Chiastic literary structure of the Book of Daniel

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The chiastic literary structure of the Book of Daniel is that of a double chiasm encompassed by an overarch (1 ⟷ 12:5–13):

A (2) — vision shown by God to Nebuchadnezzar of four earthly kingdoms replaced by God's eternal dominion:
  1. Nebuchadnezzar receives a dream (2:1–3)
  2. four kingdoms introduced (2:31)
  3. four kingdoms explained: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome (2:32–33)
  4. vision of the Son of God destroying the fourth kingdom (2:34–35)
  5. declaration that the interpretation would be made known to Nebuchadnezzar (2:36–39)
  6. attributes of the fourth empire (2:40–43)
  7. eternal dominion of God (2:44–45)
B (3:1–4:3) — trial and deliverance of Daniel's three friends in Babylon:
  1. proclamation that anyone not obeying the Babylonian empire's decree would face death (3:4–6)
  2. Nebuchadnezzar approached by his aristocratic confidants (3:8–11)
  3. accusation against Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (3:12)
  4. disobedient three exiled Jews thrown into the fiery furnace (3:20–21)
  5. Nebuchadnezzar arises in haste (3:24–25)
  6. no hurt found in Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (3:26–27)
  7. Nebuchadnezzar writes unto the multitudes (4:1–3)
C (4:4–33) — ("partially" consequential) judgment upon the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar:
  1. the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, flourishes in his palace (4:4)
  2. Nebuchadnezzar's thoughts trouble him (4:5)
  3. Nebuchadnezzar summons wise men who cannot interpret the dream (4:6–7)
  4. Daniel the Prophet brought in before Nebuchadnezzar to interpret the dream (4:8–18)
  5. Daniel answers King Nebuchadnezzar (4:19b–23)
  6. the interpretation is made known to King Nebuchadnezzar (4:24–27)
  7. fulfillment of the prophecy upon King Nebuchadnezzar (4:28–33)
D (4:34–37) — King Nebuchadnezzar blesses, honors, and extols the LORD of Hosts
C' (5) — (fully consequential) judgment upon the king of Babylon, Belshazzar:
  1. the king of Babylon, Belshazzar, flourishes in his palace (5:1–4)
  2. Belshazzar's thoughts trouble him (5:5–6)
  3. Belshazzar summons wise men who cannot interpret the writing on the wall (5:7–8)
  4. Daniel the Prophet brought in before Belshazzar to interpret the writing (5:13–16)
  5. Daniel answers King Belshazzar (5:17–25)
  6. the interpretation is made known to King Belshazzar (5:26–28)
  7. fulfillment of the prophecy upon King Belshazzar (5:29–31)
B' (6) — trial and deliverance of Daniel in Medo-Persia:
  1. proclamation that anyone not obeying the Medo-Persian empire's decree would face death (6:6–7)
  2. Darius approached by his aristocratic confidants (6:12a)
  3. accusation against Daniel (6:13)
  4. disobedient exiled Daniel thrown into the lions' den (6:16a)
  5. Darius arises in haste (6:19-22)
  6. no hurt found in Daniel (6:23)
  7. Darius writes unto the multitudes (6:25–27)
A' (7) — vision shown by God to Daniel of four earthly kingdoms replaced by God's eternal dominion:
  1. Daniel receives a dream (7:1)
  2. four kingdoms introduced (7:2-3)
  3. four kingdoms explained: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome (7:4–8)
  4. vision of the Son of God destroying the fourth kingdom (7:9–14)
  5. declaration that the interpretation would be made known to Daniel (7:16–18)
  6. attributes of the fourth empire (7:19–25)
  7. eternal dominion of God (7:26–27)
A (8:1–14) — vision of Medo-Persia and Greece, introductory glimpse into the latter's fourfold-divided empire(s):
  1. Medo-Persia’s agitation against the kingdom of Greece (8:3–4)
  2. Alexander the Great destroys the Medo-Persian empire (8:5–7)
  3. Alexander's kingdom is divided towards the four winds of heaven (8:8)
  4. the little horn (Antiochus IV) invades the south and Holy Land (8:9)
  5. Antiochus represses God's people (8:10)
  6. pollution of the sanctuary, taking away of the daily [sacrifice], abomination of desolation (8:11)
  7. Antiochus continues to persecute the saints and prospers (8:12)
B (8:15–27) — the angel Gabriel explains the vision to Daniel the Prophet:
  1. Daniel the Prophet saw the vision (8:15)
  2. Daniel hears the voice of the Son of God (8:16–17)
  3. Daniel's face is towards the ground while in a deep sleep (8:18a)
  4. Gabriel touches Daniel and sets up upright (8:18b)
  5. the vision is for many days (8:19–26)
C (9:1–19) — Daniel fasts and mourns
D (9:20–27) — Gabriel explains the final 70 symbolic weeks of probation for the Jewish nation and anointing of the Messiah
C' (10:1–3) — Daniel fasts and mourns
B' (10:4–21) — the angel Gabriel explains the vision to Daniel the Prophet:
  1. Daniel the Prophet saw the vision (10:7–8)
  2. Daniel hears the voice of the Son of God (10:9a)
  3. Daniel's face is towards the ground while in a deep sleep (10:9b)
  4. Gabriel touches Daniel and sets up upright (10:10)
  5. the vision is for [many] days (10:11–14)
A' (11:1–12:4) — vision of Medo-Persia and Greece, expansive focus on the latter's fourfold-divided empire(s):
  1. Medo-Persia’s agitation against the kingdom of Greece (11:2)
  2. Alexander the Great destroys the Medo-Persian empire (11:3)
  3. Alexander's kingdom is divided towards the four winds of heaven (11:4)
  4. the little horn (Antiochus IV) invades the south and Holy Land (11:21–28)
  5. Antiochus represses God's people (11:29–30)
  6. pollution of the sanctuary, taking away of the daily [sacrifice], abomination of desolation (11:31)
  7. Antiochus continues to persecute the saints and prospers (11:32–39)

Chiasm I

Left side Right side Commentary
A/A' correspondence
"And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream." (2:1–3) "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters." (7:1)
"Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible." (2:31) "Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." (7:2–3)
"This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay." (2:32–33) "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." (7:4–8)
"Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." (2:34–35) "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (7:9–14)
"This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth." (2:36–39) "I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." (7:16–18)
"And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay." (2:40–43) "Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." (7:19–25)
"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure." (2:44–45) "But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (7:26–27)
B/B' correspondence
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