9:24-27 ‣) identifies the Gentile nationality of the Antichrist and his people and provides important information concerning the timing and nature of the tribulation period.
For example, the famous prophecy regarding the Seventy Sevens (Dan. Moreover, there are also important aspects concerning Gentile prophecy in the non-Aramaic sections. For example, the Jews would also be deeply interested in the prophecies concerning the sequence of kingdoms which they will be subject to until the Davidic throne is reestablished (Daniel 2 ‣ and 7 ‣). While it appears that the most important revelation concerning Gentile rule is written in Aramaic (chapters 2 and 7) and that revelation of greater importance to Jewish concerns is written in Hebrew (chapters 9, 11, 12), one must be careful not to overemphasize a hard and fast distinction between the interests of the two groups because there is considerable overlap in the information given in each section and the interests of both groups. This distinction is frequently used as the basis for concluding that chapters 1 ‣ and 8-12 ‣ are predominantly focused on things of interest to the Jews (written in Hebrew), whereas chapters 2 ‣- 7 ‣ are predominantly focused on things of interest to Gentiles (written in the lingua franca of Daniel’s day, Aramaic). Aramaicĭaniel consists of three sections written in two different languages: (1) Daniel 1:1 ‣- 2:4a ‣ in Hebrew (2) Daniel 2:4b ‣- 7:28 ‣ in Aramaic and (3) Daniel 8:1 ‣- 12:13 ‣ which reverts back to Hebrew. Here, the focus shifts to the visions and revelation given to Daniel and his personal observations and reactions.
Then, beginning in chapter 7 and for the remainder of the book, the first person is generally used of Daniel. The first person pronoun “I” is used generally of the kings ( Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius the Mede) and is not explicitly associated with the narrator of the events. 2 The view is less intimate, like that of an outside observer watching Daniel and the other characters on the stage of history. In the first six chapters, Daniel is generally spoken of in the third person. This often leads commentators to treat the structure of the book in two parts and has even led some to conclude that the two sections were composed by different authors (see Authorship). VisionĬhapters 1-6 mainly concern historical narrative, whereas chapters 7-12 seem to focus more heavily on visions and their interpretation. (4) The sequence of events: whether to follow the presentation order or chronological order of the events recorded. (3) The written language: whether the material is written in Hebrew or Aramaic. (2) The voice of the author: whether the author speaks in the first person or third person. (1) The type of narrative: whether the subject matter is primarily historical narrative or prophetic vision. In Daniel, different aspects of the book could be used as the basis for analyzing its structure.
This helps one understand the development and interrelationship of various topics within the book as a whole. When studying a passage within the Bible, it is helpful to look at the structure of the chapter where the passage is found and examine how the chapter fits into the overall presentation of the book.