Daniel דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל
Priest who returned from Babylonian exile
Who is Daniel in the Bible?
Daniel was a priest who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile as part of Ezra's group during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia (Ezra 8:2). He descended from Ithamar, one of Aaron's sons, establishing his place in the priestly line. Daniel later signed the covenant to follow the Law of God alongside other priests after Ezra read the Book of the Law to the people and they confessed their sins (Nehemiah 10:6). His appearance in both Ezra and Nehemiah indicates that he held a significant role in the religious life and restoration of the Jewish community during the post-exile period.
Biography
Daniel is mentioned in Ezr.8.2 and Neh.10.6 as a priest who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. In Ezr.8.2, he is listed among the descendants of Ithamar, one of Aaron's sons, indicating his priestly lineage. This Daniel was part of the group that returned to Jerusalem with Ezra, who led a significant return of exiles during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia.
In Neh.10.6, Daniel is mentioned again as one of the priests who signed the covenant to follow the Law of God. This covenant was made after Ezra had read the Book of the Law to the people, and they had confessed their sins and committed to obeying God's commands.
The fact that Daniel is mentioned in both Ezra and Nehemiah suggests that he played a role in the religious life of the Jewish community after the exile. As a priest, he would have been involved in the Temple service and in teaching the people the Law of God.
Apart from these two references, no other details about this Daniel's life or ministry are provided in the Bible. It is important to note that this Daniel is a different person from the more well-known prophet Daniel, who lived earlier during the Babylonian exile.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 8:2
"from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel; from the descendants of David, Hattush"
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 10:6
"Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,"
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל | dāniyēʾl | Danijel , the Hebrew prophet |