Content analysis and theological reflections on the three additions to the Book of Daniel

Abstract

Conceptual analysis was employed to analyze the contents of the three additions to the book of Daniel namely; The Song of the Three, Susanna, and Daniel, Bel, and the Dragon. Word or group of words that are relevant to the concept of God, sin, historical details and supernatural/heroic acts are coded. The concept of “God” appears 172 times in The Song of the Three, 17 in Daniel, Bel, and the Dragon, and 13 in Daniel and Susanna. For “historical details”, Daniel, Bel, and the Dragon topped at 75 followed by Daniel and Susanna with 51 and The Song of the Three with 25. Sin/Idolatry occurs 36 times in Daniel, Bel and the Dragon, 27 in Daniel and Susanna, and 9 in The Song of the Three. Words relevant to the concept “supernatural/heroic acts” appears 10 times in The Song of the Three, 8 times in Daniel Bel and the Dragon, and 3 times in Daniel and Susanna.

Historical details are common in all three additions. However, all three additions differ in other concepts prevalent in each text. Other than historical details, the most prevalent concepts in The Song of the Three are God and Praise. Concepts pertaining to God and Idols are prevalent in Daniel, Bel, and the Dragon. Lust and wickedness are the concepts common in the story of Daniel and Susanna.