CHAPTER 1 DANIEL IS ESTABLISHED AT THE COURT OF BABYLON. ‘In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to Jerusalem and besieged it.' Here the dating is based on the Babylonian system of dating by which the opening part-year after a king's access... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God. And he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.' The siege was sufficiently fierce to enable him to persuade... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his palace servants (officers, nobles, eunuchs), that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles, youths in whom was no blemish, but well favoured and skilful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, and... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's food, and of the wine that he drank, and that they should be nourished for three years, that at the end of that period they might stand before the king.' The young men were put in the care of Ashpenaz so that they could be developed int... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now among these men were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. And the prince of the palace servaants, (nobles, chief officers, eunuchs) gave them names, to Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah of Shadrach, and to Mishael of Meshach, and to Azariah of... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine that he drank, therefore he requested of the prince of the chief officers that he might not defile himself.' What was happening to him clearly came as a shock to Daniel. There was no knowing ho... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now God made Daniel to be viewed with favour and compassion in the sight of the prince over the palace servants.' God was to be seen as present and active in what was happening. It was He Who won Daniel favour with this great prince. Notice the use of ‘God' with the article, and not Yahweh (compa... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the prince of the palace servants said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord, the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces as worse likeable (more gloomy) than the youths who are of your own age. In that you would put it on my head before the king.” The prince... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the chief officers had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah “Put your servants to the test, I pray you, for ten days, and let them give us vegetables (‘what is sown') to eat and water to drink, then let our faces be looked at before... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So he took notice of what they said and put them to the test for ten days. And at the end of ten days their faces appeared fresher, and they were fatter in the flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king's food.' So he did what they asked. The result of the test was that they gave a better over... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So the steward took away their food, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them vegetables.' Having seen the effects of the diet the steward was willing to continue it. From then on he refrained from giving them the kings' food and wine, and gave them grain and vegetables with water. (This... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.' Not only were their complexions continually clear and full but their minds were also, for the four grew in wisdom and knowledge. Their minds were ale... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And at the completion of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them before him, the prince of the chief officers brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king had discussions with them and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Misahel and Azariah. And in every matt... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Daniel continued, even to the first year of Cyrus the Persian.' The ‘first year of Cyrus the Persian' was an epochal day in the lives of the children of Israel, ranking possibly with the day of the giving of the Law at Sinai, for it probably means the year in which he became king over Babylon,... [ Continue Reading ]