Timeline: (v1-3, 21)
- Daniel:
- Started ~8 Years before Ezekiel’s visions (~605 BC)
- Ended 70 years later (~536 BC)
What do we learn about Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah? (v3-7)
- Age: Children? Teenagers?
- Family: From a royal or noble background
- Tribe: Judah
- No defect
- Well-favored
- Skillful in all wisdom
- Endowed with knowledge
- Understanding science
- Ability to stand in the king’s palace
- That is, to work in the king’s palace
- They were given new names
What was the problem with the food and what was the resolution? (v8-16, Deuteronomy 12:23, 14:3, Exodus 34:15)
- That he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties nor with the king’s wine
- Apparently horse and pig meat was common in that culture
- Not prepared according to the Jewish law – draining blood etc.,
- Meat generally was sacrificed to gods
- To resolve
- He first talked to Ashpenaz, the master of eunuchs
- Ashpenaz didn’t agree, even though he was kind by God’s grace
- As it could cost him his life, if the kids were weak
- Ashpenaz didn’t agree, even though he was kind by God’s grace
- So he made a deal with the steward for 10 days – only vegetables and water
- From steward’s point of view this 10 days in 3 years was not a risk
- He first talked to Ashpenaz, the master of eunuchs
Do we still have any such rules today? (Acts 10:15, 15:29)
- Based on the type of animal:
- Whether it was sacrificed to an idol:
- Based on how it was prepared:
What was the outcome for Daniel and his friends? (v17-21)
- God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom
- Dainel had understanding in all visions and dreams
- There were no one else in that “school” like Daniel and his friends
- Therefore they became part of king’s palace
- On job, in matters of wisdom and understanding, they were 10 times better
- Dainel continued for 70 years and served 5 kings
- Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus
Conclusion:
- Daniel and his friends didn’t compromise
- God gave Daniel and his friends, knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom
Passage Daniel 1 – World English Bible (WEB)
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord[a] gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God;[b] and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring[c] and of the nobles; 4 youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at its end they should stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, 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 made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. 10 The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”
11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12 “Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king’s dainties; and as you see, deal with your servants.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king’s dainties. 16 So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they were given to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 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.
18 At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them; and among them all was found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore stood they before the king. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.
21 Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.
Footnotes
- 1:2 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
- 1:2 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
- 1:3 or, seed
Notes/Cross References
Ezekiel 1:2-3 In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3 Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and Yahweh’s hand was there on him.
2 Chronicles 36:5-8 5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in Yahweh his God’s sight. 6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the vessels of Yahweh’s house to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
