The Dead Sea Scrolls include an Aramaic text purporting to be a "Prayer of Nabunai". It was found in Cave 4 and catalogued as 4Q242. 4Q242 has an obvious relationship to Daniel 4 (part of another mostly-Aramaic text, Daniel 1-7). It is the consensus among scholars that Nabunai precedes it, although few argue for direct dependence. Glenn Miller, noted Christian apologist (here also toeing the line of orthodox Judaism) in July 1998 published on the Web the contrary opinion: "it is just as likely that this Qumran fragment is dependent on the purer and less ornate Daniel 4 'original'". Now, Mr Miller has not explained how Daniel 4 could become 4Q242. Unfortunately, I have not found any counter-proposals. Such papers exist, but they are not Web-accessible. Hence this project.
We have to start with the text of Daniel. The version we know derives from the Masoretic Text, the Vulgate, the received Greek Bible, and the Peshitta; they are all pretty much the same here. In fact, this version is very ancient; it is also the Daniel found in the Dead Sea Scrolls and via Theodotion in Brenton's "Septuagint", and the version for Christian OT commentary since Hippolytus in 275 CE.
But Theodotion's was not the first translation into Greek. The first translation into Greek was known to Jerome as the real Septuagintal translation, and pre-Hippolytus Christians like Tertullian based their commentaries on that version instead. That version re-emerged in the late nineteenth century - after Brenton. It currently survives in three copies: R.vii.45 in the Chigi library; in Codex Syro-hexaplaris Ambrosianus; and in Chester-Beatty Papyrus 967. At first scholarship agreed with Jerome that the LXX was a free paraphrase of Majority Daniel; but now, following the precedent of Jeremiah, non-evangelicals agree that it was a faithful translation of a different Aramaic text.
TJ Meadowcroft argued that both stem from a common original, and that therefore LXX Daniel preserves some original readings not found in Majority Daniel. But at the time I picked up his book, the Fondren Library at Rice had not yet acquired Matthias Henze's careful study of Daniel 4 alone. Henze concurred that "neither the MT nor the Old Greek has served as the Vorlage for the other" (p. 40), and that the "common form" was "no longer extant". In the body of his project, though, he admits no common form beyond an original source tradition, mostly oral legends and Babylonian tales. This was an entirely proper stance under the circumstances.
I propose - tentatively - that we see the Prayer of Nabunai as the common form. Meadowcroft barely mentioned Nabunai. Henze, while admitting that Nabunai was "probably the most important" predecessor of Daniel 4, did not see enough evidence to draw a line of descent. I am taking a new tack here. I will extract where the two versions of Daniel 4 agree. I will then see where those ideas intersect with literature prior to Nabunai. If Nabunai has added something to the tradition which the Daniels share, or provides a context for such a tradition change, that ought to count as evidence in Nabunai's favour.
I will start by laying out the variant Daniel 4's in synopses, reducing the narrative repetitions to narrative units (which you can view in column format). I will do the same for 4Q242. Then I will look at how 4Q242 and Dan 4 differ, find the affinities each has to contemporary literature, and conclude with an attempt to establish a line of dependence.
I intend to employ a large stack o' tables. I recommend you view this page in at least 800-pixel-width resolution.
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10. These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. |
19. Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20. The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21. with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air-- |
22. you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. |
28. All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30. he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" |
20a. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, |
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13. "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a Watcher,[2] a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14. He called in a loud voice: `Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15a. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. |
15b. "`Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times [3] pass by for him. |
23a. "You, O king, saw a Watcher,[2] a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, `Cut down the tree and destroy it, 23c. but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. |
23b. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times [3] pass by for him.' |
24. "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25ab. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you 26. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. |
31. The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times [3] will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." 33. Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like (MT: the feathers of an eagle, LXX: lions') and his nails like the claws of a bird. |
20b. he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21a. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, |
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17. "`The decision is announced by Watchers,[2] the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.' 18. "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you." |
25c. until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 27. Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue." |
34. At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" 36. At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. |
21b. until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes. | |||
(from the NIV, corrected against the theological biases of the translators. See notes -)
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10. I slept and behold: A high tree was growing upon the land. The sight of it was great, and there was not another like it. 12. Its branches were thirty stadia in length and it cast a shadow over all the beasts of the earth under it, and in it the birds of heaven nested. Its fruit was plentiful and good and supplied all living things. 11. And the sight of it was great. Its crown drew near to heaven and its trunk to the clouds, filling everything under heaven. The sun and the moon dwelt in it and it lit all the earth. |
19. And Daniel marvelled greatly and the true meaning dismayed him, and fearful trembling seized him and the sight of him changed and his head shook for a moment. And he wondered and answered me with a soft voice: "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20. The tree planted in the earth, the sight of which was great: You are it, O King. 21. And all the birds of heaven nesting in it are the might of the earth and of the nations and of all the tongues unto the end of the earth. And all regions serve you. 22. And as that tree was lifted up and drew near to heaven and its trunk reached the clouds: You, O King, were exalted over all men who were upon the face of the earth, your heart was exalted in arrogance and might towards the Holy One and His angels. Your works were seen, how you desolated the house of the living God because of the sins of the consecrated people. |
28. And upon the completion of the words Nebuchadnezzar, who heard the interpretation of the vision, kept the words in his heart. 29. Twelve months later, the king was walking on the walls of the city in all his glory, and going about on its ramparts,, 30. And he answered and said, "This is the great Babylon I have built, and my royal residence is famous by my mighty power and for the honour of my glory." |
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13. "I looked in my sleep and behold: And angel was sent in might out of heaven. 14. He shouted and said to him: `Hew it down and annihilate it; for it has been commanded from on hight to uproot and disable it. 15a. And say thus: Leave one of its roots in the earth, 17+a. It was hewn down before me in one day and its annihilation in one moment of the day, and its branches were given over to every wind and it was dragged about and cast out. |
15b. "`so that with the beasts of the earth on the hills he will be fed grass as the cattle. 16. And let his body be changed by the dew of heaven, and for seven years let him be grazed with them, 17+b. And he ate the grass of the earth with the beasts of the earth, and was given over to the guard and in bronze fetters and handcuffs he was bound by them. |
23a. "And the vision you saw, that an angel was sent in might from the Lord, and that he said to raise up the tree and hew it down, |
23b. "The judgement of the great God will come upon you, 24. "And the Most High and his angels are pursuing you. 25. "And they will lead you away to prison and they will send you to a desert place. 26. "And the root of the tree which is reserved, since it was not uprooted: The place of your throne will be kept for you until a time and a moment. Behold, against you they are preparing, and they will flog you and they will bring on what was been judged against you. |
31. And at the completion of his word he heard a voice from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: The kingdom of Babylon is taken from you amd given to another, to a man of no account in your house. Behold: I am setting him up over your kingdom and he will receive your authority and your glory and your luxury, so that you might find out that the God of heaven has authority in the kingdom of men, and to whomever he wishes he gives it. Until sunrise another king will make merry in your house, and will gain possession of your majesty and your might and your authority. 32. And the angels will drive you away for seven years and you will not see, nor will you speak with any man. You was nourished with grass as the cattle, and your food will be the green plants of the earth. Behold: Instead of your glory you will be bound, and another will have your house of luxury and your kingdom. 33. But soon everything will be accomplished upon you, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, and it will not fall short of any of these things. |
33+a. I, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, was bound up for seven years. I was nourished with grass as the cattle, and I ate of the green plants of the earth. And after seven years I gave my soul to prayer and I petitioned concerning my sins before the face of the Lord, the God of heaven, and about my ignorance of the great God of gods I prayed. 33+b. And my nails became as the feathers of an eagle, my hair as a lion. My flesh was changed, as well as my heart. I went about naked as the beasts of the earth. I saw a dream and fancies seized me, and much sleep seized me for a time and drowsiness fell upon me. |
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17.'Until he knows that the Most High is sovereign over everything in heaven and on earth, and whatever he wants he does among them.' 17+c. I marvelled greatly at all these things and my sleep left my eyes. 18. And I arose early from my bed and called Daniel, ruler of the wise men and leader of the interpreters of dreams, and told the dream to him in full. And he showed me its whole interpretation. |
27. The Lord lives in heaven and his authority is over all the earth. Pray to him concerning your sins and redeem all your unrighteousness by acts of mercy, so that he might give clemency to you and let you be upon the throne of your kingdom for many days, and not annihilate you. Accept these words for my word is accurate and your time is fulfilled. |
34. And upon the completion of the seven years my time of redemption came and my sins and my ignorance were paid in full before the God of heaven. And I prayed about my ignorance of the great God of gods. And behold: An angel called to me out of heaven and said: Nebuchadnezzar, serve the holy God of heaven and give glory to the Most High. The throne of your nation he is giving back to you. 36. At that time my kingdom was restored to me and my glory given back to me. |
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From Aramaic Daniel and Greek Daniel, Appendix 2, pp. 298-301
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The words of the pra[y]er of Nabunai, king of the la[nd of] Babylon, [the great] kin[g,] prayed [when he was smitten] with a severe inflammation at the command of the G[od Most] High, in Teima. [I, Nabonidus,] was smitten [with a severe inflammation] lasting seven years. |
I was smitten with a sev[ere] inflamation [and remained?] in Teima, [by the command of the God Most High. Then] for seven years |
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| (Beca[use] I was thus changed, or Banished far)... |
I prayed [to] the gods made of silver and gold, [bronze, iron,?] of wood, of stone and of clay, for I [used to th]ink that th[ey] really were gods. (frag 4) ... I had a dream... has gone far off, the peace of... my friends. I could not ... as you were like... |
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and He forgave my sins. An exorcist a Jew, in fact, a mem[ber of the community of exiles came to me and said,] "Declare and write down this story, and so glory and gre[at]ness be ascribed to the name of the G[od Most High." Accordingly, I have myself written it down:] |
[did the king's men try to help? exorcist's name? was the dream important?] |
(from The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated. by Martinez, p. 289, and The Dead Sea Scrolls by Wise, Abegg, and Cook, p. 266)