Additions to Daniel and Esther (2nd–1st Century BC)

Source Origin: Greek-era expansions not found in Hebrew or Aramaic texts

⚠️ Not in Paleo-Hebrew, Aramaic Scriptures, or Early Square Script

What Are They?

These are *Greek additions* made during the 2nd–1st century BC to the books of **Daniel** and **Esther**, inserted into the Greek Septuagint (LXX). They include:

**Susanna** – A courtroom drama with moral overtones.
**Bel and the Dragon** – A tale of Daniel slaying a dragon and mocking idol worship.
**Song of the Three Holy Children** – A Greek hymn inserted into the fiery furnace story.
**Additions to Esther** – Six Greek sections, including visions, prayers, and speeches, designed to give Esther more overtly religious content.

Key Fact

None of these additions exist in **Paleo-Hebrew**, **Aramaic Daniel**, or **Early Square Script (Ketav Ashuri)**. They are found **only** in Greek and **never in the original Hebrew scrolls**.

Purpose of the Additions

To insert **Greek moral philosophy** and **religious speeches** into stories that were originally more restrained in divine mention.
To make Esther more religious (God is never mentioned in the original Hebrew Esther).
To reshape Daniel into a **miracle-worker hero**, more aligned with **Greek heroic literature**.

Why It Matters

These additions were not written by Daniel or Mordecai and do **not reflect early Hebrew theology**. They were created under Greek influence and added to the Septuagint to appeal to Hellenized Jews and early Christians.