Few other books of the Bible, save perhaps Revelation, so interest and agitate scholars and laity alike as the book of Daniel. Our own community is no exception; many books and articles have been written about this intriguing part of Scripture. No doubt the reason for this interest is the book’s remarkable visions, both for their prophetic significance and their enigmatic quality. It is presumably for this same reason that the opinions of scholars, both critical and conservative, have become dogmatic in such a bi-polar manner. Conservative scholars claim that the book was written by a real prophet of the Neo-Babylonian era, who uttered real prophecies (often with a Rome-centric interpretation). Critical scholars claim that the book is a pseudograph, composed during the Maccabean crisis, with prophecy ex eventu (often with a Greek/Seleucid-centric interpretation). Wyns adopt a middle course. With academic rigor and intellectual honesty he draws on the best of both positions, recognising Daniel as a real prophet whilst utilizing the insights of critical scholars.
The primary thesis of God is Judge is that the book does not end with the reign of Cyrus, as many scholars assert, but with the reign of Darius Hystaspis. According to Wyns, the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus did not mark the end of the seventy years. There was a twenty-one year delay (Dan 10:13) till Darius Hystaspis captured Babylon and allowed the temple in Jerusalem to be reconstructed (515 BC), thus completing seventy years from the final Judean captivity (585 BC). This proposition provides Wyns with a new approach to some of the most intractable parts of the book. It is used to remake the schema for interpreting the seventy-week prophecy; the mysterious “Darius the Mede” is identified as Darius Hystaspis. Not everyone will agree with these conclusions but Wyns presents a robust and detailed case, which should not be ignored.
Another useful aspect of the book is the intertextual approach, particularly with regards to Isaiah. This material will be new to most readers and is fertile ground for further exploration.
Were one compelled to make criticisms it would be acknowledged that not everyone will find this an easy read. The book is over 400 pages, is littered with footnotes and references, and engages readily with the highest levels of scholarship. Whilst this means that this is not a book for beginners, it is testament to the in-depth research and wealth of many years’ patient study.
Some may also object to Wyns’ thoughts about the redaction of the book. Whilst confirming that the original court tales and visions of Daniel were written in the Persian era, Wyns postulates a final redaction in the Maccabean era when Dan 11:5-39 were incorporated into the text.[1] Whatever one’s view, one has to admire Wyns’ thoughtful approach that acknowledges the speculative nature of any reconstruction of the book’s history. In any case, dissension on this point will not prevent the reader from gleaning much that is useful from the rest of the book.
This will not be the final word on Daniel nor will it settle all debate, but it is one of the most original and thorough approaches to the book of Daniel to come from our community and is worthy of a far wider audience.
[1] [Ed. AP]: For a two-way discussion of Daniel 11 see A. Perry, “Daniel 11 – An Angelic Piece of Writing?” and T. Gaston, “Daniel 11” in Christadelphian EJournal of Biblical Interpretation Annual (2008): 295-316.
Review of “The Early Earth” by John Whitcomb (1972)