SOURCE: LaCocque, André. “Daniel as a Work of Literature.” In Daniel in His Time, pp. 59-81. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1988.

In the following essay, LaCocque analyzes various interpretations of the structure, motifs, and allusions in The Book of Daniel, pointing out where he agrees and disagrees with other scholars of the work.

Literary Composition

The question of the origin of the materials used by the author is a complex one because these materials differ greatly in nature. Once again a preliminary distinction must be made between chapters 1-6 (Daniel A) and chapters 7-12 (Daniel B). The early chapters contain edifying stories, parenetic and apologetic homilies. The later chapters contain eschatological visions that are hortatory in nature—in short, they are apocalypses.¹

The discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls in the Judean desert has prompted renewed discussion of the problem posed by the first six chapters. A...