In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM - cf. , "the fourth year:" Jehoiakim came to the throne at the end of the year, which Jeremiah reckons as the first year, but... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THE LORD GAVE JEHOIAKIM KING OF JUDAH INTO HIS HAND, WITH PART OF... [ Continue Reading ]
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; ASHPENAZ THE MASTER OF HIS EUNUCHS - called in Turkey the 'Kislar Aga.' "Eunuchs" mean the king's chamberlains. CERTAIN ... OF THE KIN... [ Continue Reading ]
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. CHILDREN IN WHOM WAS NO BLEMI... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AND THE KING APPOINTED THEM A DAILY PROVISION OF THE KING'S MEAT. It is usual for an eastern king to enterta... [ Continue Reading ]
Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: NOW AMONG THESE WERE, OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH - the most noble tribe, being that to which the "king's seed" belonged (cf. ).... [ Continue Reading ]
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. UNTO WHOM THE PRINCE OF THE EUNUCHS GAVE NAMES - designed to mark their new relation, so that they might forget... [ Continue Reading ]
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 PURPOSED IN HIS HEART THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF WITH THE POR... [ Continue Reading ]
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. GOD HAD BROUGHT DANIEL INTO FAVOUR. The favour of others toward the godly is the doing of God. So in Joseph's case (). Especially toward Israel (; cf. ).... [ Continue Reading ]
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. WHY SHOULD HE SEE YOUR FACES WORSE LIK... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, THEN SAID DANIEL TO MEIZAR - rather 'to the steward,' or chief butler, entrusted by Ashpenaz with furnishing the daily portion to the youths (Gesenius). The word is still in use in Per... [ Continue Reading ]
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. PULSE. The Hebrew [ zeero`iym (H2235)] expresses any vegetable grown from seeds - i:e., vegetable food in general (Gesenius).... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THEN LET OUR COUNTENANCES BE LOOKED UPON BEFORE THEE ... AND AS THOU SEEST, DEAL WITH THY SERVANTS - illustrating , "Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_THUS MELZAR TOOK AWAY THE PORTION OF THEIR MEAT, AND THE WINE THAT THEY SHOULD DRINK; AND GAVE THEM PULSE._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. GOD GAVE THEM KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL IN ALL LEARNING AND WISDOM - so God "filled Bezaleel with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AT THE END OF THE DAYS - at the end of the three years (), which was the appointed time of training. THE PRINCE OF THE EUNUCHS BROUGHT THEM IN - i:e.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THEREFORE STOOD THEY BEFORE THE KING - i:e., were advanced to a position of favour near the throne.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THE KING ... FOUND THEM TEN TIMES BETTER THAN ALL THE MAGICIANS - "ten times," literally, 'ten hands.' MAGICIANS - p... [ Continue Reading ]
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. DANIEL CONTINUED EVEN UNTO THE FIRST YEAR OF ... CYRUS - (; ). Not that Daniel did not continue beyond that year, but the expression is designed to mark the fact that he who was one of the first captives taken to Babylon, lived to see t... [ Continue Reading ]