Studies in Daniel: the Breast and Arms of Silver

 

ii. The BREAST & ARMS of SILVER (vv. 32, 39): MEDO-PERSIA.

v. 39a: “After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you…”

 

a. “After you…another kingdom…” How dismaying to the great Nebuchadnezzar! Under God’s sovereignty, the great King’s empire would eventually deteriorate and fall!

 

Jer. 27:7: "All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will make him their servant.”

 

b. The identity of the successor Kingdom: that of the Medes & the Persians (i.e., the Persian Empire). Daniel 5:25-28.

"Now this is the inscription that was written out: 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.' This is the interpretation of the message: 'MENE'--God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. 'TEKEL'--you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. 'PERES'--your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians."

 

o   The Persian Empire was one of the greatest empires of antiquity, spanning three continents and arising from the spectacular conquests of Cyrus the Great (c. 600-530 BC), ruler of an obscure province in Iran (a Japhetic people).

 

 

o   Cyrus is refered to in the amazing prophecy of Isaiah 44:28, 45:1-7

44:28: "It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.' And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' And of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"

 

This prophecy was given a century and a half before Cyrus’ time. Note the following:

ü  The unborn Cyrus is NAMED!

ü  He—a heathen king—is typologically made a Messianic precursor (44:28, 45:1). Cyrus would defeat Babylon and decree that the Jews return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-4).

ü  The dualistic character of the Persian religion (Zoroastrianism) seems to be referred to Isa. 45:7. The Persians believed in two creator-gods: one good, one evil. A false religious concept (Deut. 6:4)—but the Persian religion was nevertheless of a higher ethical character than the gross polytheism of the Babylonians.

Farvahar, symbol of Zoroastrianism

 

ü  The Jewish historian Josephus (1^st cent. AD) states that Daniel showed Cyrus the Isaiah prophecy.

 

o   Two arms; Silver.

ü  Two Arms. Suggestive of duality; the Median & Persian elements.

ü  Silver. Silver is approx. 40x’s less valuable than gold.

 

Question: in what sense was Persia “inferior” to Babylon, if its Empire was larger and longer lasting?

 

Answer: the Persian kings did not enjoy the absolute monarchial authority of the Babylonian Kings (Rex-Lex), with the rule of law (Lex-Rex) playing a much more profound role (Daniel 6:8-15). Even the Shah could not overturn his own laws!

 

The Persian Empire allowed conquered peoples a greater degree of nationalistic autonomy than did previous empire-systems—establishing an advanced precedent for others to follow.

 

o   Persian Times figure heavily in various Books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah).