Daniel 1

Daniel 1:1

IN] The beginning and end of the seventy yeers captivitie, is from Nebuchadnezzars first, unto the first of Darius: and Daniel was in Babylon the whole time, as is plain in this Chapter vers. 1. and 21. Jeremy in the first of Nebuchadnezzar telleth, that nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy yeers, Jeremiah 25:11. So the account must be from Babels first. See 2 Chron. 36. 21.

third yeer of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah] This third yeer ended and the fourth begun was Nebuchadnezzars first, Jeremiah 25:1. See 2 Kings 24:1. Now lest the desolation of Jerusalem, spoken of Jer 25:11. should make the unacquainted stagger, we must know that the land payd her sabbaths, Leviticus 26:34. and rested 70. yeers, 2 Chronicles 36:21. from the first captivitie to the end of Babels reign: for in most exact truth, the desolation and rest was in part from the first battering of Jerusalem, and carriage of any from the countrey.

came Nbuchadnezzar king of Babylon] 2 Kings 24:1. 2 Chronicles 36:6.

Daniel 1:2

Shinar] Read Genesis 10:10. and 11. 2. which was a plin by Babylon where was the Temple of their great God, and is here taken for Babylon.

the house of his god] The idol Bell. See Isaiah 46:1.

Daniel 1:3

the master of his eunuchs] He calleth them eunuchs whom the king nourished and brought up to be rulers of other countres afterwards.

and of the kings seed] Isaiah told of this, Chap. 39. 7. The kings purpose was to keep them as hostages, and that he might shew himself victorious, and also by their good intreatie, and learning his religion, they might favour rather him then the Jews, and so be able to serve him as Pages of honour, and so from time to time to be advanced to offices in the court, or governours in their land: Moreover, by this means the Jews might be better kept in subjection, fearing otherwise to procure hurt to these noble men.

Daniel 1:4

but wel-favoured] The king required three things, that they should be of noble birth, witty and capable of learning, and of a strong and comely nature, that they might do him the better service: this he did for his own commoditie, therefore it is not to praise his liberalitie: yet in this he is worthy of praise, that he esteemed learning, and knew that it was a necessary mean to govern by.

teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans] That they might forget their own religion and countrey fashions, to serve him the better to his purpose: yet it is not to be thought that Daniel did learn any knowledge that was not godly: in all points he refused the abuse of things and suprstion; insomuch that he would not eat the meat which the king appointed him, but was content to learn the knowledge of naturall things.

Daniel 1:5

daily provision of the kings meat] That they might be drawn to eat meats forbidden in the law.

the wine which he drank] Heb. the wine of his drink.

three yeers] To the intent that in this time they might learn both the manner of the Chaldeans, and also their tongue.

before the king] As well to serve at the table, as in other offices.

Daniel 1:7

gave names] By the commandement of the king, Daniel 5:12. to shew his absolute power as over slaves, and to honour his idols of Chaldea, the principall whereof were Bell or Belt, Shac, Rach, Nego: and lastly, to cancell in them the memory of their birth, countrey, and religion, and the knowledge of the true God, whose name they bore. El, and Jah: for the Jews usually gave their children names which might put them in minde of some point of religion: therefore this was a great temptation, and a sign of servitude, which they were not able to resist.

Belteshazzar] That is, Bel keepeth treasure: but see Chap. 10. 1. how he altereth it, by displacing a letter, making the name to signifie: He brast out a fire upon the enemy: even the Chaldean.

Daniel 1:8

Daniel] Being followed herein by his three companions, as appears.

defile himself with the portion of the kings meat] A practise of Levit. 11. Not that he thought any religion to be in the meat or drink, (for afterward he did eat) ut because the king should not entise him by this sweet poyson to forget his religion and accustomed sobrietie, and that in his meat and drink he might daily remember of what people he was: and Daniel bringeth this in, to shew how God from the beginning assisted him with his Spirit, and at length called him to be a Prophet.

Daniel 1:9

favour] The effect of Solomons prayer, 1 Kings 8:50. God made the prince of the Eunuches to shew him favour and mercy, by granting him what he required. See Genesis 39:21. Psalms 106:46. Proverbs 16:7.

Daniel 1:10

I fear my lord the king] He supposed that they did this for their religion, which was contrary to the Babylonians: and therefore herein he represented them which are of no religion: for neither would he condemn theirs, nor maintain his own.

worse] Heb. sadder.

your sort] Or, term, or continuance.

Daniel 1:11

Melzar] Or, the steward. It seemeth it may be some name of office, as governour of the Pages.

Daniel 1:12

ten dayes] Meaning that within this space he might have the triall, and that no man should be able to discern it: and this he spake being moved by the Spirit of God.

pulse] Heb. of pulse. Not that it was a thing abominable to eat daintie meats & to drink wine, as before and after they did, but if they should have been thereby won to the king, and have refused their own religion, that meat and drink had been accursed.

to eat] Heb. that we may eat, &c.

Daniel 1:15

their countenances appeared fairer] His bare feeding, and that also of Moses, when he fled from the court of Egypt, declareth that we must live in such sobrietie as God doth call us unto, seeing he will make it more profitable unto us, then all dainties; for his blessing only sufficeth.

Daniel 1:17

in all learning and wisdome] Meaning in the liberall Sciences, and naturall knowledge, and not in the magicall arts, which are forbidden, Deut. 18. 10, 11.

Daniel had understanding] Or, he made Daniel understand.

visions and dreams] So that he only was a Prophet, and none of the others: for by dreams and visions God appeared to his Prophets, Numbers 12:6. 2 Chronicles 26:5. Daniel 10:1. therein his book excelleth, declaring the coming up, idolatry, chastisement, and fall of the Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Greeks, whole and parted: and how Christ defendeth the holy Jews untill the redemption.

Daniel 1:18

the end of the dayes] Of the three yeers above mentioned, vers. the 5. in the yeer of the world, 3407.

Daniel 1:20

wisdome and understanding] Heb. wisdome of understanding.

Daniel 1:21

the first yeer of king Cyrus] That is, he was esteemed in Babylon as a Prophet, in dignitie and honour, as long as the Empire of Babylon stood (and afterward also, Chap. 6. 28. & 10. 1.) Then the seventie of captivitie ended, and the seven seventies are told for redemption out of Satans captivitie: by our Lords death, erecting a kingdome over all the earth.