Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au>]

The mention of Daniel in Ezekiel is almost definitely not of the biblical 
Daniel who rises through
the corporate ladder of two empires. The reference is almost definitely of 
the proverbial wise man,
Dan'il (or "Dan'el") who is also known in some of the Ugaritic epics. Being 
mentioned alongside Job
and Noah puts "Daniel" in a very ancient timeframe - in the "a long, long 
time ago, in a land far,
far away..." category. He must the proverbial Dan'il.

Thus, this mention of a "Daniel" in Ezekiel cannot be used to date the book 
of Ezekiel to
Hellenistic times. If we are to do so, we must find other grounds to do it on.

Regards.
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GEORGE ATHAS
 Dept of Semitic Studies,
 University of Sydney
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