Daniel1
New King James Version
1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
4young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
6Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
10And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”
14So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
16Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.
20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
21Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Daniel 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The captivity of Daniel and his companions. (1-7). Their refusal to eat the king's meat. (8-16). Their improvement in wisdom. (17-21).
vv1-7
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, took Jerusalem, and carried whom and what he pleased away. From this first captivity, most think the seventy years are to be dated. It is the interest of princes to employ wise men; and it is their wisdom to find out and train up such. Nebuchadnezzar ordered that these chosen youths should be taught. All their Hebrew names had something of God in them; but to make them forget the God of their fathers, the Guide of their youth, the heathen gave them names that savoured of idolatry. It is painful to reflect how often public education tends to corrupt the principles and morals.
vv8-16
The interest we think we make for ourselves, we must acknowledge to be God's gift. Daniel was still firm to his religion. Whatever they called him, he still held fast the spirit of an Israelite. These youths scrupled concerning the meat, lest it should be sinful. When God's people are in Babylon they need take special care that they partake not of her sins. It is much to the praise of young people, not to covet or seek the delights of sense. Those who would excel in wisdom and piety, must learn betimes to keep the body under. Daniel avoided defiling himself with sin; and we should more fear that than any outward trouble. It is easier to keep temptation at a distance, than to resist it when near. And we cannot better improve our interest in any with whom we have found favour, than to use it to keep us from sin. People will not believe the benefit of avoiding excess, and of a spare diet, nor how much they contribute to the health of the body, unless they try. Conscientious temperance will always do more, even for the comfort of this life, than sinful indulgence.
vv17-21
Daniel and his fellows kept to their religion; and God rewarded them with eminence in learning. Pious young persons should endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful things; not for the praise of man, but for the honour of the gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is well for a country, and for the honour of a prince, when he is able to judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them on that account. Let young men steadily attend to this chapter; and let all remember that God will honour those who honour him, but those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.
Key Words
שָׁלוֹשׁ: three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
מַלְכוּת: a rule; concretely, a dominion
יְהוֹיָקִים: Jehojakim, a Jewish king
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר: Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon
בָּבֶל: Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Cross References
Daniel 1Directly fulfills Isaiah's prophecy to Hezekiah that his descendants would be eunuchs in Babylon's palace.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel instance of a pagan monarch changing a Hebrew captive's name to reflect local deities.
Supported by JFB
Like Joseph, Daniel receives divine favor and mercy in the eyes of his pagan keeper.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Historical account of Nebuchadnezzar binding Jehoiakim and carrying off temple vessels.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the chronological harmonization of Jehoiakim's third year with Nebuchadnezzar's first.
Supported by JFB
Moses was likewise trained in pagan lore without compromising his faithfulness to God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel's contemporary proverb mocks the prince of Tyre by comparison to Daniel's renowned wisdom.
Sets up the desecration of these exact temple vessels later by Belshazzar.
Pagan physical perfection requirements for royal service mirror God's blameless standard for priests.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Ezekiel similarly protests against eating defiled food during exile, echoing Daniel's devotion.
Fulfills the promise that God would make His captive people pitied by their captors.
Establishes the span of Daniel's lifelong ministry through the entire Babylonian exile.
The ultimate return of these temple vessels under Cyrus, completing the cycle.
Supported by JFB
Hosea's prophecy that Israel would eat unclean food in the land of Assyria.
God-given wisdom that vastly excels the famed wisdom of all eastern sages.