We need this background on Daniel in order to comprehend the situation Daniel and his companions were in. Taken captive into a foreign society, forced from family and the lives they knew and planned on having. Told they were to learn of this foreign land, customs, language they were far out of their element. Just take a moment to imagine yourself in the situation they found themselves in. That they were able to conduct themselves in a way that pleased God is amazing! They prospered because of their steadfast faith in God. We need to know these were young men devoted to God even as they were held captive against their wills and forced to live a life contrary to most things they knew. Daniel was chosen to be a prophet of God, and he wasn't to prophesize from the comfort of his own land but where God needed Him to prophesize from.
May God bless us as we study His word, may the Holy Spirit guide us to all truth, helping us to truly learn all we need to. All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! Now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!
Daniel Chapter One Continued
Daniel Chapter 1 Pt 1 (Answers to fill in the blanks from yesterday)
1. Daniel Ezekiel 14:19, 20
2. Daniel Ezekiel 28:3
3. Daniel the prophet Matthew 24:15, 16
4. Desolation Jeremiah 25:11
5. Jerusalem Daniel 1: 1
6. Hearken Jeremiah 17:24
7. Sabbath Jeremiah 17:24
8. Hallow Jeremiah 17:24
9. LORD Jeremiah 17:24
Continued…
The Hebrews captive in Babylon -- During those days of distress in Jerusalem, Daniel and his companions were fed well and taught in the palace of the king of Babylon; and, though they were captive in a strange land, they were in some respects more favorably treated than they would have been in their native country.
READ Daniel 1:3-5 -- 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; 4 children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in (1)___________, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might (2)______ the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank; so nourishing them (3)______ years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
Fulfilled prophecy by Isaiah --
READ 2 Kings 20:14-18 – ‘Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? And from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from (4)_________. And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. 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 (5)________: 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.’
We read that these children (Dan.1:4) were already skillful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and had ability in them to stand in the king's palace. Obviously they weren’t children as we think of them today. They were youth, thought to be between 18 and 20 years old.
There are a few facts that make King Nebuchadnezzar rather unique. He didn’t choose those men and women to fulfil his lusts, he chose young men to educate and help in administrative duties. He wanted to make good use of the captives, those that showed themselves to be exceptionally smart. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t give them substandard food either, but fed them from his own food. For three years these youth were treated not as captives but as favored youth.
READ Daniel 1:6,7-- Now among these were the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 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.
Let’s look at the meanings of their names before and after- Hebrew and Babylonian.
Daniel - God is my judge
Hananiah, gift of the Lord
Mishael, he that is a strong God
Azariah, help of the Lord.
Daniel renamed to Belteshazzar - keeper of the hid treasures of Bel
Hananiah rename to Shadrach- inspiration of the sun --which the Chaldeans worshipped
Mishael renamed to Meshach- of the goddess Shaca --Venus was worshiped using that name
Azariah renamed to Abed-nego- servant of the shining fire—something else they worshipped, fire itself.
So while they were being taught, and treated wonderfully they were also being indoctrinated towards the gods worshipped by the Babylonians. Indoctrinated, but not forced to worship the Babylonian gods, another boon by the benevolent Nebuchadnezzar.
READ Daniel 1:8-16 -- But Daniel purposed in his (6)_____ 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. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with 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 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 (7) _________ my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set 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 children that eat of the portion of the king's meat; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared (8)_______ and(9) _______ in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
Why didn’t Daniel want to eat the kings meat? Probably because as most meat fed to the kings at that time it was first used as an offering and sacrifice to their idols, as well as being unclean by Jewish law. Daniel in all good conscience could not eat of this food so he asked that he and his companions be allowed to eat something else.
Asking this wasn’t something easy either. Here they are being treated like royalty, fed from the same food the king himself partook of, and he was trying to decline. The eunuch too had an obligation to his king to make sure the captives were fed well, how could he risk them failing in health by letting them eat what amounted to vegetables, legumes and little else?
Yet the eunuch agreed to the test, probably realizing that ten days wouldn’t do too much harm to the captives and then they could return to the food that would really do them justice. That’s not what happened though. After the ten days the captives were healthier than ever before, healthier than those on the diet consisting of the kings meat and drink. Daniel and his friends past the test with flying colors.
The Lord intervened for Daniel and his companions, showing them to be healthier after only ten days which kept them from defiling themselves, how glorious is our Lord.
READ Daniel 1:7-21 -- ‘As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all (10)______ and (11)______. 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. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them (12)___ times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued unto the first year of king Cyrus.’
After Three Years Daniel was the only one that had an understanding in visions and dreams. But the Lord's dealing with Daniel like this doesn’t indicate the others were any less favored in his sight. Allowed to live in the midst of the fiery furnace (something you’ll read about later) was enough evidence of their divine favor. Daniel probably had some natural qualifications that peculiarly fitted him for this special work of understanding visions and dreams.
When three years were up, the king having not forgotten them calls them in to talk with them. During their meeting it’s obvious that the very learned king was testing them and in the end he found them ten times better than any others in his entire kingdom, how amazing is that.
The last verse mentions Daniel continuing on…a long, long time, far to the reign of another king.
This concludes our study of Daniel Chapter One
(1) knowledge Daniel 1:4
(2) teach Daniel 1:4
(3) three Daniel 1:5
(4) Babylon 2 Kings 20:14
(5) Babylon 2 Kings 20:17
(6) heart Daniel 1:8
(7) endanger Daniel 1:10
(8) fairer Daniel 1:15
(9) fatter Daniel 1:15
(10) visions Daniel 1:17
(11) dreams Daniel 1:17
(12) ten Daniel 1:20
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