Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il>]

George Athas wrote:

>  There are numerous Daniel stories which are around by 164 BCE. In order to 
> give the second
> half of the book some typical pseudonymous weight, it seems reasonable to 
> suggest that "Daniel" had
> been known for quite some time as a familiar figure. Thus, the Daniel 
> stories (even the
> "apocryphal" ones) probably had some currency before 164 BCE. Essentially, 
> I'm basing this on the
> convention in pseudepigraphy to use a well known personality as the 
> "author".
> 

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Of course Daniel had been around for some time as a familiar figure. He
figures in the Ugaritic legend of Aqht as a righteous king, who is
probably to be identified with the Daniel of Ezekiel 14 Daniel, Job and
Noah in this cha[ter are none of them Israelite figures.
Sincerely,

-- 
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
Beit Berl Post Office 44905
Israel