< BACK | NEXT >
Daniel
DANIEL, whose name signifies The Judgment of God, was of the royal blood of the kings of Juda: and one of those that were first of all carried away into captivity. He was so renowned for wisdom and knowledge, that it became a proverb among the Babylonians, As Wise as Daniel (Ezekiel 23:3). And his holiness was so great from his very childhood, that at the time when he was as yet but a young man, he is joined by the Spirit of God with Noah and Job, as three persons most eminent for virtue and sanctity, Ezekiel 14. He is not commonly numbered by the Hebrews among The Prophets: because he lived at court, and in high station in the world: but if we consider his many clear predictions of things to come, we shall find that no one better deserves the name and title of a prophet: which also has been given him by the Son of God himself in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. (For more information, see the article DANIEL in the Catholic Encyclopedia.)
Chapter 1. Daniel and his companions are taken into the palace of the king of Babylon: they abstain from his meat and wine, and succeed better with pulse and water. Their excellence and wisdom.
Chapter 2. Daniel, by divine revelation, declares the dream of Nabuchodonosor, and the interpretation of it. He is highly honoured by the king.
Chapter 3. Nabuchodonosor set up a golden statue; which he commands all to adore: the three children for refusing to do it are cast into the fiery furnace; but are not hurt by the flames. Their prayer and canticle of praise.
Chapter 4. Nabuchodonosor's dream, by which the judgments of God are denounced against him for his pride, is interpreted by Daniel, and verified by the event.
Chapter 5. Baltasar's profane banquet: his sentence is denounced by a handwriting on the wall, which Daniel reads and interprets.
Chapter 6. Daniel is promoted by Darius: his enemies procure a law forbidding prayer; for the transgression of this law Daniel is cast into the lions' den: but miraculously delivered.
Chapter 7. Daniel's vision of the four beasts, signifying four kingdoms: of God sitting on his throne: and of the opposite kingdoms of Christ and Antichrist.
Chapter 8. Daniel's vision of the ram and the he goat interpreted by the angel Gabriel.
Chapter 9. Daniel's confession and prayer: Gabriel informs him concerning the seventy weeks to the coming of Christ.
Chapter 10. Daniel having humbled himself by fasting and penance seeth a vision, with which he is much terrified; but he is comforted by an angel.
Chapter 11. The angel declares to Daniel many things to come, with regard to the Persian and Grecian kings: more especially with regard to Antiochus as a figure of Antichrist.
Chapter 12. Michael shall stand up for the people of God: with other things relating to Antichrist, and the end of the world.
Chapter 13. The history of Susanna and the two elders.
Chapter 14. The history of Bel, and of the great serpent worshipped by the Babylonians.
