Daniel

Birth of Daniel

620 BCE

Daniel is born.

Exile to Babylon

605 BCE

Daniel, along with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (later named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), is taken to Babylon, where they are ordered to learn Babylonian culture on Nebuchadnezzar’s orders. – Daniel 1:3-7

Learning

602 BCE

Daniel and his friends complete their three years of learning. – Daniel 1:18-20

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

602 BCE

Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay. – Daniel 2:26-45

Siege of Jerusalem

588 BCE

Nebuchadnezzar begins siege of Jerusalem. – 2 Kings 25:1-3

S, M, A Confronted by Nebuchadnezzar

586 BCE

Nebuchadnezzar confronts Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego about their disobedience. – Daniel 3:13-15

Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple

586 BCE

Jerusalem’s wall breaks and the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem, setting fire to the temple and the palace. – Jeremiah 52:7-14, 2 Kings 25:4-10

Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Statue

586 BCE

Nebuchadnezzar makes a golden statue and orders everyone to worship it or be thrown into the furnace. – Daniel 3:1-6

S, M, A Thrown into Furnace

586 BCE

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown into the furnace but are unharmed. – Daniel 3:19-25

S, M, A Refusal to Worship Golden Statue

586 BCE

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuses to pay homage to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. – Daniel 3:12

S, M, A Continued Refusal to Worship Golden Statue

586 BCE

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego continue to refuse to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. – Daniel 3:16-18

Nebuchadnezzar Vision of Tree and Insanity, Restoration

Period: 563 BCE to 562 BCE

Nebuchadnezzar experiences visions of a tree and being driven away from people and losing his sanity. He praises God, and after seven months, his sanity is restored. – Daniel 4:27-37

Nebuchadnezzar Dies

Period: 562 BCE to 556 BCE

Nebuchadnezzar dies and is replaced by a succession of short-lived kings.

Nabonidus Becomes King

556 BCE

Nabonidus becomes king of Babylon.

Nabonidus Appoints Belshazzar as Co-Regent

Period: 553 BCE to 549 BCE

Nabonidus appoints his son, Belshazzar, as his co-regent.

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

Period: 553 BCE to 549 BCE

Daniel experiences a vision of the four terrifying beasts but kept the vision to himself. – Daniel 7:1-7

Daniel's Vision of a Ram and a Goat

Period: 548 BCE to 547 BCE

Daniel receives a vision of a ram and a goat. A voice tells him the meaning of the vision, and Daniel lies exhausted by the vision for many days after. – Daniel 8:1-12

Cyrus Captures Babylon

539 BCE

Cyrus, emperor of Persia, captures Babylon.

Daniel in Lions' Den

539 BCE

Darius orders Daniel to be thrown into the lion’s den and wishes Daniel that he be saved by his God. – Daniel 6:16

Daniel Freed/Administrators Killed

539 BCE

Darius orders Daniel to be freed out of the lion’s den and have the administrators thrown in instead, along with their wives and children. – Daniel 6:23-24

Darius's Decree

539 BCE

The administrators who are envious of Daniel tricks Darius to issue a decree prohibiting anyone to worship in the next thirty days or be thrown to the lion’s den. Darius makes the decree public. – Daniel 6:6-9

Darius's Decree to Fear God

539 BCE

Darius issues a decree proclaiming that people should fear the God of Daniel. – Daniel 6:26-27

Belshazzar's Great Feast

539 BCE

Belshazzar holds a great feast and uses the holy vessels taken from Jerusalem. – Daniel 5:1-4

Writing on the Wall

539 BCE

A handwriting appears on the wall and Belshazzar calls for Daniel who interprets it as a judgement from God. – Daniel 5:5-29

Darius Elevates Daniel

539 BCE

Darius notes Daniel’s good qualities and plans to elevate him to the highest administrative position. The other administrators resented this and thought of ways to bring ruin to Daniel. – Daniel 6:1-6

Daniel Reported

539 BCE

Daniel is spotted by the administrators while he is worshiping the Lord inside his house, and they report him to Darius. – Daniel 6:10-15

Daniel is Unharmed

539 BCE

Darius hurries to the lion’s den the following day to see what happened to Daniel and learns to his astonishment that Daniel is unharmed. Daniel proclaims to Darius that God had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. – Daniel 6:21-22

Belshazzar Killed/Cyrus of Persia Invades

539 BCE

Belshazzar is killed when Cyrus of Persia invades Babylon. – Daniel 5:30

Cyrus Appoints Darius the Mede as Viceroy

539 BCE

Cyrus, emperor of Persia, appoints Darius the Mede as viceroy in Babylon.

Cyrus Allows Jews to Return to Judea

539 BCE

Cyrus allows the Jews to return to Judea and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. – Ezra 1:1-4

Zerubbabel Leads 50,000 Jews Home

538 BCE

Following Cyrus’ decree, around 50,000 Jews return home to Judea, led by Zerubbabel.

Daniel Prays and Fasts

537 BCE

Daniel prays and fasts about what lies ahead and the Jewish people's indifference to their captivity. - Daniel 10:2-3

Death of Daniel

536 BCE

Daniel dies at 84 years old. – Daniel 12:13

Rebuilt Temple is Completed

515 BCE

The temple in Jerusalem is completed. – Ezra 6:14-18