In this post we outline an in-depth study of the Book of Daniel, grounding the narrative of the Babylonian exile within the simultaneous global philosophical developments of the Axial Age. The author establishes that Israel's captivity was fundamentally tied to their failure to observe the Sabbath, defining this neglect as a loss of spiritual memory, which allowed human striving and idolatry to replace divine order. This spiritual void, or horror vacui, led the Israelites to pursue counterfeit saviours, such as the "god of business" known as Mammon, instead of trusting in God’s provision. A key focus is the power struggle over identity, demonstrated when Babylon attempted to shift the youths' spiritual allegiance by assigning them new names like Belteshazzar, linking them to foreign deities. Ultimately, the survival and success of Daniel and his companions are attributed to their commitment to spiritual memory (shamar), maintaining fidelity to God despite the immense cultural and political pressures of the Babylonian empire.