In Daniel 7, the Ancient of Days has
always been an intriguing yet obscure figure, though there is little doubt that
in Daniel he can represent none other than Yahweh. He is seated on the throne
of dominion (v. 9), grants authority (vv. 13-14), and passes judgment (v. 22).
The only mitigation of this identification is that there is grammatical cause
to draw a distinction in v. 22 between the "Ancient of Days" and the
"Most High" (an epithet generally used for Yahweh). Since the Most
High, (עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין) does not occur until after the introduction
of the "Son of Man," it is alternatively possible that as a result of
the Son of Man being granted authority (v. 14), he thereby qualifies for the
epithet "Most High." This creates the expected correspondence between the kingdom
being given to the son of man in v. 14 and to the Most High and his holy ones
in v. 27.
Regardless of what name we attach to
the Ancient of Days and of what connections can be drawn between the
description of him and descriptions in other biblical or extra-biblical texts,
what is important for our study is the role that he plays. The Ancient of Days
is the one who is responsible for responding to the threat. He shows no anger,
distress, turmoil or confusion, but convenes the assembly (of which he is the
head) to address the problem. In this he is most comparable to Anshar in Ee and
Anu in Anzu.
In Ee, the solution sequence is
mediated first by Anshar, who fails to find a champion, and then by Ea, who
selects Marduk to play the role of champion.
In Anzu, the solution sequence
is mediated first by Anu, who fails to find a champion, but then accepts Ea' s
offer to find one (I: 157-62). Ea selects Ninurta, but enlists Mami (Belet-ili)
to persuade her son. Mami is not near as close a match for the "Ancient of
Days" imagery as EI is in the Ugaritic material, though her status as the ancient
creatrix puts her in a similar category.
In Daniel 7, the Ancient of Days rolls all of
these into one as the head of the assembly and the one who both mediates the
solution sequence and designates a champion. (John H. Walton, "The Anzu
Myth As Relevant Background for Daniel 7?" in John J. Collins and Peter W.
Flint, eds., The Book of Daniel: Composition and Reception, 2 vols. [Supplements
to Vetus Testamentum LXXXIII,I; Formation and Interpretation of Old Testament
Literature II, 1; Leiden: Brill, 2001], 1:79-80, emphasis in bold added)
As an aside, Walton provides the following table (Ibid., 85) on Daniel 7 and ancient literature:
