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Dan 1a
- 1. DANIEL PRESENTATION Bill Fritz Adult Education Fellowship Bible Church
- 2. Chapter Summary “The events in the first chapter of this book happened about 605 years before Christ was born. God had told the Jews that they must obey him. God gave his people a long time to say sorry to him and to obey him. But they did more and more evil things and they gave honour to false gods. So God used a foreign king, Nebuchadnezzar, to punish the Jews. Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar took them away from the country that God had given them. Nebuchadnezzar did not give honour to the real God. He gave honour to false gods. But God still used him to punish the Jews. In Jeremiah 25:9, 12, God said that Nebuchadnezzar was his servant. But Nebuchadnezzar did not know that. God also said that he would punish the people in Babylon 70 years later. This was because they were wicked too (see Daniel chapter 5). God is in control. He can even use people who do not know him.” (Robert Bryce, 2018©) Note: For a detailed in depth introduction refer to https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson- fausset-brown/daniel/daniel-introduction.html
- 3. Background The kingdom of Judah was divided under the rule of Rehoboam (son of Solomon) into a northern kingdom (Assyria or Modern-day northern Iraq) and the southern kingdom (Jerusalem) in approximately 931- 586 B.C. The book of Chronicles gives us the names of the twenty kings which ruled over these kingdoms. We will concentrate on the southern kingdom (Jerusalem) and the Babylonian captivity. Babalon had seven kings before its fall: Nabopolaar 625-605 BC; Nebuchadnezzar (605-562); Merodach (562-560BC); Neriglissar (556-539 BC); Nabonidus (556-539 BC); Belshazzar (556-539). The kingdom of Jerusalem was captured by Nebuzaradan (586 BC). Daniel was brought to Babylon with thousands of other Jews.
- 4. Chapter 1 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, (Dan 1:1-3 ESV)
- 5. Background: After Josiah's death, Jehoiakim's younger brother Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum) was proclaimed King, but after three months Pharaoh Necho II deposed him, making Eliakim king in his place. When placed on the throne, his name was changed to "Jehoiakim "('Yahweh will establish ').[1] Jehoiakim was the 18th king of Juda reigning from609- 598 BC. During Jehoiakim's third year as King, the people of Juda did not obey God and sinned greatly (worshiping other gods). God judged them and brought King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to punish them. Nebuchadnezzar desecrated the temple and plundered its sacred objects, and captured many Jews, among them was Daniel. The King brought them to Shinar (the old name for Babylon).
- 6. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. These youths, probably 12-14 years old, were to be indoctrinated into the culture and beliefs of the Chaldeans (people of ancient Mesopotamia, modern- day Iraq) Why did Nebuchadnezzar want to train these young men? He may have had plans to use these men at a later time to control the Jews.
- 7. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. the "-el" stands for God/Lord/Power in Hebrew. It is most commonly read as either "<x> of God" or "God is <x>" in names, but there are many different other semantics possible, too. ” Names ending in ah give honor to Jehovah (another name for God) (Quora.com). Therefore an official of the king, I believe to be their teacher, gave the youths Babylonian names (names that referenced the Babylonian’s false gods.
- 8. Daniel Refuses to Eat the King’s Food
- 9. (Dan 1:8 ESV) 8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. Scripture does not reveal the reason for Daniel not wanting to eat the king's food. Perhaps the meat was from unclean animals. Another explanation is that it was customary for Babylonians to offer foods to their false gods. [3] Daniel, for whatever reason, thought it wrong to eat the same food the king eat. The word defile means to contaminate from the Hebrew transliteration ga'al. [2] Daniel posed this refusal was not given in a confrontational way, but rather as a challenge as we will see in the next.
- 10. (Dan 1:9-10 ESV) 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king." The chief eunuch was accountable to the king not just for the indoctrination of the four youths but also their wellbeing. Knowing if Daniel and the other youth’s health failed, the king would blame him and exact the most severe punishment.
- 12. (Dan 1:11-12 ESV) 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see." Typical Babylonian diet “Ancient Babylonians undoubtedly ate lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, and bread, but the meat was also an important part of their menus. They typically ate beef and pork, as well as the flesh of both sheep and goats.” [4] Ten days was a relatively short period, and the chief eunuch undoubtedly thought nothing would come of it, so what is the harm. Does God advocate a vegetarian diet? Not according to Paul, who indicates a person who eats only vegetables is weak. (Romans 14:2)
- 13. (Dan 1:14-15 ESV) 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel was given the gift of understanding and interpreting dreams in the same way as He did with Joseph. (Genesis 40:5-13, 41:1-8) We will see in the coming chapters God also gives Daniel the gift of sight (seeing future events).
- 14. (Dan 1:18-19 ESV) 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. At the end of time; I mean at the end of the training time. The king must have had a significant amount of wisdom to test these youths. These Hebrew youths proved to be wiser than all the magicians and wise men of the land (V21). Therefore they stood before the king: Scripture does not give us the significance of standing before the king. It could typically be when approaching the king, and you would do so in a low bowed stature. In any case, we can assume this was a place of honor.
- 15. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus. The words magicians and enchanter are very close in their meaning.The word enchanter (or conjurers) is translated from the Hebrew word ʼashshâph, pronounced ash-shawf'; referring to those who practiced enchantments or spells also astrologers. [2] The word Magician is translated from the Hebrew word charṭôm, pronounced khar-tome. Chartom means those who drew magical lines and circles, an example in today's vernacular would be horoscope preparers. [2] King Cyrus ruled Babylon from 559-530 B.C.
- 16. 1:20 Throughout the book of Daniel, there are six different expressions for the king's counselors. The first two, used here, are diviner-priests and mediums. The word "diviner priests" comes from a root that means "engraver." It refers to those who engraved Babylonian religious activities and astrological movements of the stars on clay tablets. The word "mediums" means "conjurers." It refers to those who used spells and incantations to communicate with the spirit world [7].
- 17. BIBLOGRAPHY [1] Jewish encyclopedia, Emil G. Hirsch, Bernhard Pick, Solomon Schechter, Louis Ginzberg, 1906, http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8562-jehoiakim (Accessed April 25 2018) [2] "H1351 - ga'al - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (ESV)." Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 25 Apr, 2018. https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/ [3] Robert Bryce, www.easyenglish.bible, An Easy English Commentary on the Book of Daniel March 2007, (Accessed April 25 2018) [4] Millburn, Naomi. "What Type of Vegetables Did the Ancient Babylonians Eat?" Synonym, http://classroom.synonym.com/type-vegetables-did-ancient-babylonians-eat-9211.html. Accessed 25 April 2018. [5]Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. 2009. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers. As found in the Logos Bible study software program. (Accessed April 26 2018) [6] (https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-naming-convention-for-Hebrew-Biblical-names- ending-in-el-Gabriel-Samael-Azrael-etc-and-what-are-their-meanings.) [7] STUDY GUIDE - keokukefree.org. http://www.keokukefree.org/hp_wordpress/wp- content/uploads/2017/05/DanielsCourage2017-05-14.pdf Art work was obtained with online sources. Authors name was not given and is considered to be free domain.
Editor's Notes
- Verses 1-2 God’s people, the *Jews, did not obey him. They did evil things and they gave honour to false gods. So God used a foreign king, Nebuchadnezzar, to punish them. So, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, which was in Judah. And he surrounded it. Judah was the country that God had given to the *Jews. Nebuchadnezzar took many of the *Jewish people back to Babylon. The *Jews had God’s special house in Jerusalem. So they thought that they were safe. But God even allowed Nebuchadnezzar to take holy things from his house and to give them to a false god. 1. third year--compare Jeremiah 25:1 , "the fourth year; Jehoiakim came to the throne at the end of the year, which Jeremiah reckons as the first year, but which Daniel leaves out of count, being an incomplete year: thus, in Jeremiah, it is "the fourth year"; in Daniel, "the third" [JAHN]. However, Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 25:1 , 46:2 ) merely says, the fourth year of Jehoiakim coincided with the first of Nebuchadnezzar, when the latter conquered the Egyptians at Carchemish; not that the deportation of captives from Jerusalem was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim: this probably took place in the end of the third year of Jehoiakim, shortly before the battle of Carchemish [FAIRBAIRN]. Nebuchadnezzar took away the captives as hostages for the submission of the Hebrews. Historical Scripture gives no positive account of this first deportation, with which the Babylonian captivity, that is, Judah's subjection to Babylon for seventy years ( Jeremiah 29:10 ), begins. But 2 Chronicles 36:6 2 Chronicles 36:7 , states that Nebuchadnezzar had intended "to carry Jehoiakim to Babylon," and that he "carried off the vessels of the house of the Lord" thither. But Jehoiakim died at Jerusalem, before the conqueror's intention as to him was carried into effect ( Jeremiah 22:18 Jeremiah 22:19 , 36:30 ), and his dead body, as was foretold, was dragged out of the gates by the Chaldean besiegers, and left unburied. The second deportation under Jehoiachin was eight years later. 2. Shinar--the old name of Babylonia ( Genesis 11:2 , 14:1 , Isaiah 11:11 , Zechariah 5:11 ). Nebuchadnezzar took only "part of the vessels," as he did not intend wholly to overthrow the state, but to make it tributary, and to leave such vessels as were absolutely needed for the public worship of Jehovah. Subsequently all were taken away and were restored under Cyrus ( Ezra 1:7 ). his god--Bel. His temple, as was often the case among the heathen, was made "treasure house" of the king.
- Verses 3-5 Although Nebuchadnezzar was wicked, he was also wise. He chose the best of the young men from the people that he had defeated. These young men learned about the things of Babylon. Then they could serve the king. Later they would probably rule over their own people. The people would probably not oppose their own young men. The young men got the best education that the king could give them. They did not even have to worry about preparing meals. They got the same food and wine that the king had. 3. master of . . . eunuchs--called in Turkey the kislar aga. of the king's seed--compare the prophecy, 2 Kings 20:17 2 Kings 20:18 . 4. no blemish--A handsome form was connected, in Oriental ideas, with mental power. "Children" means youths of twelve or fourteen years old. teach . . . tongue of . . . Chaldeans--their language and literature, the Aramaic-Babylonian. That the heathen lore was not altogether valueless appears from the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses; the Eastern Magi who sought Jesus, and who may have drawn the tradition as to the "King of the Jews" from Daniel 9:24 , &c., written in the East. As Moses was trained in the learning of the Egyptian sages, so Daniel in that of the Chaldeans, to familiarize his mind with mysterious lore, and so develop his heaven-bestowed gift of understanding in visions ( Daniel 1:4 Daniel 1:5 Daniel 1:17 ). The Chaldeans of ancient Mesopotamia - which today is Iraq, east Syria, and south east Turkey - are a live continuation of all the indigenous people of Mesopotamia whether their tribal names were Sumerians, Akkadians, Amorites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Aramaeans.
- Verses 6-7 The Bible introduces us to four of these young men from Judah. They are the most important people in the book. They all had *Jewish names that gave honour to the real God. But the king’s official gave them *Babylonian names. These names contain part of the names of Babylon’s false gods. The official was trying to make them forget the real God. Nebuchadnezzar had plans for these young men, but God had his plans too. 5. king's meat--It is usual for an Eastern king to entertain, from the food of his table, many retainers and royal captives ( Jeremiah 52:33 Jeremiah 52:34 ). The Hebrew for "meat" implies delicacies. stand before the king--as attendant courtiers; not as eunuchs. 6. children of Judah--the most noble tribe, being that to which the "king's seed" belonged (compare Daniel 1:3 ). the "-el" stands for God/Lord/Power in Hebrew. It is most commonly read as either "<x> of God" or "God is <x>" in names, but there are many different other semantics possible, too. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-naming-convention-for-Hebrew-Biblical-names-ending-in-el-Gabriel-Samael-Azrael-etc-and-what-are-their-meanings. Names ending in ah give honor to Jehovah (another name for God). (https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-naming-convention-for-Hebrew-Biblical-names-ending-in-el-Gabriel-Samael-Azrael-etc-and-what-are-their-meanings.)
- Verses 8-16 We do not know why Daniel did not want to take the royal food and wine. In Babylon, people offered food to false gods before they ate it. Perhaps people would think that Daniel gave honour to those gods too. Daniel believed that it was wrong to eat the food. That is the important thing. (We may not be sure if something is wrong. But if we are not sure, then it is better not to do it.) So, Daniel asked if he could have vegetables and water instead. It seems that Daniel was a good and pleasant person. So the king’s official liked him. God made Daniel like that. But the official was afraid of the king. The king might kill him if he did not obey the king’s command. The official wanted Daniel to eat the royal food. He thought that it would make Daniel seem healthier. Maybe this gave Daniel an idea. He asked the guard to give him and his friends vegetables and water for 10 days. Then the guard could see which of the young men were healthier. After 10 days, Daniel and his friends seemed healthier than the young men who ate the royal food. So, the guard agreed to give them vegetables and water. 8. Daniel . . . would not defile himself with . . . king's meat--Daniel is specified as being the leader in the "purpose" (the word implies a decided resolution) to abstain from defilement, thus manifesting a character already formed for prophetical functions. The other three youths, no doubt, shared in his purpose. It was the custom to throw a small part of the viands and wine upon the earth, as an initiatory offering to the gods, so as to consecrate to them the whole entertainment (compare Deuteronomy 32:38 ). To have partaken of such a feast would have been to sanction idolatry, and was forbidden even after the legal distinction of clean and unclean meats was done away ( 1 Corinthians 8:7 1 Corinthians 8:10 , 1 Corinthians 10:27 1 Corinthians 10:28 ). Thus the faith of these youths was made instrumental in overruling the evil foretold against the Jews ( Ezekiel 4:13 , Hosea 9:3 ), to the glory of God. Daniel and his three friends, says AUBERLEN, stand out like an oasis in the desert. Like Moses, Daniel "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" ( Hebrews 11:25 ; see Daniel 9:3-19 ). He who is to interpret divine revelations must not feed on the dainties, nor drink from the intoxicating cup, of this world. This made him as dear a name to his countrymen as Noah and Job, who also stood alone in their piety among a perverse generation ( Ezekiel 14:14 , 28:3 ). requested--While decided in principle, we ought to seek our object by gentleness, rather than by an ostentatious testimony, which, under the plea of faithfulness, courts opposition.
- 9. God . . . brought Daniel into favour--The favor of others towards the godly is the doing of God. So in Joseph's case ( Genesis 39:21 ). Especially towards Israel ( Psalms 106:46 ; compare Proverbs 16:7 ). 10. worse liking--looking less healthy. your sort--of your age, or class; literally, "circle." endanger my head--An arbitrary Oriental despot could, in a fit of wrath at his orders having been disobeyed, command the offender to be instantly decapitated.
- 11. Melzar--rather, the steward, or chief butler, entrusted by Ashpenaz with furnishing the daily portion to the youths [GESENIUS]. The word is still in use in Persia. 12. pulse--The Hebrew expresses any vegetable grown from seeds, that is, vegetable food in general [GESENIUS]. (Rom 14:2 ESV) 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. ἀσθενέω asthenéō, as-then-eh'-o; from G772; to be feeble (in any sense):—be diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick, (be, be made) weak. I personally believe that while mankind was in the garden of Eden he eat vegetables and not meat. Mankind and the animals lived a peaceful coexistence not fearing each other. All that changed after the fall.
- Verse 17 It was not easy to obey the real God in Babylon. But God helped these young men to obey him. He also made them very wise. God gave Daniel a special gift so that Daniel could understand all kinds of dreams. 17. God gave them knowledge--( Exodus 31:2 Exodus 31:3 , 1 Kings 3:12 , Job 32:8 , James 1:5 James 1:17 ). Daniel had understanding in . . . dreams--God thus made one of the despised covenant-people eclipse the Chaldean sages in the very science on which they most prided themselves. So Joseph in the court of Pharaoh ( Genesis 40:5 , 41:1-8 ). Daniel, in these praises of his own "understanding," speaks not through vanity, but by the direction of God, as one transported "CONTENTS OF THE BOOK."
- Verses 18-20 It seems that Nebuchadnezzar was very clever too. He was able to ask the young men questions to see how wise they were. God had made them so wise that they were better than the other young men. They were even much better than all the other wise men. God made them very important people in a foreign country, where people gave honour to false gods. But Daniel and his friends remained loyal to the real God. God knew that they would stay loyal to him. They would stay loyal to him, even if he asked them to do harder things. 18. brought them in--that is, not only Daniel and his three friends, but other youths ( Daniel 1:3 Daniel 1:19 , "among them all"). 19. stood . . . before the king--that is, were advanced to a position of favor near the throne.
- Verse 21 Almost 70 years later, other nations called the *Medes and *Persians joined up to defeat the *Babylonians (Daniel 5:30). King Cyrus was the king of a country called Persia. See Daniel 6:28. He ruled from the time 539 years before Christ was born. So Daniel stayed in Babylon for many years. He served the *Babylonian kings and also the kings of Persia. 20. ten times--literally, "ten hands." magicians--properly, "sacred scribes, skilled in the sacred writings, a class of Egyptian priests" [GESENIUS]; from a Hebrew root, "a pen." The word in our English Version, "magicians," comes from mag, that is, "a priest." The Magi formed one of the six divisions of the Medes. astrologers--Hebrew, "enchanters," from a root, "to conceal," practices of the occult arts. 21. Daniel continued . . . unto . . . first year of Cyrus--( 2 Chronicles 36:22 , Ezra 1:1 ). Not that he 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 the end of the "SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY." In Daniel 10:1 he is mentioned as living "in the third year of Cyrus." See Margin Note, on the use of "till" ( Psalms 110:1 , 112:8 ). Enchanters = ʼashshâph, ash-shawf'; from an unused root (probably meaning to lisp, i.e. practice enchantment); a conjurer:—astrologer. Magicians = charṭôm, khar-tome'; from the same as H2747; a horoscopist (as drawing magical lines or circles):—magician.