Who wrote Daniel:

The authorship of the book of Daniel is a very controversial issue. Scholars are divided between two different authors at two very different dates. Some scholars argue Daniel, a statesman held in exile in Babylon, wrote the book in the sixth century B.C. around the same time Ezekiel wrote the book of Ezekiel. Many point to references to Daniel found within the book of Ezekiel as evidence (Ezekiel 14:14, 14:20, 28:3) .

Other scholars argue the book of Daniel was written anonymously as an encouragement to the Jewish people during their resistance to the Syrian-Greek tyrant Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163 B.C.).

Below are the arguments for both opinions:

Arguments for a second century writing of the book of Daniel:

• The Hebrew scripture places Daniel with the Writing instead of the Prophets. This suggests the Hebrews did not consider the book of Daniel prophetic and therefore not written in the sixth century B.C.
• Daniel, the alleged author, was considered a statesman, not a prophet.
• References to Daniel in the book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:14, 14:20, 28:3) refer to a mythological hero named Danel found in the Ugaritic epic “the Tale of Aqhat.”
• Daniel 1-6 were probably a historic account written in the third century B.C. Chapters 7-13 were added as an encouragement to the Hebrew people during their resistance to the Syrian-Greek tyrant Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163 B.C.).

Arguments for a sixth century B.C. writing of the book of Daniel:

• Daniel was included into the books of Writings because Daniel was a statesman and not a preacher like Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Ezekiel. The books placement does not reflect the content or nature of the book, only the status of its author.
• The book of Daniel repeatedly stated Daniel was the author.
• The author repeatedly states he is in exile in Babylon.
• The author repeatedly states the writing is a prediction of the future.
• The authors of the Gospel refer to the book of Daniel as a prophetic book and not a book of Writing. This suggests Daniel was generally considered to be prophetic.
• The Septuagint, the translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek, included the book of Daniel. The translation began in the third century B.C. and was completed before 132 B.C. This leaves at most 31 years for the book of Daniel to be written, gain widespread acceptance, accepted into cannon, travel 300 miles to Alexandria, and translated into Greek. Such a short window of time to complete such a task would be unprecedented. Typically such a task would take centuries.
• A manuscript of Daniel found at Qumran is dated at or before 125 B.C. This leaves less than 40 years for the book of Daniel to be written and gain widespread acceptance. We have no other historical examples of such a feat.
• The theology of Daniel is consistent with the sixth century B.C. and inconsistent with the second century B.C.
• The language and writing style of Daniel is consistent with the sixth century B.C.
• The references to Daniel found in the book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:14, 14:20, 28:3) are not likely references to Danel of the Ugaritic epic “the Tale of Aqhat.” This mythological Danel was an idolater and would not have been used as a model of faithfulness to God. Certainly the mythological Danel would not be compared to Noah and Job:

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kills its men and their animals, even if these three men – Noah, Daniel and Job- were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 14:12-14

Both arguments are plausible. However, the argument for a second century B.C. writing of the book of Daniel does not account for its inclusion in the Septuagint, the references to Daniel in the book of Ezekiel, the sixth century B.C. theology, and sixth century B.C. Hebrew, and the manuscripts found at Qumran. The most reasonable argument, therefore, is a sixth century writing of the book of Daniel, authored by Daniel.