Daniel 1:1

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

Hebrew / Greek  

King Jehoiakim (Judah) – <color-pink>Jehovah raises up<color-pink>

King Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon) – <color-pink>May Nebo protect the crown<color-pink>

Besiege - <color-pink>bind, besiege, confine, cramp<color-pink>

Daniel 1:2

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 Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

<fftt>Food For Thought<fftt>

The Lord permitted it. They took part of the vessels of God into the house of their god.

Daniel 1:3

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;

Hebrew / Greek

Ashpenaz (master of the eunuchs) instructed to bring… - <color-pink>I will make prominent the sprinkled<color-pink>

a. Kings Seed

b. Princes

Daniel 1:4

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.

Hebrew / Greek

They were to have

No blemish – <color-pink>without physical defect or moral stain<color-pink>

Well favored – <color-pink>sight, appearance, vision<color-pink>

Skillful in wisdom – <color-pink>to be prudent, circumspect, wise, proper<color-pink>

Cunning in knowledge – <color-pink>Perceptive, discerning, experienced<color-pink>

Understanding science – <color-pink>Knowledge<color-pink>

Ability to stand – <color-pink>strength, power, might to remain, endure<color-pink>

They were to teach them the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans – <color-pink>clodbreakers, astrologers<color-pink>

Daniel 1:5

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.

<fftt>Food For Thought<fftt>

They were provided with the following for 3 years

Kings meat

Kings wine

Daniel 1:6

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Daniel 1:7

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.

Hebrew / Greek

Those chosen were

Daniel – <color-pink>God is my judge, judge of God<color-pink>

Named Belteshazzar by the Prince – <color-pink>Lord of the straightened's treasure<color-pink>

Hananiah – <color-pink>God has favored<color-pink>

Named Shadrach by the Prince  – <color-pink>royal, great scribe<color-pink>

Mishael – <color-pink>who is what God is<color-pink>

Named Meshack by the Prince  – <color-pink>guest of a king<color-pink>

Azariah – <color-pink>Jehovah has helped<color-pink>

Named Abednigo by the Prince  – <color-pink>servant of Nebo<color-pink>

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart 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.

Hebrew / Greek

Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with meat and wine.

Purposed – <color-pink>determine, fix<color-pink>

Heart – <color-pink>inner man, mind, will, seat of appetites, emotions, passions<color-pink>

Defile – <color-pink>pollute, defile, stain<color-pink><htxt

Daniel 1:9

But Daniel purposed in his heart 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.

Hebrew / Greek

Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with meat and wine.

Purposed –  <color-pink>determine, fix<color-pink>

Heart –  <color-pink>inner man, mind, will, seat of appetites, emotions, passions<color-pink>

Defile –  <color-pink>pollute, defile, stain<color-pink

Daniel 1:10

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs

Hebrew / Greek

God brought Daniel favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs

Favor – <color-pink>goodness, kindness, faithfulness<color-pink>

Tender – <color-pink>compassionate, mercy, pity<color-pink>

Daniel 1:10

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 endanger my head to the king.

Hebrew / Greek

Prince feared endangering his own head

Feared – <color-pink>reverant, afraid<color-pink>

Endangering – <color-pink>make guilty<color-pink>

Daniel 1:11

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Hebrew / Greek

Daniel spoke to Melzar prince of the eunuchs

Melzar – <color-pink>guardian, officer, dubious<color-pink>

Daniel 1:12

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Hebrew / Greek

Prove thy servants 10 days with pulse and water

Prove – <color-pink>test, try<color-pink>

Pulse - <color-green>H2235<color-green> <color-pink>vegetables (as sown) <color-pink> <color-green>→<color-green><color-green>H2232 <color-green> <color-pink>to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify: - bear, conceive seed, set with sow(er), yield. <color-pink>

Daniel 1:13

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

Hebrew / Greek

Countenances - <color-green>H4758 <color-green> <color-pink>appearance, sight <color-pink> <color-green>→<color-green> <color-green>H7200 <color-green> <color-pink>to see, perceive, look at <color-pink>

Daniel 1:14

So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

Other Scripture References

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. The Hebrew Word for Ten means - if we will be humble, we shall have the spirit to see or discern between right and wrong, truth and error, light and darkness so that we can partake of the fruit of the tree of life or arrive at the burning bush or the presence of God. Hence, if we are humble God’s Hand can direct our lives so that we can return and live with Him again.

Hebrew / Greek

Proved - <color-green>H5254 <color-green> <color-pink>To test, try, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test <color-pink>

Daniel 1:15

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

Daniel 1:16

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Daniel 1:17

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Daniel 1:18

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.

Daniel 1:19

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.

Daniel 1:20

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Daniel 1:21

And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus

Chapter Summary

I see several things in these passages. One day we will be tested. It is our faithfulness to God during times when we are surrounded by the enemy. Times when it seems we are surrounded by evil. The King was looking for children in whom there was no blemish. Our heavenly Father is also looking for children who are purifying themselves and one day he will present us "to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" Ephesians 5:27. The enemy of our soul desires that we would learn his tongue. From birth, he constantly tries to get us to speak his language. But we must learn the tongue of the Father - THE WORD. How often does the enemy attempt to persuade us with the things of this world? But we must not set our appetite upon them. "Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom" Proverbs 23:3-4. In the times we live in, most people think that because we don't partake of the world's ways or speak like the world, that we are less than. But if we trust in the Lord with all of our heart, He will sustain us. We shall come forth as GOLD. "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" Job 23:10. You will also notice that the enemy changed the names of the Hebrew Children. The enemy attempts to name us something that we are not. We must remember who God says we are and stick with that. Refuse and reject anything that the enemy attempts to name you. We are not to defile ourselves with the enemies goods. When dealing with the enemy, we must remember that it is not those people around us but the spirits behind them. Daniel was respectful to the prince of the eunuchs. He allowed God to show the Eunuch what God can do. He didn't just refuse, but he asked and gave God the opportunity to glorify Himself. God gave them all the knowledge, skill, learning and wisdom that they needed even in dreams and visions. They found favor with the king all because they were faithful to the King of Kings.

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