Book of Daniel facts for kids
The Book of Daniel is a special book found in both the Hebrew Bible (called the Tanakh) and the Christian Old Testament. It was first written in two ancient languages: Hebrew and Aramaic.
Contents
Who Wrote It?
The Book of Daniel says that a man named Daniel wrote it. For example, in chapters 9 and 10, it mentions him as the writer. Even Jesus talked about Daniel when he warned his followers about future events. Many people believe the book was finished soon after Cyrus took over Babylon in 539 BC.
What's Inside?
The Book of Daniel has two main parts.
Exciting Stories
The first part, from Chapter 1 to 6, tells amazing stories about Daniel and his three friends. They were taken from their home in Israel to a faraway land called Babylon. The king and people in Babylon wanted them to stop worshiping their God. They were told to worship the gods of Babylon or the king instead.
But Daniel and his friends refused to obey. Because of their faith, God performed incredible miracles to save them!
- One famous story is about Daniel's three friends. They were thrown into a super hot furnace because they wouldn't bow down to a golden statue. But they were not harmed! A fourth person appeared in the fire with them, protecting them.
- Another well-known story is about Daniel himself. He was thrown into a den of hungry lions because he kept praying to his God. But the lions didn't eat him! Daniel said that God had "shut the mouth of the lions."
The Handwriting on the Wall
We get a common English saying, "He saw the handwriting on the wall," from another story in Chapter 5. The king was having a big party when a mysterious hand appeared. It wrote strange words on a wall. Daniel was the only one who could understand what it meant. He told the king that it meant he would soon lose his kingdom and his life. Another king would take his place.
Today, when we say "handwriting on the wall," it means someone realizes that something bad is about to happen. Or that something good is about to end.
Dreams and Visions
The second part of the Book of Daniel, from Chapter 7 to 12, is different. It tells about special dreams and visions that Daniel had. These visions showed him things about world history. They also showed things that would happen far in the future.
The main message of these visions was clear: God would eventually win over all the kingdoms of the world. Many things Daniel saw in his visions are also mentioned later in the New Testament book of Revelation.
The Seventy Weeks
In Chapter 9, Daniel talks about "70 weeks" that were about the future. Many Bible experts believe that each "week" means 7 years. So, 70 weeks would mean 490 years (70 times 7 years). Daniel said that after this time, a special leader called the Messiah would be "cut off." Christians believe this might refer to the time Jesus was killed. Understanding all the details of this "70 weeks" prophecy has been a puzzle for many scholars. There are many different ideas about what it all means.
Images for kids
-
Daniel in the Lions' Den by Rubens
-
Daniel's Answer to the King by Briton Rivière (1892)
-
Daniel refusing to eat at the King's table, early-1900s Bible illustration
-
Nebuchadnezzar's dream: the felled tree (France, 15th century)
-
Daniel in the lions' den saved by Habakkuk (France, 15th century)
-
Engraving of Daniel's vision of the four beasts in chapter 7 by Matthäus Merian, 1630
See also
In Spanish: Libro de Daniel para niños
