreed for the people of Israel, marking the timeline for their ultimate restoration and the coming of the Messiah.

C. Daniel’s Vision of Israel’s Future (chs. 10–12)

i. Revelation of things to come (10:1–3)

• Daniel’s Mourning and Fasting: Daniel experiences a vision of a heavenly messenger while fasting and praying, preparing for the revelation of future events.

ii. Revelation from the angelic messenger (10:4—11:1)

• Angel’s Message: The angel reveals that there will be conflicts between the kings of the north and the kings of the south, symbolizing struggles between different empires. He also explains that the angelic forces have been fighting on behalf of God’s people.

iii. Prophecies concerning Persia and Greece (11:2–4)

• The Rise of Persia and Greece: The prophecy covers the rise of the Persian Empire, the fall of Persia to Alexander the Great, and the subsequent division of the Greek Empire.

iv. Prophecies concerning Egypt and Syria (11:5–35)

• The Ptolemaic and Seleucid Dynasties: The prophecy details the conflicts between the Egyptian (Ptolemaic) and Syrian (Seleucid) dynasties, including the infamous desecration of the temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

v. Prophecies concerning the Antichrist (11:36–45)

• The Coming of the Antichrist: The prophecy describes the rise of a future king, often interpreted as the Antichrist, who will exalt himself above God, persecute the faithful, and ultimately be defeated by God.

vi. Distress and deliverance (12:1)

• Great Tribulation: A time of unparalleled distress will come upon Israel, but God will deliver His people, with Michael, the archangel, standing for them.

vii. Two resurrections (12:2–3)

• Resurrection of the Dead: Daniel prophesies that there will be two resurrections—one for those who are righteous and will receive eternal life, and one for the wicked, who will experience shame and contempt.

viii. Instruction to Daniel (12:4)

• Sealing the Vision: Daniel is instructed to seal up the vision because the events are for the distant future. Knowledge will increase in the last days.

ix. Conclusion (12:5–13)

• The End of the Vision: Daniel is told that the end will come when the righteous are rewarded and the wicked punished. He is reassured of his own eventual rest and resurrection to his allotted inheritance.