Carlos Elías Mora. Dios defiende a su pueblo: Comentario exegético de Daniel 10 al 12. Mexico: Adventus (Editorial Universitaria Iberoamericana), 2012, 252 + xvi pp. US$15.00

The author, a professor of Old Testament at the Advanced International Institute for Advanced Studies in the Philippines, offers a detailed commentary of Daniel 10–12 according to the historicist approach. The first chapter of the book lays down the methodology employed in the exegetical chapters with emphasis on the principles of prophetic interpretation. Attention is given to the literary structure and the Hebrew vocabulary relevant to the interpretation of each pericope. In the second chapter the author discusses the place Daniel 10–12 in the book of Daniel. With the help of several tables, he attempts to uncover the main literary structures of the passages under investigation.

In the last ten chapters of the book, Mora offers a section-by-section commentary on Daniel 10–12. The author draws from a vast assortment of Adventist scholarship and succeeds in providing an overarching synthesis of the last section of the book of Daniel. He also pays careful attention to the literary structure of the passages and emphasizes the key words and motifs that convey the main points of each section. In spite of the exegetical challenges of these chapters and the difficulties in establishing a precise interpretation for some debated issues, Mora does not refrain from expressing his views at several junctures of the prophetic panorama depicted in Daniel 10–12. Following the historicist approach, he understands the events depicted in Daniel 10–11 as extending from the Persian period to the eschatological consummation. According to Mora, Daniel 11:21 marks a major transition in the sequence of prophetic events portrayed in Daniel 11. The “vile person” (v. 21) points to a new entity, a corrupt religious power; and “the prince of the covenant” (v. 22) refers to the Roman Empire and its alliance with the Christian church. On the sometimes controversial time prophecies of Daniel 12:10, 11, Mora skews futurist interpretations. Consistent with his historicist approach, he contends that these time periods should be understood within the framework of the time prophecies of Daniel 7 and 8.

Mora has contributed a detailed and balanced commentary on Daniel 10–12. Although he does not offer a great amount of new and original information, he makes judicious use of the exegetical evidence available and interacts extensively with Adventist scholars. His attention to the literary structure of the biblical text anchors the exegetical process on a solid foundation. In addition, this book provides a useful combination of exegetical insights with homiletical applications, since the author concludes each section of the commentary with some reflections on contemporary application. As such, it is a helpful volume to be added to the library of those interested in a deeper understanding of Daniel 10–12. Unfortunately, only those able to read the beautiful language of Cervantes will accrue the benefits of this book.