Daniel 1:1–2

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 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.

“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand”

The Lord hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her (Lamentations 4:11–13).

In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; and also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon. (2 Kings 24:1–4. Israel was punished for following after the sins of the evil king Manasseh and for turning against the God of heaven.)

Go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; because ye have not heard my words, behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. (Jeremiah 25:6–9)

“In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah” (Jeremiah 25:1), soon after Daniel was taken to Babylon, Jeremiah predicted the captivity of many of the Jews as their punishment for not heeding the word of the Lord. The Chaldeans were to be used as the instrument by which God would chastise His disobedient people. Their punishment was to be in proportion to the light of truth they had received and the warnings they had despised. By continual sin and disobedience the protecting hand of God was removed.

“This whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment,” the prophet declared, “and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations” (Jeremiah 25:11–12).

Daniel 1:3

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.

“Bring certain of the children of Israel”

Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. (2 Kings 20:17–18. To Hezekiah it was prophesied that his posterity would be taken captive.)

And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it. And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said.

And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. (2 Kings 24:11–15)

As prophesied, the seed of the king, the royal family, and the nobility were to be among those taken captive. This is the group that the king of Babylon referred to in Daniel 1:3.

Daniel 1:4–5

Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful 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. 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.

The promising young men of Israel and other conquered kingdoms were brought into the mainstream of Babylonian education, politics, and religion. This policy was a means of subjugation, and to utilize the talents of the other nations for the benefit of the Babylonian kingdom.

Daniel 1:6

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Daniel—God is my judge.¹

Hananiah—God has favored.²

Mishael—Who is what God is.³

Azariah—Jah [Jehovah] has helped.⁴

Daniel 1:7

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.

Belteshazzar—Prince of Bel.⁵ (See Daniel 4:8.)

Shadrach—Servant of sin (the moon god.)⁶
 
Meshach—Who is what Aku is (the Sumerian name for Sin, the moon god.)⁷

Abednego—Servant of [the god] Nebu.⁸

The Babylonian officer had a purpose in changing the names of the Hebrew youth. In ancient times, the name of a child stood for his character, and the names given to the children were characteristic of what they were expected to become. Because the captives taken by Babylon were still young men, this change in name would make an impression on their minds. In a little while, it was hoped, their former religion would be forgotten and they would become like the Chaldean youth about them. But did changing their names change their allegiance to God?

The verses that follow show how these young men adhered to truth and maintained their allegiance to God. Even in areas considered by many to be of minor importance, they held to their faith and obedience to the Scriptures above convenience.

Daniel 1:8

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.

Heart—The feelings, the will, and the intellect.⁹

Defile—To soil, or to figuratively desecrate.¹⁰

The rich, choice food from the king’s table included swine’s flesh, fermented wine, and other items proclaimed unclean and unsuitable for dietary purposes by the word of God. Also, a portion of the food and wine was presented as an offering to the false gods of Babylon.

According to the religious ideas of the day, this act consecrated the food and drink to the heathen gods. Daniel and his three brethren believed that if they were to partake of the king’s bounty, eating the food and drinking the wine associated with the practice of idolatry, they would be denying their faith. To do this would be to associate themselves with heathenism and to dishonor the law of God. This they purposed in their hearts they would not do.

“Not defile himself with the portion of the kings meat, nor with the wine”

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: to make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten. (Leviticus 11:45–47)

It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. (Leviticus 3:17)

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. (Proverbs 31:4–5)

The Hebrews were captives in a strange land, and the God of heaven had placed them where they could shine as lights for Him and His truth in the midst of heathen darkness. As they considered their circumstances, difficulties, dangers, pleasures, and possibilities that being in the king’s court offered them, they chose to be faithful to truth and duty. Even though they would risk the king’s displeasure, they decided they must be true to the counsels of God. Because of their faithfulness, God gave them strength and health and intellectual power.

Why did Daniel and his companions refuse to eat at the king’s table? Why did they refuse his food and wine? They understood from the Hebrew Scriptures that much of the food fit for a king would not keep the mind or body in the best condition of health; therefore, it would hinder their service to God.

These youth urged the prince of the eunuchs to not force them to partake of the king’s fine food or drink of his wine. They asked him to allow them to choose their own simple diet for ten days and then examine them to determine whether the food they requested hindered their abilities and their health. The prince agreed. When they came in for examination ten days later, the result was decidedly in their favor.

 The same faithfulness to God, even in little things, is the privilege and duty of the people of God today.

“And as he [Paul] reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25). Within the context of a judgment to come, Paul linked righteousness with temperance as a standard of Christian experience and virtue. This is what Daniel and his friends understood and sought.

Daniel 1:9

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

“God had brought Daniel into favour”

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)

And [O Lord God] forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them. (1 Kings 8:50)

Daniel 1:10–12

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. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Prove your servants, I beseech you, for ten days and let us be given a vegetable diet and water to drink. (Daniel 1:12 AMP)

The word pulse in the above verse means “something sown … , i.e. a vegetable (as food).”¹¹ “Leguminous plants or their seeds … as beans, peas, etc.”¹²

Daniel 1:13–15

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. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 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.

Well, at the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the youths who had been eating the food supplied by the king! (Daniel 1:15 TLB)

Obedience and faithfulness to God always bring reward and blessing. The rich diet of the king’s court, combined with the intake of alcohol, was looked upon as a diet fit for a king. But it was readily seen in the lives of the Hebrew youth that a simple but nutritious diet was far better for both body and mind.

What if Daniel and his companions had made a compromise with those heathen officers and had yielded to the social pressure and indulged in eating and drinking as was customary with the Babylonians? This one area of departure from principle would have weakened their sense of right and wrong. Indulgence of appetite, though expedient and favorable in their circumstances, would have involved weakening physical strength, intellect, and spiritual power. This one wrong step would have made it easier to compromise in other areas, until their connection with heaven was broken. They would have been overcome by the multitude of temptations that surrounded them.

Was Daniel being a legalist as he and his friends sought to obey God in what the world may call small and insignificant things? Daniel and his friends had a higher motive, a motive that must be ours as well. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [athletes competing for a prize] do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

Daniel 1:16

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

“Gave them pulse”

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (Genesis 1:29. Every plant, and every tree that yields seed-bearing fruit, was to be food for man which includes all edible fruits, nuts, grains and seeds.)

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. (Genesis 3:18. The green herbs, or vegetables, were given to man for food after the fall to build him up.)

The days in which we live parallel the wickedness found in Babylon. Would it not be well for us to follow the example of Daniel’s faithfulness in all aspects of our lives? Should we not choose, like Daniel, to follow temperance and simplicity in diet and be faithful in serving God in the little and big things of life? If we did, what would be the affect? Our minds would be clearer to comprehend the hour in which we live. Our hearts would be more in tune with God. In addition, He would give us wisdom and understanding in regards to the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.

If we choose the rich diet of the king’s court, we will be like King Nebuchadnezzar; we will not readily understand when God speaks to us through prophecies. Right now, ask God to help you dare to be a Daniel. To stand alone. To have a firm purpose and the courage to make it known. If you, by God’s grace, make it your purpose to live a life of temperance and strict adherence to God’s Word in all aspects of life, and do so in the love and fear of God, the knowledge of God in the Scriptures will come alive to your understanding as it did for Daniel and his friends.

Daniel 1:17

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.

“God gave them”

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. (1 Kings 4:29)

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. (Revelation 1:1)

With him [God] is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. (Job 12:13)

Was God being arbitrary or showing favoritism in bestowing upon these Hebrew youth a special measure of knowledge and wisdom? Or was this a spiritual principle in action, brought about by their obedience and faithfulness to God?

Godly success in any line of work is not the result of chance, accident, or special destiny; it is the result of God’s providence, which comes by faith and discretion, resulting from a virtuous life and diligent and faithful labor. In acquiring the wisdom of the Babylonians, Daniel and his three companions were far more successful than their fellow students. for they obtained knowledge by diligent effort, under the guidance of the Spirit of God.

These youth, though surrounded by the beauty, mystery and wealth of heathenism in the king’s court, chose to align themselves with the Source of all wisdom. They made the knowledge of God the foundation of their education. Though other young men had the same apparent advantages, they neglected to seek the true wisdom—the knowledge of God revealed in His Word.

“God gave them knowledge … and wisdom”

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding (Proverbs 9:10)

And [you] have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. (Colossians 3:10)

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. (Philippians 3:7–8)

A relationship with God and the knowledge of the Scriptures was the source of the true and superior wisdom of the Hebrew youth. This is to be the source of our wisdom as well.

Daniel 1:18–19

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. 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.

“Among them all was found none like …”

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1–5. If we will give heed to God’s words, praying for wisdom, and seeking it at the cost of all things, then we shall find the knowledge of God.)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psalm 111:10)

Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. (Psalm 119:98–101. Through obedience to God’s laws, man is made wiser.)

The attributes of biblical integrity and fidelity were what proved to be the success of Daniel and his friends. It is still the source of true success today.

Daniel 1:20

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

And in all matters requiring information and balanced judgment, the king found these young men’s advice ten times better than that of all the skilled magicians and wise astrologers in his realm. (Daniel 1:20 TLB)

“Better than all the magicians and astrologers”

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. (Psalm 118:8–9)

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. (Psalm 119:72)

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19)

Daniel and his friends were “better” not because of any inherent skills. The key to their attainment of superior wisdom was the relationship they had with God and their adherence to His principles. There is wisdom, perception, and a degree of common sense with the righteous that is often lacking in highly educated but godless men, who live for power and political influence. Their motivation is personal gain, using the wisdom of this world. But worldly wisdom puts them at a disadvantage compared to those who are both wise and godly.

The book of James describes the result of the perverted wisdom of the godless or compromised Christian, a wisdom that to a large degree undermines whatever knowledge or understanding they may have gained from the world. “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:14–15).

In contrast, “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). This wisdom from above was what Daniel acquired, and its source was God. It can be the source of your wisdom as well. Will you seek it this day for yourself?

Daniel 1:21

And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

In today’s world, statesmen and government officials are persons of unique and uncommon skill. Thus it was with Daniel. And thus it can be with us if we serve God with faithfulness, for we will always find a field of usefulness to serve God and man so long as we make God and His truth first in our lives.

Daniel and his companions were specially blessed for their faithfulness and obedience. Is this blessing for Daniel alone? Or does a blessing attend all who are faithful and obedient to God?

Blessed [happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable] is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:1 AMP; Psalm 1:2 KJV)

Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. (Psalm 40:4)

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. (Psalm 119:1–2)

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalm 34:8)

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

May the blessing of God that came upon Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah be yours today as you choose to love and serve God above all else.

Endnotes

1. Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius’ Hebrew Aramaic English Lexicon, in The Online Bible CD-ROM, Macintosh Version 2.5.3 (Niagara Falls, NY: Cross Country Software, www.online-bible.com, 1996).

2. Ibid.

3. James Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1987).

4. Ibid.

5. Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, 23 (Southern Publishing Association, 1944. Printed in USA).

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius’ Hebrew Aramaic English Lexicon, op. cit.

9. James Strong, op. cit.

10. Ibid.

11. Ibid.

12. Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language (San Francisco, California: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1967).

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