Continuity and discontinuity. As we will see more clearly later, Daniel 1 anticipates a theme that flows from the promise to Abraham. We begin to see what becomes explicit in the next chapter: Abraham’s descendants will be a blessing to the nations. When reading the Old Testament as history of redemption, we must be careful to read it first from the vantage point of the time of its composition. If we do not, we will easily distort its message. However, for those who read from the stance of Christian