Daniel was a noble Jewish youth of Jerusalem. He and three of his young friends were taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon when they were teenagers. They served in Babylon and were promoted more than once for their loyalty while remaining true to the God of Israel.
Daniel's name means "God is my judge." Daniel, like Joseph in Genesis 37-50, could interpret dreams. He also received apocalyptic visions about the end times.
In the Bible, Daniel is the last of the major prophets. However, Daniel was not like Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel in that he was not commissioned to give prophetic messages to any group of people.
Daniel was a royal descendant of King David. That's one reason he was taken because of his royal status, his youth and his good looks. Those characteristics made Daniel a good candidate to work in Nebuchadnezzar's court. Daniel was also known for his wisdom and intelligence. He and his friends had to pass a three-year course in Babylonian language and literature. They were found to be 10 times wiser than all the experienced magicians and enchanters in the whole kingdom (Daniel 1:20).
He gains notoriety for understanding dreams in his youth (Daniel 1:17). And he is the only person who can interpret some of the most troubling dreams and visions for Nebuchadnezzar and his son, Belshazzar (Daniel 2:27, 30; 4:4–9; 5:15–17). Daniel could not interpret some of (Daniel 7:15–16).
Daniel was a statesman high up in the administration of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar's courts. Daniel kept being promoted higher and higher. He became the first of three presidents under Darius. He also served under Cyrus.
There was nothing negative that could be said about Daniel. In fact, when his political opponents tried to get dirt on him, their only option was to make it illegal to obey God (Daniel 6:4–5).
Daniel is a government official under four kings for different reasons:
---1. Nebuchadnezzar, after Daniel interprets his dream (Daniel 2:48)
---2. Belshazzar, after Daniel reads the original “handwriting on the wall” (Daniel 5:29)
---3. Darius the Mede, because Daniel had an “extraordinary spirit” (Daniel 6:1–3)
---4. Cyrus the Persian, for reasons unknown (Daniel 1:21; 6:28)
Daniel’s ministry spans the entire 70-year Babylonian captivity.
Daniel was probably in his eighties when he was thrown to the lions. He was taken to Babylon as a young man—likely before he had finished puberty. So let’s say he was between 10 and 18 years of age.
The Babylonian captivity lasted 70 years, which would put Daniel in his eighties at the beginning of Darius’ reign in Daniel 6. This is when the whole lions’ den episode takes place.
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