Nabuchodonosor takes Jewish captives 1 In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god.
Several Jews to be taught Chaldean lore 3 And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed and of the princes, 4 Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king.
Daniel among the four chosen
6 Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. 7 And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago.
They refuse rich foods and thrive on pulse
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled. 9 And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king. 11 And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: 12 Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink: 13 And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king's meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants. 14 And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days. 15 And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king's meat. 16 So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse.
God gives Daniel wisdom and other gifts
17 And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams. 18 And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nabuchodonosor. 19 And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in the king's presence. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.
Commentary on Daniel 1
1:1 Joakim: a son of Josias. Nabuchodonosor: Reigned forty-three years 605-562 B.C.
1:2 and the Lord delivered: The fact that Jehoiachim is recorded to have been given over shows that it was not a victory for the might of his enemies but rather it was of the will of the Lord. (St. Jerome) part of the vessels: The Jews had been enlightened by both ancient and recent prophets and were witnesses of countless marvels, yet they scorned God by serving idols. So God handed over the vessels as if to tell them that they are no different than the sinful foreigners. (Theodoret of Cyrus) Sennaar: This is a region of Babylon in which the plain of Dura was located, and also the tower which those who had migrated from the East attempted to build up to heaven. Genesis 11 (St. Jerome)
1:3-4 God chooses the worlds weak, lame, and despised, while human beings look for bodily charm, stature, and good health. From this you can learn the gap between human and divine criteria. (Theodoret of Cyrus) learning, and the tongue of the Chaledeans: That would have included classical Akkadian, the official literary language from the days of Hammurabi. They also needed the study of the language and literature of ancient Sumerian religious literature, magical, and astrological and scientific, was important for Babyonian religion. tongue: Aramaic was the common language in the Babylonian and Persian Empires in 6th- 5th centuries. (Fr. Most)
1:7 gave them names: This was considered by some the right of masters, in buying slaves to change their names so that also by the change in name they would recognize their servitude. (Theodoret of Cyrus) |
1:8 Those who love God take no account of place in seeking God in everything; wherever they go, they offer Him the same worship, and when in misfortune they likewise adore their Creator. (Theodoret of Cyrus)
1:9 God gave to Daniel grace and mercy: By this we may understand that if ever under pressing circumstances holy men are loved by unbelievers, it is a matter of the mercy of God, not of the goodness of perverted men. (St. Jerome)
1:10-16 At the end of the 10 days, Daniel and his three companions looked healthier; this was a miracle, not a proof that fasting is physically beneficial. (Fr. Most) And inasmuch as they brought to the work all the strength which they had, God also contributed His strength to it. For it was not God’s doing only that they achieved those things for the sake of which they were to receive a reward, but the beginning and starting point was from their own purpose, and having manifested that to be noble and brave, they won for themselves the help of God, and so accomplished their aim. (St. John Chrysostom)
1:17 Note that God is said to have given the holy lads knowledge and learning in secular literature, in every book and branch of wisdom. Symmachus rendered this by "grammatical art," implying that they understood everything they read, and by the Spirit of God could make a judgment concerning the lore of the Chaldeans. But Daniel had an outstanding gift over and above the three lads, in that he could astutely discern the significance of visions and dreams in which things to come are shown forth by means of certain symbols and mysteries. (St. Jerome)
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