Daniel Chapter One

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.”

Daniel 1:1

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim”

 “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon”

• Nebuchadnezzar was the son of Nebopolasser 
• Nebuchadnezzar was conquering Egypt and Judah again, just prior to his dad’s death
• He became king at about the time of the overthrow of Judah
• He reigned for 43 years

 “unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.”

• Jerusalem was besieged by the Babylonian army and captured
  
  

Daniel 1:2

“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.”

Daniel 1:2

“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand,”

• In the Old Testament when our choices or rebellion caused bad things to happen as the result, God was described as actively doing it
• Since God allowed it to occur He was blamed

 “with part of the vessels of the house of God:”

• The Babylonians took some of the sacred vessels in 605, they took some more in 597 and again in 586 B.C.

“which he carried into the land of Shinar”

• The land of Shinar was Babylonia

 “he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.”

• God’s sacred vessels were taken into a pagan god’s temple called Esgalia
• The main god of the Babylonians was Marduk
  called Bel

Daniel 1:3

“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;”

Daniel 1:3

“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz”

• Ashpenaz was possibly a Persian officer told to bring the captives to Babylon

“master of his eunuchs”

• Chief of the eunuchs
• The eunuchs were castrated because they worked with the king’s harem
• Isaiah prophesied that some of king Hezekiah’s descendants would be eunuchs (Isa. 39:7)
• Some suggest that Daniel and his 3 friends were eunuchs because they were captives that worked in the king’s court

 “should bring certain of the children of Israel”

• Israel here is applied to Judah (2 southern tribes) since the 10 northern tribes (Israel) was no longer in existence after 722 B.C.
• Israel here refers to what is left of God’s people rather than a specific tribe

 “of the king's seed,”

• Hostages were taken to ensure that the country would remain under control
• Princes were often trained and returned as puppet kings subject to Babylon

“princes;”

• Hebrew partemin  is a Persian word which suggests that Daniel wrote this book after the fall of Babylon

Daniel 1:4

“Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.”

Daniel 1:4

“Children”

• Children, probably youth or young men, some over age 18 (see Test. vol.4 p. 570)
• Persian law required age over 17 to serve the king

“in whom was no blemish,”

• Physical strength and beauty were required
• Other attributes valued included: wisdom, knowledge, competence and being teachable

 “Chaldeans”

• This term was used to describe Babylonian rulers
• This term was also used to describe Babylonian scholars who were noted for their mathematics, astrology, and magic

Daniel 1:5

“And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.”

Daniel 1:5

“king’s meat, and of the wine”

• These prisoners were allowed to eat the king’s own food and drink his wine
• “three years”
• These captives would be trained for three years and then tested by the king

Daniel 1:6

”Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:”

Daniel 1:6

“among these”

• There were others taken along with Daniel and his friends

“children of Judah”

• Judah here refers to the kingdom of Judah where Daniel was living

 “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:”

• Daniel: name means “God is my judge”
  Hananiah: name means “Jehovah is gracious”
• Mishael: name means “Who belongs to God”
• Azariah: name means  “Jehovah helps”

Daniel 1:7

“Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.”

Daniel 1:7

“Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names”

• New names were given to assimilate these foreigners into their new country and new religion

“gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar;”

• This name relates to their chief god Bel (see Dan. 4:8)

 “to Hananiah, of Shadrach;”

• This is not a Babylonian name
• This may be named after Edomite god Shutruk

“to Mishael, of Meshach;” 

• This is also not a Babylonian name

“and to Azariah, of Abednego.”

• Means: servant of Nabu
  (a Babylonian god)

Daniel 1:8

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel 1:8

“that he would not defile himself”

• Daniel decided to not let his captors defile him through their food and wine
• In the Old Testament you could defile yourself by: eating unclean meat, eating foods offered to idols, eating blood (foods not prepared in the proper way), or through intemperance
• Daniel desired a healthy diet (E.G.White)

Daniel 1:9

“Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.”

Daniel 1:9

“favor and tender love”

• RSV “favor and compassion”
• Probably Daniel and his friends kindness and gentleness influenced their captors favorably

Daniel 1:10

“And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.”

Daniel 1:10

“I fear my lord the king”

• Ashpenaz was concerned that the king would be upset with him for allowing his captors not to eat the king’s food
• Ashpenaz would be blamed if they got sick or did poorly compared to other youth their age

Daniel 1:11

“Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,”

Daniel 1:11

“Then said Daniel to Melzar”

• Since the chief eunuch refused Daniel, he now goes to the steward who is directly in charge of him and his 3 friends: Melzar

Daniel 1:12

“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.”

Daniel 1:12

“Prove thy servants”

• Daniel now asks for a chance to prove that God’s way is best

“ten days”

• This is a very short time period to expect a change
• This short time period will require God’s help (see P.P. p 214)

 “pulse to eat, and water to drink”

• Daniel’s diet is extremely simple compared to the king’s diet
• Pulse is vegetables (R.S.V.)

Daniel 1:13

“Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.”

Daniel 1:13

“let our countenances be looked upon”

• Daniel wants the steward to compare him and his 3 friends on vegetables and water to those who eat the kings diet of rich food

“as thou seest, deal with thy servants.”

• Daniel tells him to deal with them based on what he sees: Daniel expects God to provide visible results
  
  

Daniel 1:14

“So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.”

Daniel 1:14

• The steward allows Daniel to do what the chief eunuch would not allow
• The steward is taking some personal risk in allowing Daniel this trial, however, the short time period lessens his risk

Daniel 1:15

“And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.”

Daniel 1:15

“at the end of ten days”

• Daniel was only given what he asked for and no more

“appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children”

• Daniel and his 3 friends were visibly healthier than all the others in only 10 days!

Daniel 1:16

“Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.”

Daniel 1:16

“Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine”

• Daniel’s overseer was convinced that Daniel’s diet was safe and allowed Daniel and his friends to no longer eat the kings food

“and gave them pulse.”

• Pulse: Hebrew “zeroim”
   which means food from plants: includes grains, vegetables, fruits and nuts

Daniel 1:17

“As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Daniel 1:17

“As for these four children”

• This refers to Daniel and his 3 friends

“God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom”

• The Source of their wisdom was God
• The diet only improved their abilities
• Note: God did not limit His blessing but gave them skill and knowledge “in all learning and wisdom”
• They learned Chaldean science but rejected their magic and pagan practices

 “and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams”

• God gave Daniel a special gift: the ability to understand visions and dreams

Daniel 1:18

“Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar”

Daniel 1:18

“Now at the end of the days that the king had said”

• At the end of the training period the chief of the eunuchs brought Daniel and his friends in before king Nebuchadnezzar for their final exam
• The end of the days refers to the 3 years of training (the 1^st year began with their capture, the 2^nd year was the 1^st year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, and the 3^rd year was the 2^nd year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign)

Daniel 1:19

“And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.”

Daniel 1:19

“And the king communed with them;”

• The king tested them

“among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:”

• No one tested compared with these 4 Hebrews

“therefore stood they before the king.”

• They were placed into royal service
  
  

Daniel 1:20

“And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”

Daniel 1:20

“in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than”

• Not only were Daniel and his friends better than the others tested, they were 10 times better than any in the kingdom!

 “better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm”

• Magicians : this is an Egyptian term not a Babylonian term
• astrologers (enchanters): they used divination to predict events
• Inspected entrails of dead animals
• Inspected livers of dead animals
• Poured out oil on water: Lecanomancy
• Dropped arrows on the ground: Belomancy
• Asked dead spirits: necromancy
• Studied star formations: astrology

Daniel 1:21

“And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.”

Daniel 1:21

“unto the first year of king Cyrus.”

• Daniel was alive throughout the entire 70 years of Jeremiah’s prophecy
  (605-537 B.C.)
• This does not mean that Daniel died in the first year of Cyrus (he lived at least thru the 3^rd year)
• This means that Daniel continued beyond the Babylonian kingdom
• If Daniel was 18 when he was captured he was 88 when Cyrus became king

Summary

• Daniel chapter one tells the story of Daniel and his  three friends after their capture and transport to Babylon
• Daniel and his friends were chosen to be educated in the king’s palace but refused to compromise their beliefs
• They were required to eat the king’s food, however, they asked to eat vegetables and water instead
• They were tested after ten days and were healthier than the rest of their fellow captives and when finally tested by the king at the end of the 3 years of preparation they were ten times better than all the others
• At the end of time God will also have a people who will refuse to compromise their beliefs
• These people will also be tested for three years and will be found superior to everyone else! (their diet may also be similar! See EGW )