The second son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess (1 Chr. 3: 1); also called Chileab (2 Sam. 3: 3).

The hero of the book of Daniel. Nothing is known of his parentage, though he appears to have been of royal descent (Dan. 1: 3); he was taken captive to Babylon and received the name of Belteshazzar (Dan. 1: 6-7). Along with three others he refused the "king's meat" from fear of defilement (Dan. 1: 8-16). He then won the favor of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius by his power of interpreting dreams (chs. 2, 4); and the handwriting on the wall (ch. 5). In consequence of a plot on the part of his enemies he was thrown into a den of lions (ch. 6), but his life was preserved. There are references to him in Ezek. 14: 14, 20; Ezek. 28: 3; Heb. 11: 33. Interesting points of resemblance may be noticed between the history of Daniel and that of Joseph.