God is Judge

This commentary presents an inter-textual reading of Daniel that places the Temple and eschatological Atonement at the center of the book's theology and traces the influence of Daniel’s theology in the NT. A failure of exilic prophetic interpretation inspired a failed attempt to restore the First Temple under Cyrus. Daniel ignores the reign of Cyrus and proceeds directly to the conquest of Babylon by Darius Hystaspis (Darius the Mede). Daniel’s history is subordinated to his theology. The initial setting of Babylonian First Temple destruction and Persian era restoration is supplemented by Antiochene desecration and Maccabean rededication of the Second Temple resulting in an already/not yet realization (apocalyptic moment). Daniel’s enigmatic numerical time periods are not Maccabean era inventions or ex eventu prophecy as they represent supra-historical realities based on intervals between the destruction of the Temple on the ninth of Ab and prominent Jewish Feasts in the lunar Jewish Festal Calendar.