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Daniel

About this book
Chapter 12

1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people,⁠ will arise.⁠ There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time.⁠ But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape.⁠ 2 Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake—some⁠ to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.⁠ 3 But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse.⁠ And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.⁠ 4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end.⁠ Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.”⁠ 5 I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river. 6 One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?” 7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky and made an oath by the one who lives forever:⁠ “It is for a time, times, and half a time.⁠ Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.” 8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir, what will happen after these things?” 9 He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand. 11 From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place, there are 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits and attains to the 1,335 days. 13 But you should go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive what you have been allotted.”

Texts in conversation

Compare Isaiah 53:11 and Daniel 12:3

Hebrew Bible

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Summary

Isaiah presents the servant bearing the sins of many so forgiveness can follow through suffering. Daniel reworks “the many” as people guided into right living by the wise, whose faithfulness is pictured as shining like stars.

Passages

Isaiah 53:11

Hebrew Bible
9 They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully. 10 Though the Lord desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished through him. 11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. “My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins. 12 So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.”
740–450 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Isaiah

Daniel 12:3

Hebrew Bible
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake—some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence. 3 But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever. 4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.” 5 I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river.
200–101 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Daniel

References

"... In addition to the grammatical form of the verb its (indirect) object must also be considered when making a final decision about the best nuance in translation. The covenant is made with or for ‘the many’ (לָרַבִּים). The same expression appears in Isaiah 53:11 to designate those who are justified by the Servant though they do not understand why he should suffer, and in Daniel 11:33 and 12:3 to designate a special group of people being taught by the מַשְׂכִּלִים. Is the reference in Daniel 9:27 to this special group, or is another group in view? Are the ‘many’ in Daniel 9:27 the ‘faithful remnant’ or are they collaborators with the forces of evil, either the leaders of the community or the Hellenists in general (presuming a second century date)? ... In Daniel 11:34 the word ‘many’ without the definite article refers to renegade Jews, but the occurrence in 11:39 is similar to 11:33, i.e. with definite article (and the preposition ב): it is said that the King of the North will cause his supporters ‘to rule over the many.’ It seems therefore that the expression הָרַבִּים, ‘the many,’ is a reference not to the general multitude that went along with Hellenistic reforms, but to a specialized group who in fact opposed them ..."
Silvia Anneliese Linington, Covenant In Daniel And The Dead Sea Scrolls: An Exposition Of Daniel 9-12 And Selected Sections Of The Damascus Document (CD), Community Rule (1QS), Hymns Scroll (1QHa) And War Scroll (1QM) (University of South Africa, 2014), 106–107.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Isaiah 53:11 and Daniel 12:3

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