[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: question
To David Suter:>
>Are sages and priests mutually exclusive alternatives?<
No, of course not, but it's interesting that whereas Ezra is specifically
identified as a "priest/scribe" (Ezra ch. 7), Daniel and his side-kicks are
not. (I assume that in context a "scribe" would be a scholar/sage, i.e. a
wise and learned person.)
>the appearance of Gabriel to Daniel at the hour of the evening
sacrifice in 9:21<
Yes, but since this appears in the apocalyptic second half of the book, it
probably refers to a "Daniel" (factual or fictional) who is not the same guy
as the referent of "Daniel" (again, factual or fictional) in the first half of
the book (at least, on my assumption that two separate writings from different
times and places have been stuck together in our book of Daniel). I.e., where
in chs. 7-12 is "Daniel" identified as a sage?
As for "evening sacrifice" (Heb., minXat-'ereb), it's not clear to me that this
refers to a sacrifice or offering in a literal sense. The story is set in the
Diaspora, where all our evidence indicates that Jews had no Temple, and did not
sacrifice, but substituted prayer services instead. To this day, the afternoon
service is called "MinXah" (in memory of the original evening-offering in the
Temple) but no one would suggests that Jews who pray daily at the "hour of
the evening offering") have, or ever had, specfically priestly connections.
>the
presence of the name Daniel in a priestly genealogy -- Ezra 8:2, which would
make that particular Daniel a descendent of Aaron, Amram, Kohath, Levi, and
Ithamar, cf. 1 Chron. 6:1-3).<
But this is not in the Book of Daniel. How do you know this refers to the same
"Daniel"? Or if it does, the author of Ezra (who of course DOES have priestly
concerns and presents "Ezra" as a priest/scribe) may simply have made certain
assumptions regarding the "Daniel" whom he lists here.
BTW, I seem to remember reading that the name Daniel (at least with ref. to
the "Daniel" of the first half of the book) may be taken from the name of an
ancient sage renowned throughout the ancient Near East, about whom other
writings in other languages exist. Was THAT Daniel presented as a person with
priestly concerns, or merely as a sage in the wisdom literature sense? BTW,
can you tell me where I can read more about that original Daniel, on whom our
"Daniel" may well have been modelled?
Judith Romney Wegner,
Connecticut Colelge