Summary

The document "The Book of Daniel: When Prophecy Fails by Centre Place" is a transcript of a lecture given by John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place about the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament.  In essence, the lecture provides a scholarly and critical analysis of the Book of Daniel, focusing on its historical context, literary features, and the phenomenon of failed prophecy within religious traditions.

Here's a summary of the key points:

*   **Focus:** The lecture primarily focuses on the Book of Daniel as an example of what happens when prophecy fails, particularly when specific predictions about the future do not come to pass.

*   **Author's Perspective:** The author argues that the Book of Daniel was not written by the historical Daniel, but by an apocalyptic prophet writing between 167 and 164 BCE. This is based on the observation that the "predictions" in the book are accurate up until 167 BCE (recounting past events) but become inaccurate after that date (failing to predict the future correctly).

*   **Content of Daniel:** The lecture discusses several famous stories and visions from the Book of Daniel, including:

*   The writing on the wall (Daniel 5) and the interpretation of the words "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin."

*   Daniel in the lion's den.

*   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

*   Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue representing different kingdoms.

*   Visions of four beasts emerging from the sea.

*   **Historical Context:** The lecture provides a historical timeline and background of the events surrounding the Book of Daniel, including the Babylonian Exile, the Persian Empire, the Hellenistic period, and the Maccabean Revolt.

*   **Anachronisms and Errors:** The author points out historical inaccuracies and anachronisms within the Book of Daniel, suggesting that the writer was not fully aware of the historical details of the time period the book is set in. For example, the book incorrectly states that the Medes conquered Babylon, when it was actually the Persians.

*   **Two Versions:** The lecture mentions that there are two different surviving versions of Daniel: one in Hebrew and Aramaic, and a longer version in Greek (the Septuagint), which includes additional stories.

*   **Themes:** Some of the themes discussed include:

*   Diaspora Judaism and the maintenance of Jewish identity in exile.

*   Courtly literature and stories of individuals in foreign courts.

*   Apocalyptic prophecy and visions of the end times.

*   **Apocalyptic Predictions and Failure:** The lecture emphasizes how the apocalyptic predictions in the Book of Daniel, particularly those relating to Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the end of the world, did not come to pass. The author discusses what happens when apocalyptic prophecies fail, and how believers often reinterpret or recalculate their expectations rather than abandoning their beliefs.

•   **Modern Interpretations:** The lecture touches on how the visions in the Book of Daniel continue to inspire and inform apocalyptic imagination today, and how different groups and individuals have interpreted the book throughout history.