Daniel Chapter 1

Let’s begin with a bit of historical background on the book of Daniel.

The book of Daniel was written by Daniel of that we cannot dispute. Ezekiel, a prophet and a contemporary of Daniels has this to say--

READ Ezekiel 14:19, 20. "Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out My ____ upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast; though Noah, ______, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their __________."

Daniel is ranked up there with who? Noah and Job, two very important Biblical figures.

Ezekiel also has this to say of Daniel—

READ Ezekiel 28:3 "Behold, thou art wiser than ______; there is no secret that they can hide from thee."

And even Jesus recognized Daniel and did so recognizing him as a prophet of God.

READ Matthew 24:15, 16. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by _______ ___ ________, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains."

What we know of Daniel begins when he is taken captive in the first year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzer. The first year that began the seventy years of enslavement, 606 BC when Habakkuk and Jeremiah were giving their prophecies. A short while after that Ezekiel began his prophesizing and then Obadiah, both finishing their prophetic work long before the end of Daniel’s prophesizing.

Three prophets went after Daniel—Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Both Haggai and Zechariah briefly prophesized in 520-518 BC and then Malachi for a short while in 397 BC. All Biblical history, documented well.

Jeremiah wrote the following prediction--

READ Jeremiah 25:11 -And this whole land shall be a ___________, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon ________ years.

70 years of captivity was predicted and 70 years of captivity there were.

Daniel was taken captive during that time and at his peak he saw the kingdom decline and even go into other hands. Daniel was given by God knowledge which surpasses any man could have given him. He was honored and loved of God and his words are available to us today to study and learn much from.

He reveals history many centuries into the future to the end of all time. He offers us an account of the timeline of the coming of the Messiah as well. The prophecies of Daniel are amazing as you’ll soon discover.

Historical data tells us that Daniel is supposed to have died at Susa in Persia (today’s Iran), about the year 530 BC, at about 94 years old.

Let us begin--

CHAPTER -- I

READ Daniel 1: 1 - In the third year of the reign of _________ king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar ____ of Babylon unto __________, and besieged it. 2. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into ___ hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of ______to the house of ___ god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of ___ ___.

Starting with an historical background, he states that Jehoiakim was the king of Judah at the time, that Nebuchadnezzer was king of Babylon and that Nebuchadnezzer besieged Jehoiakim’s reign. He also tells us that it was 3 years into the reign of Jehoiakim and that Jehoiakim was given into Nebuchadnezzar’s hands. Nebuchanezzer took some of the sacred vessels from the house of God into Shinar, the country of Babylon.

READ Genesis 10:10 ‘And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of ______’

Jerusalem’s capture was predicted by Jeremiah, and accomplished, in 606 BC.

READ Jeremiah 25:8-11-- Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have ___ heard my words, Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my _______, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. Moreover I will take from them the voice of _____, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. And this whole land shall be a _________, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon _______ years.

Jeremiah places this captivity in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, Daniel in in the third. This seeming discrepancy is explained by the fact that Nebuchadnezzar set out on his expedition near the close of the third year of Jehoiakim, from which point Daniel reckons. But he did not fully capture Jerusalem till about the ninth month of the year following; and from this year Jeremiah reckons. (Prideaux, Vol. I, pp. 99, 100)

Jehoiakim humbled himself and was allowed to remain as ruler in Jerusalem, tributary to the king of Babylon. This was the first time Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar. Twice after that because the people revolted, it had to be recaptured by the same king, being dealt with more harshly each succeeding time. Of these subsequent overthrows, the first was under Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim in 599 BC when all the sacred vessels were either taken or destroyed and the best of the people along with the king were led into captivity. The second was under Zedekiah, when the city fought the most formidable fight for control except that by Titus, in 70 AD. During the two year siege the city dwellers had to endure the horrors of extreme famine. The king attempting to escape from the city along with his garrison, were captured by the Chaldeans. The sons of the king were slain before him. His eyes were put out, and he was taken to Babylon; and fulfilled was the prediction of Ezekiel who declared that he should be carried to Babylon, and die there, but yet should not see the place.

READ Ezekiel 12:13 - ‘My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not ___ it, though he shall ___ there.’

The city and temple were at this time completely destroyed, the entire population of the city and country, with the exception of few, were carried captive to Babylon, 588 BC.

Had the Israelites been faithful to God and kept his Sabbath, Jerusalem would have stood forever. READ Jeremiah 17:24-- And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently _______ unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the ________ day, but _______ the sabbath day, to do no work therein; Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain forever. And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the _____. But if ye will___ hearken unto me to ________ the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall ________ the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

The Hebrews captive in Babylon -- During those days of distress in Jerusalem, Daniel and his companions were fed well and taught in the palace of the king of Babylon; and, though they were captive in a strange land, they were in some respects more favorably treated than they would have been in their native country.

READ Daniel 1:3-5 -- And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the _____ of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the ________ of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; 4 children in whom was __ blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all _______, and cunning in ___________, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might ______ the learning and the ________ of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a ______ provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank; so nourishing them ______ years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

Fulfilled prophecy by Isaiah --

READ 2 Kings 20:14-18 – ‘Then came Isaiah the ________ unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? And from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from _________. And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. Behold, the days _____, that all that is in thine house,and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into ________: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the _______ of the king of Babylon.’

We read that these children (Dan.1:4) were already skillful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and had ability in them to stand in the king's palace. Obviously they weren’t children as we think of them today. They were youth, thought to be between 18 and 20 years old.

There are a few facts that make King Nebuchadnezzar rather unique. He didn’t choose those men and women to fulfil his lusts, he chose young men to educate and help in administrative duties. He wanted to make good use of the captives, those that showed themselves to be exceptionally smart. Nebuchanezzar didn’t give them substandard food either, but fed them from his own food. For three years these youth were treated not as captives but as favored youth.

READ Daniel 1:6,7-- Now among these were the children of Judah, ______, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 unto whom the ______ of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of __________; and to Hananiah, of _________; and to Mishael, of ___________; and to Azariah, of ___________.

Let’s look at the meanings of their names before and after- Hebrew and Babylonian.

Daniel - God is my judge

Hananiah, gift of the Lord

Mishael, he that is a strong God

Azariah, help of the Lord.

Daniel renamed to Belteshazzar - keeper of the hid treasures of Bel

Hananiah rename to Shadrach- inspiration of the sun --which the Chaldeans worshipped

Mishael renamed to Meshach- of the goddess Shaca --Venus was worshiped using that name

Azariah renamed to Abed-nego- servant of the shining fire—something else they worshipped, fire itself.

So while they were being taught, and treated wonderfully they were also being indoctrinated towards the gods worshipped by the Babylonians. Indoctrinated, but not forced to worship the Babylonian gods, another boon by the benevolent Nebuchadnezzar.

READ Daniel 1:8-16 -- But Daniel purposed in his _____ that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's ____, nor with the _____ which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into _____ and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 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 _________ my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 ______ thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our _____________ 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, ____ with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared _______ and _______ in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them _____.

Why didn’t Daniel want to eat the kings meat? Probably because as most meat fed to the kings at that time it was first used as an offering and sacrifice to their idols, as well as being unclean by Jewish law. Daniel in all good conscience could not eat of this food so he asked that he and his companions be allowed to eat something else.

Asking this wasn’t something easy either. Here they are being treated like royalty, fed from the same food the king himself partook of, and he was trying to decline. The eunuch too had an obligation to his king to make sure the captives were fed well, how could he risk them failing in health by letting them eat what amounted to vegetables, legumes and little else?

Yet the eunuch agreed to the test, probably realizing that ten days wouldn’t do too much harm to the captives and then they could return to the food that would really do them justice. That’s not what happened though. After the ten days the captives were healthier than ever before, healthier than those on the diet consisting of the kings meat and drink. Daniel and his friends past the test with flying colors.

The Lord intervened for Daniel and his companions, showing them to be healthier after only ten days which kept them from defiling themselves, how glorious is our Lord.

READ Daniel 1:7-21 -- ‘As for these ____children, God gave them knowledge and skill in __ learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all ______ and ______. 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. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found ____ like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ___ times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued unto the first year of king Cyrus.’

After Three Years Daniel was the only one that had an understanding in visions and dreams. But the Lord's dealing with Daniel like this doesn’t indicate the others were any less favored in his sight. Allowed to live in the midst of the fiery furnace (something you’ll read about later) was enough evidence of their divine favor. Daniel probably had some natural qualifications that peculiarly fitted him for this special work of understanding visions and dreams.

When three years were up, the king having not forgotten them calls them in to talk with them. During their meeting it’s obvious that the very learned king was testing them and in the end he found them ten times better than any others in his entire kingdom, how amazing is that.

The last verse mentions Daniel continuing on…a long, long time, far to the reign of another king.

This concludes our study of Daniel Chapter One