ABSTRACT
Although Nebuchadnezzar features in Daniel, this book belongs to an era four centuries later than the Exile, which is now ancient history. Judah has new conquerors. The Greek empire of Alexander (r. 336–323 bc) overthrew the Persian empire of Cyrus, Darius and their descendants. Judea fell without a struggle, and after Alexander’s death was ruled first by the Ptolemaic dynasty from Egypt and then by the Seleucid dynasty from Syria. In 168 bc Antiochus IV Ephiphanes (r. 175–163), trying to subdue the region, broke down the walls of Jerusalem, and defiled the Temple by setting up a statue of Jupiter in the sanctuary sacred to Jahweh alone. Daniel was written shortly after 168 bc to encourage the Jews, at about the time of this outrage, which ignited the successful rebellion under the Maccabees.
