Theodicy In Daniel 8
directed at the abandonment of God, and it can only be stopped when the Jews recover their true faith in God. The final Jewish apocalypse author who attempts to create a theodicy for the Jewish people is the author of Daniel 8 and 9. In Daniel 8, Daniel has a vision of a battling goat and ram. The ram by the river represents the Persian Empire, while the goat in the west with one horn represents the Greek Empire. The two empires battle, and the goat becomes the victor. Then, from the single horn of the goat springs four, one of which is a little one who is extremely arrogant and cruel towards Jewish practices. The four horns represent Alexander’s successors with the arrogant one being Antiochus IV. Towards the end of the vision, the author
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It is most clearly seen in Daniel 8:23. Here, the author of Daniel explains to the Jews that Antiochus is only present because the wrongdoings have reached their peaks. It is not completely clear whom the author thinks these crimes belong to; it could be the Jews’ oppressors or the Jews themselves. However, it makes little sense to assume that Antiochus IV, an oppressor of Jews himself, would rise to power as a result of the heavy sin of other persecutors. Instead, the actions of the Jews should be considered. Many of the Jews, such as Jason, Menelaus, and their followers (2 Mac 4:7-5:10), were stealing from the temple, bribing their way to the high priesthood, and working directly with the Hellenistic leaders. When this historical background is taken into consideration, it becomes clear that the author of Daniel 8 is referencing the wickedness of the Jews as the cause of the torment brought on by Antiochus and his empire. Daniel 8 is unlike 2 Maccabees as it claims that the Jews can reach fullness of sin, and it is unlike 1 Enoch and 2 Maccabees in the fact that there is not mention of how/when the persecutors of the Jews will be punished (Daniel 8 simply says when the sanctuary will be restored in 8:13). Despite these differences, Daniel claims the reason for evil upon the Jews is their own sinful
It is most clearly seen in Daniel 8:23. Here, the author of Daniel explains to the Jews that Antiochus is only present because the wrongdoings have reached their peaks. It is not completely clear whom the author thinks these crimes belong to; it could be the Jews’ oppressors or the Jews themselves. However, it makes little sense to assume that Antiochus IV, an oppressor of Jews himself, would rise to power as a result of the heavy sin of other persecutors. Instead, the actions of the Jews should be considered. Many of the Jews, such as Jason, Menelaus, and their followers (2 Mac 4:7-5:10), were stealing from the temple, bribing their way to the high priesthood, and working directly with the Hellenistic leaders. When this historical background is taken into consideration, it becomes clear that the author of Daniel 8 is referencing the wickedness of the Jews as the cause of the torment brought on by Antiochus and his empire. Daniel 8 is unlike 2 Maccabees as it claims that the Jews can reach fullness of sin, and it is unlike 1 Enoch and 2 Maccabees in the fact that there is not mention of how/when the persecutors of the Jews will be punished (Daniel 8 simply says when the sanctuary will be restored in 8:13). Despite these differences, Daniel claims the reason for evil upon the Jews is their own sinful