Topical Encyclopedia
The Apocryphal Additions to the Book of Daniel refer to several sections found in the Greek Septuagint and other ancient versions of the Old Testament, which are not present in the Hebrew Masoretic Text. These additions include "The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Holy Children," "Susanna," and "Bel and the Dragon." While these texts are considered canonical by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, they are regarded as apocryphal by most Protestant traditions, which adhere to the Hebrew canon.
The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Holy ChildrenThis addition is inserted between
Daniel 3:23 and 3:24 in the Septuagint. It expands on the narrative of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. The text begins with a prayer by Azariah (Abednego), who calls upon God for deliverance and acknowledges the sins of Israel. Following the prayer, the narrative describes an angel of the Lord who cools the flames, allowing the three men to sing a hymn of praise. This hymn, known as the "Song of the Three Holy Children," is a liturgical piece that exalts God's creation and His deliverance.
SusannaThe account of Susanna is a moral tale of virtue and justice. It is set during the Babylonian exile and tells of a beautiful and pious woman named Susanna, who is falsely accused of adultery by two elders. As she is about to be executed, the young Daniel intervenes, demonstrating wisdom and discernment. By cross-examining the elders separately, Daniel exposes their deceit, leading to their punishment and Susanna's vindication. This narrative highlights themes of innocence, divine justice, and the importance of righteous judgment.
Bel and the DragonThis addition consists of two separate accounts that further illustrate Daniel's wisdom and faithfulness to God. In the first account, Daniel exposes the deceit of the priests of Bel, a Babylonian idol, by revealing that they consume the offerings left for the idol. In the second account, Daniel demonstrates the powerlessness of a dragon worshiped by the Babylonians. By feeding it a concoction that causes its destruction, Daniel proves the futility of idolatry. These accounts emphasize the superiority of the God of Israel over pagan deities and the triumph of faith over falsehood.
Canonical Status and Theological SignificanceThe Apocryphal Additions to Daniel are not included in the Jewish canon and are absent from the Protestant Old Testament. However, they are found in the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, which have influenced their acceptance in certain Christian traditions. These texts provide additional insights into the themes of faith, divine intervention, and the struggle against idolatry, which are central to the canonical Book of Daniel.
While not considered authoritative Scripture in many Christian circles, these additions have been valued for their moral teachings and their role in the broader context of biblical literature. They offer a glimpse into the religious and cultural milieu of the Second Temple period and reflect the enduring struggle of God's people to remain faithful amidst adversity.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Apocryphal Additions To DanielThe Greek translations of Daniel contain several pieces which are not found int he original text. The most important are contained in the Apocrypha of the English Bible under the titles ofThe Son of the Three Holy Children, The History of Susannah, andThe History of...Bel and the Dragon. The first of these is supposed to be the triumphal song of the three confessors in the furnace, (Daniel 3:23) praising God for their deliverance, of which a chief part (35-66) has been used as a hymn in the Christian Church since the fourth century. The second, called alsoThe Judgment of Daniel , relates the story of the clearing of Susannah from a charge of adultery; and the third gives an exaggerated account of Daniel's deliverance.
Library
Chronology.
... 1:1: "Thoseapocryphal Additions toDaniel, which either are false, or there were
two Habakkuks"; and JH Blunt, more seriously, to a similar effect on Habakkuk...
Preface
... The threeapocryphal portions ofDaniel considered in this book have often... to
investigate the nature and origin of theAdditions toDaniel finds himself...
Date and Place of Writing.
... date it was that theseapocryphal additions (which are contained in all MSS. that
have reached us), were taken up into the Greek and SyriacDaniel." How he...
Use of the Old Testament by the First Christian Writers, and by...
... under the name of "Jeremiah the prophet;"(95) and theadditions toDaniel as "Daniel
the prophet."(96) Clement of Alexandria(97) uses theapocryphal books like...
Early Christian Literature and Art
... though excluding this and the otherAdditions from the... distinction from the rest
of the names inDaniel.... Thisapocryphal tract has afforded two fairly popular...
Introduction.
... in his version, as in ours, fromDaniel, and placed among theapocryphal books.
Calvin, however; in his Lectures onDaniel entirely ignores theseadditions....
Canonicity.
... canonical book, as the length ofDaniel's incarceration in... view of this and the other
Additions in common... special doctrine to turn upon anapocryphal text, she...
Theology.
... us of in his preface toDaniel, yet even the most contemptuous deprecators of the
Additions' can find... in some quarters to charge theseapocryphal books with...
Authorship.
... Like some other of theapocryphal books, this is a... no acquaintance with this or the
otheradditions, though he... use of other uncanonical legends ofDaniel (Jud....
Canonicity.
... Gnomon on Matthew 24:15), that theapocryphal books in... If theadditions are to be
regarded with Streane (Age... the pre-existence of the canonicalDaniel; but it...
Resources
What are the Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical books? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Prayer of Azariah? | GotQuestions.orgHow do we know that the Bible is the Word of God, and not the Apocrypha, the Qur'an, the Book of Mormon, etc.? | GotQuestions.orgApocryphal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
