looking for daniel

[gordon777]

Moderator will you miss this today, how the three threads today from JLGJLG, have Samuel not born yet as the opening line, Job old, and now Daniel young.

Is that the wisdom of God we are to hear in theology, how some are old, some are young ?

Of course being young will be different to being old.

It was claimed that Job was faithful, ( without including how Job was speaking against God throughout) now the aim is again to show faith in Daniel.



This is the summing up and the faith of Daniel at the end of the book.

Daniel asks right at the end of the book of Daniel, to know when the end is, Daniel is answered how the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

God also answers to Daniel, how many will be purified and made white, and tried, ( in faith) but that the wicked shall not understand, the wise shall.

Daniel is told to go and rest as he will stand in his lot at the end. ( all give account of themselves at the judgement seat of Christ.)





Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Daniel 12:13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

​

Now we go to the time of the end hearing about the escape of Daniel and his companions from the lions mouth for Daniel and the fiery furnace for them.

But that is not what makes anyone purified and made white, if we rely n stories of Samuel, Job and Daniel, we would die in the same sins those men had.

We must receive the promise of Jesus Christ, who received the promise for us to be white and right in understanding.



Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.


Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

 

[gordon777]

I do not expect the moderator to take this well, being advised what to do, but should moderators not know already what is subtilty and not for Christ. (what is not for is against)....



Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

 

[JLGJLG]

Moderator will you miss this today, how the three threads today from JLGJLG, have Samuel not born yet as the opening line, Job old, and now Daniel young.

Is that the wisdom of God we are to hear in theology, how some are old, some are young ?

Of course being young will be different to being old.

It was claimed that Job was faithful, ( without including how Job was speaking against God throughout) now the aim is again to show faith in Daniel.



This is the summing up and the faith of Daniel at the end of the book.

Daniel asks right at the end of the book of Daniel, to know when the end is, Daniel is answered how the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

God also answers to Daniel, how many will be purified and made white, and tried, ( in faith) but that the wicked shall not understand, the wise shall.

Daniel is told to go and rest as he will stand in his lot at the end. ( all give account of themselves at the judgement seat of Christ.)





Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Daniel 12:13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

​

Now we go to the time of the end hearing about the escape of Daniel and his companions from the lions mouth for Daniel and the fiery furnace for them.

But that is not what makes anyone purified and made white, if we rely n stories of Samuel, Job and Daniel, we would die in the same sins those men had.

We must receive the promise of Jesus Christ, who received the promise for us to be white and right in understanding.



Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.


Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

- Could you stop smoking?
- It is not good for mental and physical health!
- You are crazy man!
- Completely crazy!
- Have you ever read my pages?
- Of course not!
- Do you have any idea why we are told about faithful servants of Yah.weh in the Bible, faithful servants who are normal human beings as any human being coming from the earth?

 

[JLGJLG]

Moderator will you miss this today, how the three threads today from JLGJLG, have Samuel not born yet as the opening line, Job old, and now Daniel young.

Is that the wisdom of God we are to hear in theology, how some are old, some are young ?

Of course being young will be different to being old.

It was claimed that Job was faithful, ( without including how Job was speaking against God throughout) now the aim is again to show faith in Daniel.



This is the summing up and the faith of Daniel at the end of the book.

Daniel asks right at the end of the book of Daniel, to know when the end is, Daniel is answered how the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

God also answers to Daniel, how many will be purified and made white, and tried, ( in faith) but that the wicked shall not understand, the wise shall.

Daniel is told to go and rest as he will stand in his lot at the end. ( all give account of themselves at the judgement seat of Christ.)





Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Daniel 12:13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

​

Now we go to the time of the end hearing about the escape of Daniel and his companions from the lions mouth for Daniel and the fiery furnace for them.

But that is not what makes anyone purified and made white, if we rely n stories of Samuel, Job and Daniel, we would die in the same sins those men had.

We must receive the promise of Jesus Christ, who received the promise for us to be white and right in understanding.



Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.


Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

- Do you have mental disorder?

 

[JLGJLG]

I do not expect the moderator to take this well, being advised what to do, but should moderators not know already what is subtilty and not for Christ. (what is not for is against)....



Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

- How could you dare think about comparing a human being to Jesus?
- Are you going to say the same chorus every time I speak about faithful servants of Yah.weh?
- I have been doing it for so long!
- it is a joke!

 

[JLGJLG]

2) Daniel - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

• He has nothing!
• No animals!
• No servants!
• No children!
• No wife!
• We don’t know anything about his relationship to Yah.weh!
• Daniel has to prove everything!
• He is no one!
• A different country!
• A different culture!
• Different cultures!
• A minority among foreigners!
• And other gods everywhere!
• Fortunately, we get information about Daniel’s youth and adulthood!
• Not every detail but some events of his life!
• Personally, I enjoy reading such information again and again at the difference of other people!
• Then you can compare with your whole life again and again!
• Compare the different stages again and again!
• Nothing special!
• Just human!

 

[gordon777]

2) Daniel - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

• He has nothing!
• No animals!
• No servants!
• No children!
• No wife!
• We don’t know anything about his relationship to Yah.weh!
• Daniel has to prove everything!
• He is no one!
• A different country!
• A different culture!
• Different cultures!
• A minority among foreigners!
• And other gods everywhere!
• Fortunately, we get information about Daniel’s youth and adulthood!
• Not every detail but some events of his life!
• Personally, I enjoy reading such information again and again at the difference of other people!
• Then you can compare with your whole life again and again!
• Compare the different stages again and again!
• Nothing special!
• Just human!

Jesus Christ is the second man, special, the first man is your example of nothing special.


1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;




Why will it take until judgement day for the moderators to be judged for allowing blasphemy on these forums.

 

[JLGJLG]

3) Daniel - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

- Just like Job 1:5, here FAITHFULNESS is related to what is in our hearts!
- DANIEL 1:8

But Daniel
דָּנִיֵּאל֙ (dā·nî·yêl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1840: Daniel -- 'God is my judge', the name of several Israelites

resolved
וַיָּ֤שֶׂם (way·yā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

in
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his heart
לִבּ֔וֹ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

that
אֲשֶׁ֧ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he would not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

defile
יִתְגָּאַ֛ל (yiṯ·gā·’al)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1351: To soil, desecrate

himself with the king’s
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

food
בְּפַתְבַּ֥ג (bə·p̄aṯ·baḡ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6598: Portion, delicacies

or wine.
וּבְיֵ֣ין (ū·ḇə·yên)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

So he asked
וַיְבַקֵּשׁ֙ (way·ḇaq·qêš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

the chief
מִשַּׂ֣ר (miś·śar)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

official
הַסָּרִיסִ֔ים (has·sā·rî·sîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5631: A eunuch, valet, a minister of state

for permission
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to defile himself.
יִתְגָּאָֽל׃ (yiṯ·gā·’āl)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1351: To soil, desecrate

• Resolved in his heart!
• That he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine!
• What is the biblical definition of defile?
• What the Bible says about Defilement. (From Forerunner Commentary) Unclean in Scripture means "to be defiled, polluted, unhealthy, or unfit," and refers to foods that are unfit, defilement of religious character, and moral or spiritual impurity. The word "defilement" describes a sinful and unfit condition (Isaiah 6:5).
• So we can say that FAITHFULNESS IS CONNECTED TO MORAL AND SPIRITUAL PURITY!
• HERE ARE HIGH STANDARDS!
• THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORLD MODERN STANDARDS!
• ON THE CONTRARY, THEY ARE COMPLETELY OPPOSITE!

 

[gordon777]

• Resolved in his heart!
• That he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine!
• What is the biblical definition of defile?
• What the Bible says about Defilement. (From Forerunner Commentary) Unclean in Scripture means "to be defiled, polluted, unhealthy, or unfit," and refers to foods that are unfit, defilement of religious character, and moral or spiritual impurity. The word "defilement" describes a sinful and unfit condition (Isaiah 6:5).
• So we can say that FAITHFULNESS IS CONNECTED TO MORAL AND SPIRITUAL PURITY!
• HERE ARE HIGH STANDARDS!
• THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORLD MODERN STANDARDS!
• ON THE CONTRARY, THEY ARE COMPLETELY OPPOSITE!

John 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.


1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

1 Corinthians 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

 

[JLGJLG]

98) If Daniel had children what type of school would he promote?


Daniel 1:

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz his chief court official to bring some of the Israelites, including those of royal and noble descent. They were to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.


- They should be able to learn about the example of faithful servants of God!


- They should be able to develop perpetual knowledge!


- That is creating new knowledge from studying again and again the same books of the Bible but through different angles or aspects!


- Thus they could see details they can’t see the first time or the second time or the third one…!


- But they shouldn’t be told what to think!


- They should open their brains!


- They should open their hearts!


- And they should express themselves which seems so difficult today!

 

[JLGJLG]

99) If Daniel had children what type of school would he promote?


Daniel 1:

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief court official to bring some of the Israelites, including those of royal and noble descent. They were to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.


- Thus it would penetrate their brains and hearts!

- By doing it every day it would keep inside!

- It would be a good way to prevent them from being superficial!


- Superficiality is such a big disease of our modern society!


- Thus they would be able even to teach their parents!

- Children have such a capacity to learn things but if they don’t do it regularly, they forget it as fast as they learn it!


- And superficiality brings more superficiality like a pandemic!


- That’s why we are where we are, that is like the Israelites in the desert!

 

[JLGJLG]

100) If Daniel had children what type of school would he promote?


Daniel 1:

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief court official to bring some of the Israelites, including those of royal and noble descent. They were to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.


- They should learn how to respect God’s creation!


- Thus they should have the possibility to go to the forests or to the beaches or wherever and clean them and take away the shit let by normal people (old and young)!


- But they should do it on a regular basis!


- And they should have the opportunity to express themselves about this reality!


- And they should be able to tell their parents about it and if necessary educate them!

 

[JLGJLG]

101) If Daniel had children what type of school would he promote?


Daniel 1:

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief court official to bring some of the Israelites, including those of royal and noble descent. They were to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.


- They should learn how to respect life because it’s a gift from God!


- Thus they should learn how to be responsible and be careful of others’ lives!


- And the best way is to start with old people!


- Thus they should have the opportunity to visit old people houses or at their homes on a regular basis and help them by spending time with them and speaking with them and walking with them and doing activities with them!


- There is so much to learn from them!


- But modern society has cut this natural link which is essential and that’s why we are where we are!

 

[JLGJLG]

102) If Daniel had children what type of school would he promote?


Daniel 1:

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief court official to bring some of the Israelites, including those of royal and noble descent. They were to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.


- Thus they should learn how to be responsible and be careful of others’ lives!


- And another good way would be to visit people who have been injured because of car accidents or people who are disabled!


- Then they could see by themselves how easy it is to be injured and have a big accident and lose the control of your body!


- They could also learn how to preserve their own lives!


- But you don’t get this knowledge by reading books but by meeting real people and spending time with them and speaking with them and helping them!


- We don’t get this knowledge when we are young and that’s why we are where we are!

 

[gordon777]

The way to Christ is to not hear all the thieves and robbers before Him, and then to not hear all the false teachers who rise after also.


John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.




Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

2 Peter 2:1-2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

 

[JLGJLG]

4) Daniel - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

- Daniel is younger than Job!
- But like Job, he doesn’t need refinement!
- He has the road map and he always follows it!
- He knows what to do in any situation!
- Every time, it is as clear as crystal!
- So why is it not the case with Israel and Mankind?
- They are supposed to have the same road map!
- Daniel and his companions are among total corruption and spiritual corruption!
- But they kept faithful!
- If we have the right road map and we don’t follow it, but we follow man’s tradition, we will never follow the right road!
- Yah.weh keeps repeating it in the Bible!
- But they don’t care!
- That’s it!

 

[JLGJLG]

103) If Daniel had children what type of school would he promote?


Daniel 1:

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief court official to bring some of the Israelites, including those of royal and noble descent. They were to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.


- They should learn how to respect God’s creation!


- They should learn how to respect life because it’s a gift from God!


- They could learn both by being in contact with animals, for instance dogs!


- It is incredible how so many people from the city are afraid of dogs!


- And it is also incredible how so many people are cruel with animals!


- And if you are cruel with animals, are you doing the same with human beings!


- How much violence is there at school?


- How many youngsters are killed at school in America?


- And I’m not speaking about values!


- What does it tell about society when youngsters or children can’t be safe at school?


- Saying that modern society is sick is far away from reality!

 

[JLGJLG]

104) Geographical locations in the book of Daniel


Daniel 1:


- City of Babylon:


https://www.britannica.com/place/Babylon-ancient-city-Mesopotamia-Asia


Babylon

ancient city, Mesopotamia, Asia

Babylon, Babylonian Bab-ilu, Old Babylonian Bāb-ilim, Hebrew Bavel or Babel, Arabic Aṭlāl Bābil, one of the most famous cities of antiquity. It was the capital of southern Mesopotamia (Babylonia) from the early 2nd millennium to the early 1st millennium bce and capital of the Neo-Babylonian (Chaldean) empire in the 7th and 6th centuries bce, when it was at the height of its splendour. Its extensive ruins, on the Euphrates River about 55 miles (88 km) south of Baghdad, lie near the modern town of Al-Ḥillah, Iraq.

History​

Though traces of prehistoric settlement exist, Babylon’s development as a major city was late by Mesopotamian standards; no mention of it existed before the 23rd century bce. After the fall of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, under which Babylon had been a provincial centre, it became the nucleus of a small kingdom established in 1894 bce by the Amorite king Sumuabum, whose successors consolidated its status. The sixth and best-known of the Amorite dynasts, Hammurabi (1792–50 bce), conquered the surrounding city-states and raised Babylon to the capital of a kingdom comprising all of southern Mesopotamia and part of Assyria (northern Iraq). Its political importance, together with its favourable location, made it henceforth the main commercial and administrative centre of Babylonia, while its wealth and prestige made it a target for foreign conquerors.

After a Hittite raid in 1595 bce, the city passed to the control of the Kassites (c. 1570), who established a dynasty lasting more than four centuries. Later in this period, Babylon became a literary and religious centre, the prestige of which was reflected in the elevation of Marduk, its chief god, to supremacy in Mesopotamia. In 1234 Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria subjugated Babylon, though subsequently the Kassite dynasty reasserted itself until 1158, when the city was sacked by the Elamites. Babylon’s acknowledged political supremacy is shown by the fact that the dynasty of Nebuchadrezzar I (1124–03), which endured for more than a century, made the city its capital, though the dynasty did not originate there.

Just before 1000, pressure from Aramaean immigrants from northern Syria brought administrative dislocation inside Babylon. From this period to the fall of Assyria in the late 7th century bce, there was a continual struggle between Aramaean or associated Chaldean tribesmen and the Assyrians for political control of the city. Its citizens claimed privileges, such as exemption from forced labour, certain taxes, and imprisonment, which the Assyrians, with a similar background, were usually readier to recognize than were immigrant tribesmen. Furthermore, the citizens, grown wealthy through commerce, benefitted from an imperial power able to protect international trade but suffered economically at the hands of disruptive tribesmen. Such circumstances made Babylon usually prefer Assyrian to Aramaean or Chaldean rule.

From the 9th to the late 7th century Babylon was almost continuously under Assyrian suzerainty, usually wielded through native kings, though sometimes Assyrian kings ruled in person. Close Assyrian involvement in Babylon began with Tiglath-pileser III (744–727 bce) as a result of Chaldean tribesmen pressing into city territories, several times usurping the kingship. Disorders accompanying increasing tribal occupation finally persuaded the Assyrian monarch Sennacherib (704–681 bce) that peaceful control of Babylon was impossible, and in 689 he ordered destruction of the city. His son Esarhaddon (680–669 bce) rescinded that policy, and, after expelling the tribesmen and returning the property of the Babylonians to them, undertook the rebuilding of the city; but the image of Marduk, removed by Sennacherib, was retained in Assyria throughout his reign, probably to prevent any potential usurper from using it to claim the kingship. In the mid-7th century, civil war broke out between the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal and his brother who ruled in Babylonia (southern Mesopotamia) as sub-king. Ashurbanipal laid siege to the city, which fell to him in 648 after famine had driven the defenders to cannibalism.

After Ashurbanipal’s death, a Chaldean leader, Nabopolassar, in 626 made Babylon the capital of a kingdom that under his son Nebuchadrezzar II (605–561 bce) became a major imperial power. Nebuchadrezzar undertook a vast program of rebuilding and fortification in Babylon, labour gangs from many lands increasing the mixture of the population. Nebuchadrezzar’s most important successor, Nabonidus (556–539 bce), campaigned in Arabia for a decade, leaving his son Belshazzar as regent in Babylon. Nabonidus failed to protect the property rights or religious traditions of the capital and attempted building operations elsewhere to rival Marduk’s great temple of Esagila. When the Persian Achaemenian dynasty under Cyrus II attacked in 539 bce, the capital fell almost without resistance; a legend (accepted by some as historical) that Cyrus achieved entry by diverting the Euphrates is unconfirmed in contemporary sources.

Under the Persians, Babylon retained most of its institutions, became capital of the richest satrapy in the empire, and was, according to the 5th-century-bce Greek historian Herodotus, the world’s most splendid city. A revolt against Xerxes I (482) led to destruction of its fortifications and temples and to the melting down of the golden image of Marduk.

In 331 Babylon surrendered to the Macedonian king Alexander the Great, who confirmed its privileges and ordered the restoration of the temples. Alexander, recognizing the commercial importance of the city, allowed its satrap to coin money and began constructing a harbour to foster trade. In 323 Alexander died in the palace of Nebuchadrezzar; he had planned to make Babylon his imperial capital. Alexander’s conquest brought Babylon into the orbit of Greek culture, and Hellenistic science was greatly enriched by the contributions of Babylonian astronomy. After a power struggle among Alexander’s generals, Babylon passed to the Seleucid dynasty in 312. The city’s importance was much reduced by the building of a new capital, Seleucia on the Tigris, where part of Babylon’s population was transferred in 275.

 

[JLGJLG]

5) Daniel - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

- But Daniel has not only the right road map, he asks to be put to the test!
- Thus he organizes everything in order to please Yah.weh!
- And he is successful!
- And because of their faithfulness, Yah.weh gives Daniel and his three companions knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom!
- And Daniel receives insight in all kinds of visions and dreams!
- Thus everything is connected!
- First they get their roadmap engraved in their hearts!
- Second, they constantly act to stay on the road!
- Third, they keep away from man’s corruption and spiritual prostitution!
- Fourth, they get a constant connection to Yah.weh!

 

[JLGJLG]

105) Geographical locations in the book of Daniel

Babylon​

The ancient city​

Evidence of the topography of ancient Babylon is provided by excavations, cuneiform texts, and descriptions by Herodotus and other Classical authors. The extensive rebuilding by Nebuchadrezzar has left relatively little archaeological data in the central area earlier than his time, while elsewhere the water table has limited excavation in early strata. The reports of Herodotus largely relate to the Babylon built by Nebuchadrezzar.

Nebuchadrezzar’s Babylon was the largest city in the world, covering about 4 square miles (10 square km). The Euphrates, which has since shifted its course, flowed through it, the older part of the city being on the east bank. There the central feature was Esagila, the great temple of Marduk, with its associated ziggurat (a tower built in several stages) Etemenanki. The latter, popularly known as the Tower of Babel, had a base 300 feet (91 metres) on a side, and its seven stages, the uppermost a temple in blue glaze, reached a total height equal to that of its base. Four other temples in the eastern half of the city are known from excavations and a larger number from texts. Along the Euphrates, particularly in the neighbourhood of Esagila, were quays for trading vessels, and textual evidence that Babylon was an entrepôt for trade with south Babylonia points to the existence of warehouses. The river was spanned by a bridge, on brick piles with stone capping, to the western half of the city. The streets were laid out on a grid, with the main axis parallel to the river. From Esagila northward passed the paved Processional Way, its walls decorated with enameled lions. Passing through the Ishtar Gate, adorned with enameled bulls and dragons, it led to the Akitu House, a small temple outside the city that was said to be visited by Marduk at the New Year festival. West of the Ishtar Gate, one of eight fortified gates, were two palace complexes that covered about 40 acres (16 hectares) with their fortifications.

East of the Processional Way lay an area that since the time of Hammurabi had contained private dwellings built around central courtyards. A massive double wall, protected by a fosse (ditch), enclosed the city on both sides of the Euphrates. Beyond the city walls to the east an outer rampart of triple construction, 11 miles long (18 km), met the Euphrates south and north of the city, enclosing another palace at the rampart’s northern junction. Between the inner and outer defenses was irrigated land with a network of canals, some going back to the time of Hammurabi. Greek tradition refers to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a simulated hill of vegetation-clad terracing over a vaulted substructure that in Hellenistic times was deemed one of the Seven Wonders of the World. German archaeologist Robert Koldewey discovered a unique series of foundation chambers and vaults in the northeastern corner of the palace at Babylon, which some suggest may have functioned as part of the substructure of the Hanging Gardens; others theorize that the garden site, constructed by the Assyrian king Sennacherib, in fact lay at his capital, Nineveh. However, with no confirmed remains of the gardens yet uncovered, speculation regarding their location and mechanism continued into the 21st century.

The present site​

The present site, an extensive field of ruins, contains several prominent mounds. The main mounds are (1) Babil, the remains of Nebuchadrezzar’s palace in the northern corner of the outer rampart, (2) Qasr, comprising the palace complex (with a building added in Persian times), the Ishtar Gate, and the Emakh temple, (3) Amran ibn Ali, the ruins of Esagila, (4) Merkez, marking the ancient residential area east of Esagila, (5) Humra, containing rubble removed by Alexander from the ziggurat in preparation for rebuilding, and a theatre he built with material from the ziggurat, and (6) Ishin Aswad, where there are two further temples. A depression called Sahn marks the former site of the ziggurat Etemenanki. A larger-than-life-size basalt lion, probably of Hittite origin and brought to Babylon in antiquity, stands north of the Ishtar Gate.

Archaeology​

After minor surveys and excavations by the British scholar Claudius James Rich (1811 and 1817), the British archaeologist and sometime diplomat Austen Henry Layard (1850), the French Orientalist Fulgence Fresnel, the German Assyriologist Jules Oppert (1852–54), and others, a major archaeological operation began under Koldewey for the German Oriental Society in 1899 and continued unbroken until 1917. In the course of his excavation of the structures mentioned, Koldewey also discovered cuneiform inscriptions, statues, stelae (pillars), terra-cotta reliefs, cylinder seals, pottery, glassware, and jewelry. Further brief investigations were made by the German Archaeological Institute in 1956 under Heinrich J. Lenzen at the Greek theatre and in 1966 under H.J. Schmidt at the site of Etemenanki. Restoration of the Emakh temple and of part of the Ishtar Gate, the Processional Way, and the palace complex was begun in 1958 by the Iraqi Department of Antiquities, which also built a half-size model of the complete Ishtar Gate at the entrance to the site. The original gate has been on display at Berlin’s Pergamon Museum since 1930.

Beginning in 2003, warfare in Iraq had a devastating effect on a number of antiquities and archaeological sites throughout the country, some of which were looted or damaged. In 2003 the presence of coalition forces based at the archaeological site initially protected the Babylon complex from looting; however, the subsequent establishment of a military encampment among the ruins caused significant damage, including leveling and contamination, prior to the site’s return to the Iraqi Ministry of Culture in 2005. In January 2009 the World Monuments Fund—in collaboration with Iraq’s State Board of Antiquities and Heritage and with funding from the U.S. Department of State—announced a new conservation plan for the site of the ancient city.