Daniel 1

Daniel 1:1-7

This chapter gives us a more particular account of the beginning of Daniel’s life, his original, and education, than the basis of any other of the prophets. We have here, 1. ‘Jehoiakim’s first captivity, ver. 1, 2. in which Daniel, with others of the seed-royal, was carried to Babylon. 2. The choice made of Daniel, and some other young men, to be brought up in the Chaldean literature, that they might be fitted to serve the government, and the provision made for them, ver. 3-7. 3. Their pious refusal to eat the portion of the king’s meat, and their determining to lose upon pulse and water, which, having tried it, the matter of the eunuchs allowed them to do, finding that it agreed very well with them, ver. 8-16. 4. Their wonderful improvement above all their fellows in wisdom and knowledge, ver. 17-21.

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, which he carried into the land of Shiraz, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god. 3. And the king spake unto Athenaz the matter 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-favoured, and skilful 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. 5. 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. 6. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishaf, and Azariah: 7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Beltehazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishaf, of Mishach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

God had threatened Hezekiah to punish him for his pride; that the treasures in which he gloried, should be plundered by the king to whose ambassadors he had vainly shewed them, and his children led into captivity, &c. xxxix. 6, 7. The fulfilment of that prophecy is here recorded. In the third of Jehoiakim, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, that conqueror invaded Judea, and besieged and took Jerusalem; yet, not designing entirely to subvert the government, he left the king in possession of his royal dignity, though a tributary, and contented himself with the plunder of a part of the

vessels