This is Scripture Roundtable 95 from The Interpreter Foundation, in which we discuss the Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson #45, “If I Perish, I Perish,” focusing on scriptures in Daniel 1, 3, 6, and Esther 3-5, and 7-8, bringing in various insights to help us better understand the scriptures. These roundtables will generally follow the 2014 Gospel Doctrine schedule of scriptures, a few weeks ahead of time.
Panelists for this roundtable are Mike Parker, Ben McGuire, Daniel Peterson, and Bruce Webster.
This roundtable is also available as an audio podcast, and will be included in the podcast feed. You can listen by pressing the play button or download the podcast below:
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:08:43 — 23.6MB)
Early on Mike Parker indicated that the chronology of Daniel 1:1 was incorrect. “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.”
According to Oded Lipschits of the Department of Jewish History at Tel-Aviv University Jerusalem was besieged (not that Jerusalem fell, just that it was besieged) by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BC. If Jehoiakim was appointed king in 608 BC, then 605 BC would put it in or around the third year of his reign.
http://fontes.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/lipschits.htm
I’m not saying there aren’t historical inconsistencies in Daniel, I’m just saying that maybe Daniel 1:1 isn’t one of them.
Bruce
Your tangential comment that a non-member smoking was not a sin because the non-member was not under the requirements of a commandment raises the question ‘How is it that we baptise non-members for the remission of sins when they, and likewise children of 8 years, have not been under the requirements of commandments’. To knowingly transgress God’s law is one thing, to trangress unknowingly, another. In relation to the latter, what is being remitted?
A very informative discussion–I enjoyed it very much–thanks guys.
Years ago on PBS I used to enjoy “Siskel and Ebert” review and talk about movies. The interaction between them with their different perspectives and opinions, expanded my own understanding and enjoyment of the movies. Sadly, after they went their separate ways, movies reviews were not as enjoyable to me.
You guys are the “Siskel and Ebert” of the scriptures. The combined perspective and insight of each of your individual comments has greatly increase my understanding and enjoyment of the scriptures. Thank you for doing this and sharing it.
McGuire, Parker, Peterson and Webster–sounds like a rock band–when is the CD release party and world tour? 🙂