“A prayer
Of Habakkuk,
The prophet,
According to Shigionoth.”
This last chapter is clearly a prayer or hymn of Habakkuk the prophet. Like the psalms attributed to David, it may not have been written by him, but inspired by Habakkuk. They were to sing this using the melody of Shigionoth or a lamentation. Thus, this hymn or prayer may have been used in their worship services.
“When King Astyages
Was laid to rest
With his ancestors,
Cyrus the Persian
Succeeded to his kingdom.”
This last chapter of the Book of Daniel is often referred to as the story of Bel, the god, and the dragon. Daniel will show how each one was useless. Once again, this chapter is only in the Greek Septuagint, so that it is often called apocryphal. This story takes place at the later part of the life of Daniel, since Cyrus the Persian (598-530 BCE) was the King. His rule in Persia began in 559 BCE and lasted about 30 years. Here, he is still only the king of Persia that he received from his father, King Astyages (585-550 BCE). The sister of King Astyages was the wife of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Thus, you can see the connection, as Cyprus would have been the nephew of the Babylonian king. Eventually, Cyrus took over Babylon in 539 BCE.
“Gabriel came.
He said to me.
‘Daniel!
I have now come out
To give you wisdom,
To give you understanding.
At the beginning
Of your supplications,
A word went out.
I have come
To declare it.
You are greatly beloved.
Thus,
Consider the word!
Understand the vision!”
Gabriel had heard the prayer and supplications that Daniel had made to God. Thus, that this was the Angel Gabriel is not out of place, especially based on the last chapter. This Gabriel said to Daniel that he had come to give him wisdom and understanding. Something that he had said at the beginning of his prayers and supplications needed a further explanation. There was no doubt that Daniel was greatly loved. However, he had to consider the words and vision that was about to take place.
“There were
Three presidents
Over these satraps.
Daniel was one of them.
The satraps
Gave account
To these presidents.
Thus,
The king
Might suffer no loss.
Soon
Daniel distinguished himself
Above all the other presidents,
Above all the other satraps.
Because an excellent spirit
Was in him.
The king planned
To appoint him
Over the whole kingdom.”
Daniel seemed to have a unique role. He already had an important role under King Belshazzar (550-539 BCE) of Babylon, as indicated at the end of the last chapter. Here, he took on a bigger role as president of the whole country. However, Daniel would be an old man at this time. First, he was 1 of the 3 presidents. Then the king decided to put in charge of everything because of his excellent spirit. Thus, this Judean exile Daniel was in charge in Persia and Babylon, just under the king.
“Thus says Yahweh God.
‘O Tyre!
You have said.
‘I am perfect
In beauty.’
Your borders are
In the heart
Of the seas.
Your builders
Made perfect
Your beauty.’”
Yahweh, via Ezekiel, seemed to praise the beauty of Tyre. The people of Tyre thought that they were perfect in beauty. As a city island, her borders were the sea all around her. Somehow her builders made her perfectly beautiful. This seems odd coming after the complete condemnation of Tyre, at the end of the last chapter. This was a strange lamentation about Tyre.
“Like a scarecrow
In a cucumber bed,
That guards nothing,
So are their gods of wood,
Overlaid with gold
Or silver.
In the same way,
Their gods of wood,
Overlaid with gold
Or silver,
Are
Like a thorn bush
In a garden,
On which every bird perches.
They are
Like a corpse
Thrown out in the darkness.
From the purple
Or the linen
That rot upon them,
You will know
That they are not gods.
They will finally
Be consumed themselves.
They will be a reproach
In the land.
Better,
Therefore
Is someone upright.
Such a person
Will be far above reproach.”
This letter of Jeremiah found as the last chapter in this book of Baruch ends with a comparison of these false wooden gods covered with gold and silver. The author compared them to a scarecrow in a cucumber bed that guarded nothing. They were compared to a thorn bush in a garden where birds sat on it. They were compared to a dead corpse in the dark. All of these useless items were like these useless idol gods. Even with purple or linen on them, they would still rot. They would be finally consumed and become a reproach to all. It was much better to be an upright person beyond reproach than any of these gods. So ends the letter of Jeremiah in the Book of Baruch.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 