Preaching the prophetic book of the wiseman Daniel was an incredibly daunting task. Daniel is a nexus in the Bible where so many incredible elements come together–two ancient languages, multiple apocalyptic visions, beloved stories, counter-cultural and counter-intuitive applications, and so much more! 
I put off preaching Daniel for many years, but believed it was time to climb the summit in the first part of 2025. Our series was called “The King of Kingdoms” highlighting the central message and central character of the book.
To prepare, I spent a lot of time reading some wonderful commentaries by leading scholars. These were my favorites:
J. Paul Tanner, Daniel (Evangelical Exegetical Commentary)
Tanner’s commentary is “the total package.” This is the height of evangelical scholarship on Daniel at this moment. Tanner has clearly read everything, and I mean everything. No stone is unturned. He provides an extensive bibliography and painstaking text critical notes, translation notes, and footnotes.At the very same time, Tanner’s book is incredibly readable. He writes straightforward, accessible sentences in clearly marked sections so you always know where you are in the flow of the argument. There are helpful charts. Tanner is judicious and fair with all of his scholarship. He points out the strongest arguments of his opponents and the weakest of his own. He comes to dispensational conclusions but does not presuppose them. And it’s is warm-hearted, as well! Every unit includes commentary that ties that section of scripture to the rest of biblical theology and offers personal application, too. This is the very best kind of evangelical scholarship!
Tanner’s big books is probably too much for most ordinary readers, but most pastors should have this one if they’re going to tackle preaching Daniel.
David Helm - Daniel for You: Helping You Live With Courage
David Helm’s little commentary is the overall best for most other readers. It has bite-sized chapters and reads like a great sermon full of relevant application. Helm’s scholarship is evident, but the book is light on footnotes. He does a great job of focusing on the main thing and not getting sucked into various secondary debates. I would recommend this to book to just about any reader who wants to understand Daniel.
By the way, if you want an excellent audio orientation to Daniel, make sure to listen to Nancy Guthrie’s interview with David Helm on the “Help Me Teach the Bible” podcast. I listened 3 times before tackling Daniel on Sundays!
John C. Whitcomb, Daniel (Everyman’s Bible Commentary)
I cut my teeth on Whitcomb’s little commentary back in my Bible School days in my “Dan/Rev” class. Revisiting it 30 years later, I was surprised at how readable and good it was. Concise, precise, helpful. Whitcomb is dispensational, but this book is not a defense of a system or a diatribe. It is a short commentary worth having and using.
George M. Schwab, Hope in the Midst of a Hostile World: The Gospel of According to Daniel
Schwab’s book was fascinating reading, full of so many insights. I didn’t always follow him (either in understanding him or in his decisions), but I was always was happy I’d read or re-read the chapter. My copy has sticky-notes plastered all over it at the most insightful (or entertaining) points, like when it says, “Perhaps it is a sign of the end times when scholars disagree on whether it is the Christ or the Antichrist spoken about in a text!” (pg. 144). I’m glad I read it.
Dale Ralph Davis, The Message of Daniel (The Bible Speaks Today)
Davis is one of my all time favorite Old Testament commentators. He’s always insightful and delightful, and this was no exception. Davis is not afraid to be controversial. I didn’t always jive with his more daring suggestions, but he’s always worth reading. 
Tremper Longman III, How to Read Daniel.
This book is just what the title page says. It’s not a commentary (though it has commentary in it), nor a compilation of sermons (though there are two long chapters of application and implications at the end) but an orientation to the book and an explanation of the appropriate hermeneutics for this unique genre. This kind of approach is especially important for Daniel as it is so wild and different from just about any other book. I re-read every chapter multiple times. 
Christopher J.H. Wright, Hearing the Message of Daniel: Sustaining Faith in Today’s World
Wright is one of my favorite authors, especially when he’s teaching through an Old Testament book (his commentary on Jeremiah was simply superb). He’s great at capturing the essence of a section of scripture and presenting it in a compelling way. Recommended.
Iain Duguid, Daniel (Reformed Expository Commentary)
Duguid’s commentary is a collection of sermons so it’s very readable and focused on devotion and pastoral application. At the same time, he’s clearly done his scholarly work to reach his conclusions so it’s valuable as a resource for interpretation, as well.
Probably the most helpful thing for me was to read how a non-dispensational amillennialist understands the book of Daniel. I was given my framework for reading Daniel at Moody Bible Institute and wasn’t exposed to other faithful positions from others who believed in inerrancy and had healthy hermeneutics. It was great to be given a different set of lenses–and also see how the applications ended up largely the same.
Larry Osborne, Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture
Osborne’s book is not a commentary on Daniel, per se. He doesn’t walk through the book of Daniel showing you what’s in each chapter. But he does provide trenchant thoughts on application of teaching in Daniel for daily living in a hostile environment.
I read Thriving in Babylon several years ago with our small group, and we had great conversations about it. A wrote a discussion guide for groups that continues to be one of the most-used items on my blog. 
Mitchell Chase, Daniel (TGC Bible Commentary)
Chase gets to the chase! In a similar fashion to a Derek Kidner, this free online commentary is chock full of blessed incisive concision.
I also profited greatly from the study notes in the CSB Study Bible (Michael Rydelnik), NIV Zondervan Study Bible (Tremper Longman), ESV Study Bible (Iain Duguid), and NIV Study Bible (Gleason Archer and Ronald Youngblood), Knowing the Bible: Daniel (Todd A. Wilson), and the NET Bible online.
I wouldn’t have wanted to preach Daniel without any of these books, but I probably could have gotten away with just Tanner, Helm, and Longman (and maybe Duguid) this time around. If your budget is tight and you have to pick 3, those would be my suggestions.

I am grateful to the Lord for providing these rich resources to understand His Word and grow in my faith and love and obedience to The King of Kingdoms!