Dreams. Visions. Interpretations.Book two of the Rise of Daniel continues to follow Daniel, Jeremiah, and Nebuchadnezzar at the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity. Daniel and his three friends find themselves immersed in a growing spiritual battle between the gods of Babylon and the God of Israel. The captives are expected to conform to a new way of life, learn a new language, and bow to false gods. If they are found unworthy to stand before King Nebuchadnezzar, they will perish. It is a simple choice: conform or die. In the midst of this, Daniel dreams.
But for Nebuchadnezzar, the specter of Egypt looms large over him. He must destroy Pharaoh Necho once and for all and bring the whole world under Babylonian domination. To him, this is an imperative of the gods given to him through a vision. But to do so, he must leave his throne, knowing his campaign against Necho could take years. His sons are young and tender yet, the priests greedy for power, and the princes are full of intrigue and corruption. Does he dare leave his homeland knowing this? Worse, rumor of rebellion flies around like chaff on the wind. Judah and Jerusalem under King Jehoiakim look to shake off the Babylonian yoke and turn to the Egyptians.
Meanwhile, the Prophet Jeremiah's life is in danger. His words spoken at the command of the Lord God of Israel have stirred up the king's wrath. King Jehoiakim must find the prophet and stop him before Jeremiah can sway the people against him. And because of his prophesies against Jerusalem, he is seen as a Babylonian collaborator, and not even the king of Babylon can save him if Jehoiakim finds him first. Salvation must come from another way.
A fast, action-packed read filled with danger, political intrigue, and betrayal. Containing an air of ancient ambience, well-researched both biblically and historically, this second book in The Rise of Daniel novels will delight and challenge.
WARNING: Some sensitive topics are addressed in these novels, but they are done so obliquely, meaning before or after the event. No vivid or descriptive details are given. Such topics include being made a eunuch, torture, and gruesome violence.
