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Daniel 1

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Nebuchadnezzar Besieges Jerusalem 1–7

1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. ​
2
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. ​
3
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles; ​
4
youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. ​
5
And 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 the end thereof they should stand before the king. ​
6
Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7
And the prince of the eunuchs gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego. ​

Daniel's Resolve 8–16

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 to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. ​
10
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths that are of your own age? so would ye endanger my head with the king.
11
Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
12
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. ​
13
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king’s dainties; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14
So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths that did eat of the king’s dainties. ​
16
So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.

God Grants Wisdom and Success 17–21

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
And 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
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.
20
And 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 that were in all his realm. ​
21
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Daniel 1

Verse 1

besieged it — Tsur, to shut in. Nebuchadnezzar's first coming against Jehoiakim: 'Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled' (2 Kgs 24:1). 2 Chr 36:6–7 adds that he 'bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon' and carried some vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon. Daniel's captivity begins in this reign.

Verse 2

the Lord gave — The verb is nathan, 'gave', and the giver is Adonai, 'the Lord'; Jehoiakim is delivered into Nebuchadnezzar's hand by the Lord himself. The vessels go to 'the land of Shinar' (the plain of Gen 11:2) and to 'the house of his god'. They are still in Babylon when Belshazzar drinks from 'the golden and silver vessels' of the temple (5:2–3). Nathan recurs in vv.9 and 17.

Verse 3

master of his eunuchs — Ashpenaz is rab saris, chief of the eunuchs. The captives come from 'the king's seed' and 'the princes' (partemim, a word found only here and in Esth 1:3; 6:9). Isaiah had told Hezekiah that some of his sons would be taken, and 'they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon' (Isa 39:7).

Verse 4

no blemish… the tongue of the Chaldeans — 'Blemish' (mum) is said of Absalom: 'no blemish in him' (2 Sam 14:25). The list runs from the body ('well favoured') to the mind ('skilful… cunning… understanding') and fitness 'to stand in the king's palace'. They are taught 'the learning' (sepher, writing) of the Chaldeans, as Moses was 'learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians' (Acts 7:22).

Verse 5

the king's meat — Patbag, a Persian-derived word for the royal portion, found in this book at 1:5, 8, 13, 15, 16 and 11:26. The wine is the king's own, 'which he drank'. A daily provision for 'three years' is meant to raise them (gadal, to make great), 'that at the end thereof they might stand before the king'. At the end they do: 'therefore stood they before the king' (v.19).

Verse 7

gave names — Each Hebrew name carries the name of God: Daniel, 'judge of God', Hananiah, 'Jah has favoured', Mishael, 'who is what God is', Azariah, 'Jah has helped'. Belteshazzar was given 'according to the name of my god' (4:8). A ruler renaming those under him has a precedent: Pharaohnechoh renamed Eliakim, and Nebuchadnezzar renamed Mattaniah Zedekiah (2 Kgs 23:34; 24:17).

Verse 8

purposed in his heart — Sum al-leb, literally 'set upon his heart', a settled decision. Ga'al, 'defile', is what he refuses, and he does it by asking the prince of the eunuchs, not by acting alone. The verse does not say what made the king's food a defilement. Ezek 4:13 had said that Israel would 'eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them'.

Verse 9

favour and tender love — Chesed and rachamim, kindness and compassion. The giver is again God (nathan, as in vv.2 and 17). It repeats Joseph's experience, when the LORD 'gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison' (Gen 39:21), and Ps 106:46, 'He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives'.

Verse 12

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days — Nasah, to test. Daniel asks the steward Melzar (v.11) for a trial of ten days. 'Pulse' is zero'im, things sown, a word found only here and in v.16. The request is for the vegetable food and water in place of both the king's portion and his wine, and the steward is left to 'deal with thy servants' by what he sees (v.13).

Verse 15

fairer and fatter in flesh — After the ten days their 'countenances' look better (tov, good) and 'fatter' (bari, fat, well-fed) than those eating the king's portion. The result fits Ex 23:25, 'ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water'. Melzar then takes away 'the portion of their meat, and the wine', and gives them pulse (v.16).

Verse 17

God gave them knowledge and skill — Nathan, 'gave', for the third time (vv.2, 9). The four receive 'knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom', the 'learning' of v.4, and Daniel 'had understanding in all visions and dreams'. That gift is used when 'the secret' is 'revealed unto Daniel in a night vision' (2:19) and when he has 'a dream and visions' (7:1).

Verse 20

ten times better — Literally 'ten hands' above them. The 'magicians' (chartom) are the class whom Pharaoh called in vain for his dreams (Gen 41:8), and with the 'astrologers' (ashshaph) they head the list of the king's wise men in 2:2, who fail to tell the king his dream. Daniel and his companions are found 'in all matters of wisdom and understanding'.

Verse 21

the first year of king Cyrus — The verse marks how long Daniel remained at court. He was still living later, for he receives a revelation 'in the third year of Cyrus' (10:1). The first year of Cyrus is the year of his proclamation that the LORD's house be built at Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1–3), so Daniel's service lasts until the end of the exile is proclaimed.