“The Historical Background to Daniel”
Based on Darrel Bock’s “Studying the Historical Jesus”

The message of Daniel in one sentence: “Daniel encourages the faithful by showing
them that though Israel was exiled from the Land of Promise, they will be restored to the
realm of life at the resurrec@on of the dead, when the four kingdoms are followed by the
Kingdom of God, so the people of God can trust him and persevere through persecution
until God humbles proud human kings, gives everlasting dominion to the son of man, and
the saints reign with him.” (James M Hamilton Jr.)

Two Exiles:

722 BC “Assyrian Exile” in the North (Israel, 10 tribes)
587 BC “Babylonian Exile” in the South (Judah, 2 tribes)

1. The Last Days of Judah (605-587 BC)

2. The Babylonian Exile and the Persian Period (587–331 BC)

3. Greek Empire: From Alexander the Great to AnXochus Epiphanes (331–175 BC)

4. Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) and the Road to the Maccabean Revolt (175–164 BC)