Fact Or Fiction – Of Fire and Lions

FICTION:

Of Fire and Lions is a novel about a fictional female character, Daniel’s wife, but the story is built on a foundation of Truth with building blocks of fact.

Of course, we must first answer the question, “Did Daniel have a wife?”

Some scholars believe Daniel and his friends–Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego–were made eunuchs when taken as captives to Babylon. They use cultural and historical clues and Isaiah’s prophecy to support their opinion, and all four boys could have been made eunuchs upon their arrival in Babylon . .

[Isaiah said to King Hezekiah of Judah,] “And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Isaiah 39:7 (emphasis added)

FACT:

The Hebrew word used for “eunuch” in Isaiah 39:7 is, cariyc. The King James Bible translates the Hebrew word, in three ways: eunuch, chamberlain, or officer. Genesis 37:36 describes Potiphar as cariyc of Pharaoh’s guards.

“And the Midianites sold [Joseph] into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.” Genesis 37:36 KJV (emphasis added)

If you remember Joseph’s story, you’ll remember Potiphar’s Wife tried to force Joseph into her bed. Potiphar may not have been a great husband, but the fact that he HAD A WIFE seems to refute that he was a castrated eunuch. (See my 2022 release, Potiphar’s Wife!)

All that to point out . . . it’s possible for any of the four royal/noble young men–including Daniel–to have married when taken as King Nebuchadnezzar’s prisoners.

Wait. I’m getting ahead of myself…

TRUTH:

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it . . . Then [King Nebuchadnezzar] ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.” Daniel 1:1, 3–4 (emphasis added)

Daniel and his three friends were either descendants of David’s royal lineage or sons of Judah’s noble families. Did you realize that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were their Babylonian names? Daniel’s three friends’ TRUE Hebrew names are listed in the Bible:

“Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah . . .” Daniel 1:11 (emphasis added)

To read more about what I imagined Daniel’s early life to be like–his parents and possible link to King David’s descendants–you can CLICK HERE to download your free novella, Of Heroes and Kings. (You’ll be asked to subscribe to my newsletter to download, but you can unsubscribe at any time.)

FACT and FICTION:

Of Fire and Lions spans eighty years of Daniel’s life that we read about in the first six chapters of the biblical Book of Daniel. I’ve left the controversial prophecies in the final chapters to scholars much smarter than I. My purpose in writing Daniel’s story–through the eyes of a fictional wife–was to offer a balanced approach of what might have been through Scripture’s Truth, historical facts, and creative fiction.

TRUTH:

When Nebuchadnezzar first besieged Jerusalem, he took some treasures from Yahweh’s temple as offerings to his gods.

“The Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into [Nebuchadnezzar’s] hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.” Daniel 1:2 (emphasis added)

Jerusalem and its temple was completely destroyed in 586 B.C., but there’s no specific mention of the Ark of the Covenant or its fate. King Josiah (who reigned in Judah c. 640-609 BC) uttered the last mention in the Bible of the Ark’s known location.

“He said to the Levites . . . ‘Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built’ . . . Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign. After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle.” 2 Chronicles 35:3, 19-20

King Josiah was killed in the Battle of Carchemish, and the Ark’s location wasn’t mentioned again.

FACT:

There is a clue, however, to the Ark’s location in the apocryphal book, 2 Maccabees 2:4-5, involving the prophet Jeremiah.

“…the prophet, having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him (on his way to Egypt)…”

Why was Jeremiah going to Egypt? That’s actually a TRUE story in Scripture (Jeremiah 41:16-43:13). . .

TRUTH:

After Jerusalem’s destruction, Babylon appointed a puppet governor. Some of Judah’s hotheads assassinated him and went to the prophet Jeremiah AFTER killing him to ask if they should flee to Egypt. Jeremiah sought God’s counsel and ten days later came back with His answer: “Don’t go to Egypt.”

The rebels didn’t like God’s answer and called Jeremiah a liar. Then they took by force all the Judeans still in Jerusalem–including the prophet Jeremiah–and fled to Egypt.

“So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah .  . . And they took Jeremiah the prophet and . . . entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord.” Jeremiah 43:4, 6–7

FACT:

Here’s where the fun historical facts and fiction meet! Remember the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark? (It’s old, I know, but it’s such a classic!) The reason Indiana Jones looked for the Lost Ark in Egypt is because scholars are still debating its location–and some believe Jeremiah might have hidden it on the route between Egypt and Jerusalem!

2 Maccabees 2:5 says, “[Jeremiah] went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God [i.e. Mt. Nebo; see Deuteronomy 31:1-4]. Jeremiah came and found a cave-dwelling, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense; then he sealed up the entrance.”

TRUTH:

Daniel served under three kings in two distinct world empires. Daniel 1:1 mentioned the first and longest of Daniel’s recorded service to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The second world empire is a bit more confusing. It began with an ill-fated party:

“King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem.” Daniel 5:1–2

With a little research, it was clear that Nebuchadnezzar was Belshazzar’s great-grandfather–the word “father” used in a general sense like forefather. (You’ll hear more about Belshazzar’s actual father later when we talk about Nebuchadnezzar’s change to a beast of some kind!)

During King Belshazzar’s party, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote an even more mysterious warning on his palace wall. The second empire Daniel served attacked on this same night. Everyone in Belshazzar’s administration had forgotten Daniel–except the queen. She remembered hearing of a man “who had the spirit of the gods in him.” Daniel was brought to interpret the writing on the wall. Daniel said:

“Daniel answered the king, ‘. . . Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor . . . But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride . . . he was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal . . . until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this . . .Therefore [the Most High God] sent the hand that wrote the inscription . . . mene, mene, tekel, parsin . . . Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’ Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel 5:17–18, 20-22, 24- 29 (emphasis added)

SIDEBAR FACT:

Was Nebuchadnezzar REALLY driven away from people and given the mind of an animal? Scripture says it’s true, but . . . really?

Boanthropy is the name used for Nebuchadnezzar’s 7-year existence as the “beast” described in Daniel 4. The Pharmaceutical Journal gives an alternative theory:

Aside from boanthropy, other explanations for his behaviour include porphyria (a group of enzyme disorders that manifest with neurological symptoms including hallucinations, depression, anxiety and paranoia) or general paresis or paralytic dementia caused by syphilis.

The porphyrias are a group of rare inherited or acquired disorders of certain enzymes that normally participate in the production of porphyrins and haem. They manifest with either neurological complications or skin problems, or occasionally both. [The Pharmaceutical Journal, July 2013;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2021.1.69308]

King Belshazzar’s father, Nabonidus, also suffered from the rare physical condition. Or was it–as Scripture says–a spiritual warning for Nebuchadnezzar’s offspring as it had been for him? No matter whether God struck one king or twenty with mystical symptoms or purely physical, the Medes and Persians interrupted King Belshazzar’s party.

TRUTH:

“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.” Daniel 5:30–31 (emphasis added)

FACTS:

Who was this Darius, the Mede? Some resources said he was the Persian king’s commander, General Gubaru, given the throne name, Darius, when he conquered the impregnable city of Babylon. Other resources said Darius and Cyrus were the same person, using two names (one a throne name).

As I dug deeper into research, it seemed most reasonable to believe Darius was indeed General Gubaru. He was given the throne of Babylon–a second capital in the empire. Cyrus ruled the Medes and Persians, merging the nations after killing his grandfather, the Median king.

Why is it important to recognize that Cyrus was the Emperor and who held ultimate authority over the exiles in Babylon during Daniel’s last years?

TRUTH:

Nebuchadnezzar’s siege and destruction of Jerusalem was God’s judgment on Judah for their idolatry and repeated rebellion. Prophets had warned the people of Judah for years, but they refused to listen.

“[Nebuchadnezzar] . . . found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service . . . And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.” Daniel 1:19, 21 (emphasis added)

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing . . . ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.'” 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 (emphasis added)

Daniel Saw Jeremiah’s Words Fulfilled

Jeremiah and Isaiah had much to say about both Judah’s destruction, but they also spoke of a faithful remnant that would someday return to Jerusalem to rebuild.

“This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.'” Jeremiah 29:10 (emphasis added)

Many believe Daniel saw both the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar and the first wave of exiles return to rebuild Jerusalem 70 years later. He saw Jeremiah’s prophecy fulfilled! It’s possible, since Scripture confirms he served during the first year of Cyrus’s reign!

Daniel Saw Isaiah’s Words Fulfilled

Isaiah actively prophesied during the reigns of four kings–Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1). The fifth king, Manasseh–his own grandson–likely executed him (see Isaiah’s Legacy for more details). Isaiah died approximately 145 years BEFORE Cyrus sat on the Medo-Persian throne…yet Yahweh spoke of Cyrus through Isaiah by name.

“I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself . . . who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, “It shall be inhabited,” of the towns of Judah, “They shall be rebuilt,” and of their ruins, “I will restore them” . . . who says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please” . . . he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.” This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” Isaiah 44:24, 26, 28; 45:1-3 (emphasis added)

WOW! Does that mean Cyrus believed in Yahweh and worshiped Him? Nope. The very next verse affirms God’s ability to write straight lines with crooked sticks…

“For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.” Isaiah 45:4

FUN FACT:

Yes, all the amazing stories in the Book of Daniel are included in Of Fire and Lions. Angels rescue Daniel in the lions’ den (and now you know more about the king who put him there). And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are saved from the fiery furnace after they refused to bow down and worship the statue Nebuchadnezzar built after seeing it in a dream (Daniel 3).

Have you ever drawn out the dimensions of that statue to see what it might have looked like? I hadn’t either–until researching this book.

The image of gold was sixty cubits (90 ft.) high and six cubits (9 ft.) broad, a very impressive sight. Isn’t that fairly odd proportions for a human form? It would have looked very similar to . . . Yep, the Washington Monument.

 

Want More Truth, Fact, and Fiction?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this FACT OR FICTION page for Of Fire and Lions. If you haven’t yet read the book and would like to purchase your copy or learn more about it, CLICK HERE.  And if you’re curious about the Truth that awaits you in God’s Word, check out the Daniel 1:1-6:28. Happy reading!

*CLICK HERE for a list of all my books (including free novella downloads) in order of publication.

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