Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the whole book. It relates early events in the lives of Daniel and his three Hebrew contemporaries, but the emphasis is on Daniel's decisions. These choices formed the basis for his character, and his character accounted for the unusually long and successful career that he enjoyed in the service of several monarchs. His godly character also provides a key concerning God's choice of him to receive and transmit the remarkable revelations of the future that this book contains. God's choice of Daniel was sovereign, but Daniel's choices qualified him to serve as God intended (cf. 1 Tim. 1:12).
"The first chapter . . . is introductory. It sets forth the moral condition suited to enlightenment in the ways and counsels of God. . . .
"If we are going to get the mind of God in studying this book, we must remember that it consists of revelations, deliverances and visions given to a spiritually-minded man who was separated from the iniquity of his day; and if we are to understand it, we also need to be spiritually-minded, and to walk apart from all that is unholy, all that would hinder progress in divine things."23
Structurally, the chapter is a chiasm with the first 14 verses presenting a tension and the last 7 providing the resolution.24
ABabylonia assumes supremacy over Israel vv. 1-2
BYoung men taken and subjected to pagan training vv. 3-7
CDaniel seeks to remain faithful to his God v. 8-14
C'Daniel remains faithful to his God vv. 15-16
B'Young men triumph in their pagan training vv. 17-20
A'Daniel proves supreme over the Babylonians v. 21
Daniel wrote 2:4b-7:28 in the Aramaic language. This literary change gives the reader a clue that this part is a distinct section of the book. The content of this section also identifies it as special. It concerns the future history of the Gentiles during "the times of the Gentiles"(Luke 21:24). Aramaic was the common language of the world in which Daniel lived when he wrote. It is natural that he would have recorded what concerns the world as a whole in the language of the Gentiles.
The writer constructed this section of the book in chiastic form.
AA prophecy of an image concerning four Gentile nations and their end ch. 2
BThe supernatural persecution and deliverance of Daniel's three friends ch. 3
CGod's revelation to the Gentile king Nebuchadnezzar ch. 4
C'God's revelation to the Gentile king Belshazzar ch. 5
B'The supernatural persecution and deliverance of Daniel ch. 6
A'A prophecy of animals concerning four Gentile nations and their end ch. 7
"Chapters 2 and 7 explain the succession of four gentile empires that would exert control over Jerusalem and the Jews until God's kingdom is established. Chapters 3 and 6 warned the Jews of the persecution they would face during this period and exhorted them to remain faithful to God. Chapters 4 and 5 encouraged the Jewish remnant by reminding them that a time would come when even the gentile rulers would acknowledge that the God of Israel rules over the nations."46
Two things signal the beginning of a new section in the book here. These two things are a return to the Hebrew language in the original text (cf. 1:1-2:3) and an emphasis on the nation Israel. Evidently Daniel wrote the remainder of this book in Hebrew because the revelation in it concerned his people particularly.291
