PREFACE. Since the final closing of the Old Testament Canon, which probably took place about 100 B. C., perhaps no work included therein has excited more interest than the much disputed Book of Daniel. Indeed, a mere list of all that has been written both in defence of and against the authenticity of this production would fill a fair sized volume. It is obviously impossible, therefore, for a critical treatment of Daniel to be exhaustive in the sense of embodying all the opinions ever advanced regarding the interpretation, authorship and origin of the work, nor, in view of the immense mass of valueless literature dating from almost every Christian century which exists on the subject, would it be desirable to attempt such a task. The object of the following commentary is to present as concisely as possible, especially to the student of the English Bible, the consensus of critical opinion regarding the many problems arising from the study of the Book of Daniel and to add such new matter as has been suggested by a careful examination of the text and exegesis. With this aim in view, |