There is broad agreement among scholars that the book of Daniel was composed in the 2nd century BCE, with references to Babylon based on earlier historical records intermixed with Jewish folklore.* With that in mind, and given that there is no evidence that Nebuchadnezzar went insane for seven ‘times’,† is there any other period to which the “seven times” at Daniel 4:13–17 may allude? (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ interpretation of the “seven times” as ‘2,520 years’ is based on numerological gymnastics without any valid precedent and can therefore be discounted.)
* For more information about the broader context of Daniel, see Daniel’s dreams and visions.
† In the Watch Tower Society’s chronology, there is not even a suitable period of time available for Nebuchadnezzar’s alleged 7 years of insanity.
Daniel 4:13–17:
13 “‘As I viewed the visions of my head while on my bed, I saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from the heavens. 14 He called out loudly: “Chop down the tree, cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit! Let the beasts flee from beneath it, and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of the heavens, and let its portion be with the beasts among the vegetation of the earth. 16 Let its heart be changed from that of a human, and let it be given the heart of a beast, and let seven times pass over it. 17 This is by the decree of watchers, and the request is by the word of the holy ones, so that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he gives it to whomever he wants, and he sets up over it even the lowliest of men.”
Elements of the story appear to be derived from an older tale about Nabonidus (king of Babylon 556–539 BCE), found in the Prayer of Nabonidus. In that story, Nabonidus is said to have suffered with an “ulcer” for seven years until he is healed by a Jewish exorcist. However, that story contains no reference to a dream about a tree, or scattering of its fruit, and there is no evidence that Nabonidus ‘lived like a beast’ during any such period. Therefore, whilst there is an underlying borrowed theme, there appears to be a separate intent.
It is possible that the story is nothing more than a folktale, with reference to no actual period at all. However, if it does refer to any actual period, then it would likely be based on terms with which the Jews were familiar. The most likely candidate is found in chapters 25 and 26 of Leviticus. (Leviticus is generally considered to have been completed in the Persian period after 538 BCE.)
Leviticus 25:8 states:
“‘You will count off seven sabbath years, seven times seven years, and the days of the seven sabbath years will amount to 49 years.
Leviticus 26:27–28 adds:
27 “‘If in spite of this you will not listen to me and you insist on walking in opposition to me, 28 I will intensify my opposition to you, and I myself will have to chastise you seven times for your sins.
Leviticus 26:32–35:
32 I myself will make the land desolate, and your enemies who are dwelling in it will stare in amazement over it. 33 And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe a sword after you; and your land will be made desolate, and your cities will be devastated. 34 “‘At that time the land will pay off its sabbaths all the days it lies desolate, while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest, as it must repay its sabbaths. 35 All the days it lies desolate it will rest, because it did not rest during your sabbaths when you were dwelling on it.
For how long was Jerusalem desolate (or For how long was the ‘tree’ in the dream banded and For how long was its ‘fruit’ scattered)? Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 BCE,* and the Jews (but not all of them) returned to Jerusalem in 538 BCE.
* Various sources say the event occurred in 586 BCE. However, see 586 or 587?
Seven ‘times’ = Seven Sabbaths = forty-nine years.
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