The Book of Daniel: Chapter 1
Chapter 1:1-2
{1} In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. {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.
"In the third year of the
reign of Jehoiakim" Jehoiakim was the third from the last king that reigned over
Judah. He reigned from 609 to 597 B.C. The statement would place the coming of
Nebuchadnezzar in 606 B.C.. The question is raised concerning the supposed conflict of the
dating with that found in Jeremiah 25:1; 46:2. However, we find a different method used
for reckoning the beginning date of Jehoiakim’s reign. Jehoiakim came to the throne
at the end of the year. Jehoiakim was an unworthy son of Josiah. He was one of the worst
kings of Judah. He reigned for eleven years. Jeremiah includes this part as a whole;
whereas, Daniel does not. "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem and besieged
it." Nebuchadnezzar is also called Nebuchadrezzar and Rezzar.
The city of Jerusalem was a strongly fortified city. It
was nearly impossible to take by direct assault. How long the siege, here mentioned, took
place is not stated. "And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand."
We see an indication of the sovereignty of God and his judgment upon Judah for their sin.
Nebuchadnezzar took part of the vessels of the temple. In that day a conquering nation
would take the religious objects that were portable and transport them back to their land.
This was done for two reasons. One obvious reason was that fact that these objects would
be made of precious metals. Secondly, the conqueror would incorporate these new symbols
into his existing form of polytheistic worship. Shinar is the ancient name used for
Babylonia as seen in Gen. 10:10; 11:2; 14:1.
Chapter 1:3-5
{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; {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. {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.
Nebuchadnezzar took certain of the
Jews back to Babylon in his first deportation. Daniel and his three friends were taken at
this time. These were to be select individuals some of the kings children and some of the
nobles. The "and" found between "the children of Israel" and "of
the kings seed" should be translated "even". These captives were to be
physically perfect and those who had been well educated. The age of these captives cannot
be shown conclusively. The words "children of Israel" refers simply to
descendants of Israel; however, in verse four the word "children" refers to one
recently born. This word refers to those in early life or young men possibly in their
teens. The three years of preparation would also seem to indicate that they were young.
They were to be taught the Chaldean language that they might serve in the king’s
court. Nebuchadnezzar appointed them the meat and wine which he used himself. The word
"meat" means food; it does not refer only to the flesh of animals. The word
"wine" refers to what the king regularly drank. And so the king gave them of the
dainties of his table and the best wine to drink.
Chapter 1:6-7
{6} Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
{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.
"Among these" indicates
that there were more captives than these four Hebrew children and also that their were
more in training. "Of the children of Judah," this indicates that these three
were Hebrews of the tribe of Judah. The prince of eunuchs gave the four Hebrew children
new Chaldean names. The question may be asked as to why they received these new names. It
may have been to make them feel more a part of their new homeland. The Chaldeans may have
hoped that this would help these Hebrew children to forget their homeland, its culture,
and religion. It could have been to make them more acceptable among other rulers. There is
doubtless a reference to the Chaldean divinities in these four names that were given. The
meaning of the names cannot be determined exactly and were not given to teach a message in
the Bible, since they were given by a gentile man.
Chapter 1:8-14
{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. {9} Now God had brought Daniel into favour
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 endanger 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} Prove thy
servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
{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. {14} So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
"Daniel purposed in his
heart" Daniel decided that he could not obey the kings command. His decision carried
the intention of seeing a fulfillment. The fact of his purposing in his heart indicates
that Daniel was a young man with religious standards who would stand for what he believed.
"that he would not defile himself with the king’s meat, nor with the wine which
he drank." The contest does not explicitly tell us what their was about the kings
food that would cause it to defile Daniel. Some have suggested that the food was not
properly prepared or was not nourishing, but the king of that day undoubtedly had the best
available. Others have suggested that he did not want to eat such fancy food, but there is
no command not to eat fancy food, nor any defilement connected with it. A more logical
interpretation would seem to lie in the prevailing heathen custom of dedicating their food
to the gods. Daniel may have felt that to eat the food which was dedicated would connect
him with idolatry. Daniel then followed the accepted patterns of courtesy by going to the
prince of the eunuchs and requesting that he might not have to defile himself, "God
had brought Daniel into favor and tender love." First we notice the power of God in
controlling even the affections of a pagan individual. We can see that God uses those who
do not worship Him to help his children. The prince of the eunuchs was afraid that these
Jewish young men might be harmed by what he considered to be possibly an inferior diet. No
positive answer is given by the prince of the eunuchs. Daniel approached Melzar, the man
whom the prince of the eunuchs put over Daniel. Daniel asks for a ten day trial. He asks
for "pulse to eat, and water to drink". Pulse refers to vegetables. Daniel was
asking for that type of food which would not be offered to the idols. The ten days asked
for would be sufficient to show some change and yet not so long as to leave any permanent
damage. They were to be checked concerning their physical appearance at the end of the
experiment. Melzar agreed to this proposal.
Chapter 1:15-16
{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. {16} Thus Melzar took
away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
At the end of the ten days the
test showed that these four Jewish children were "fairer and fatter in flesh."
Their faces were fairer and more pleasant and their bodies filled out better than those
who ate the king’s food. There is a question as to who the "their meat"
refers to in verse sixteen. It would appear that it refers solely to the four Hebrew
children, because they alone are found to be superior at the end of the three year period.
If all of the young men in training had received the same diet, then there should not have
been such a great difference. Also, Melzar was placed over these four Hebrew children, not
over all the children.
Chapter 1:17-21
{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. {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. {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. {20} And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king
inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers
that were in all his realm. {21} And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king
Cyrus.
"God gave them knowledge and
skill". We see an indication of the sovereignty and love of God in this statement.
God gave them these gifts but they were as a reward for their faithfulness unto the Lord.
The learning and wisdom referred to seems to be literary knowledge. These four Hebrew
children were brought before the king. He questioned them, and in all matters where one
had to exercise wisdom, they were found to be "ten times" or many times better
than the kings magicians and astrologers. In verse twenty-one we see an indication that
this book was written late in the life of Daniel. The fact that it states that,
"Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus," does not mean
necessarily that Daniel died then. It only indicates that he lived at least that long
without stating the date for his death. |
