A Solution to the Duration Problem of Daniel 12 with ADDENDUM.05.12.21
I completed a full re-write of the manuscript of the Hidden Bones Apocalypse in January 2021 and decided I would write a couple of papers on specific topics that I treat in the book. The first of those was on the method used by the author of the book of Daniel to convey his positioon on the calendar controversy that was so important to the Jewish community at the time Daniel was completed.
I asked three scholars to review that paper, two of whom were positive and suggested I submit the paper for publication. The third “was not at all persuaded” by my analysis but still suggested I submit the article. I did sumbit the paper to one of the leading journals in the field of biblical studies, which uses a “double blind” peer review process to guide publication decisions. The editors of that journal assigned the paper for review to two scholars. Their comments were included in the editor’s response to me conveying the decision that the paper would not be accepted for publication.
I was disappointed to receive that decision, of course, but I was more disappointed in what seemed to me to be the fairly superficial level of the analysis reflected in the reviewers’ comments. Rather than spend more time pursuing other potential publishers at this point, I have written an ADDENDUM to the paper in which I respond to the reviewers’ comments. The paper including that ADDENDUM are in the PDF file linked above.
The paper lays out what I believe to be the only analysis of the duration issue raised in Daniel 12:11-12 that actually produces a precise result. It does that without resorting to any text outside that of Daniel itself. And the result is one that we should expect – that is clearly in character with the book of Daniel and its author.
CRL 5/12/2021