The Language of the Doxologies in Daniel

Abstract This article provides a close analysis of the language of the doxologies in the book of Daniel. Three types of observations raise the question whether the Danielic doxologies might be redactional: 1) the language of the doxologies differs from the language of the stories in Dan 2–6; 2) the doxologies exhibit some formulaic expressions that also occur in other texts (Ps 145, 11QSefer ha-Milhamah , 4QApocryphon of Daniel AR , and 4QSongs of the Sage b ); 3) the doxologies express the notion that God’s sovereignty surpasses that of human kings, which underscores the theological conviction found in Dan 2–6 and Dan 7 and forms a literary link between them; but only some of them thereby also express that God’s sovereignty is eternal. Based on such observations, this article attempts to reconstruct some of the redactional activities in Dan 2–6 and argues that the doxologies were added (and expanded) at different stages in the growth of Daniel.