DANIEL, the fourth of the greater prophets, was born in Judea, of the tribe of Judah, about the twenty-fifth year of the reign of Josiah. He was led captive to Babylon, with other young Hebrew lords, after the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, who received them into his service. That prince gave them masters to instruct them in the language and science of the Chaldeans, and ordered them to be fed with the most delicate viands; but fearing lest they should eat meat forbidden by the law of Moses, they desired the king's officers to allow them only pulse. The wisdom and conduct of Daniel having pleased Nebuchadnezzar, that prince conferred on him several posts of honour. It is commonly believed that this prophet, when but twelve years of age, made known the innocence of the chaste Susannah; but the learned are not agreed that the young Daniel who confounded the old men was the same with this prophet. However, he explained Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the mysterious statue, which foretold the four great monarchies; on which account he was made prefect of the province of Babylon. In the reign of Darius, the king of the Medes, he refused to adore the golden statue of the king, and was cast into the lions' den, when those beasts, though pinched with hunger, did him no manner of hurt; and he explained the characters written on the wall of the room in which Belshazzar was feasting. It is believed that Daniel died in Chaldea, and that he did not take advantage of the permission granted by Cyrus to the Jews to return to their own country. St. Epiphanius says he died at Babylon; and in this he is followed by the generality of historians.