Stages in the Canonization of the Book of Daniel

Abstract

In certain circles of the Greek speaking Diaspora, special interest in the eschatological pronouncements of Daniel appears to have arisen in the 2nd century BCE. Unlike other parts of the nation, the Yabad at Qumran held Daniel in high esteem right from the outset of the 2nd century BCE. In the caves near the Dead Sea fragments of eight manuscripts of the protoMasoretic version were discovered, more than those of many other prophetie books. When the emperor Augustus established direct Roman administration over Judah following the turn of the era, some years after the death of Herod the Great, a new wave of apocalypticism seems to have arisen in Israel. In Mark, as in the other Gospels, there is a curious reserve criticizing the Roman administration. The canonization of the book of Daniel occurred among the various Judean movements at different rates of progress around the turn of the era. Keywords: 2nd century BCE; canonical Daniel; Dead Sea fragments; eschatological pronouncements; Greek speaking diaspora; Judean movements; protoMasoretic version; Roman administration

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