Daniel 1
1
Daniel 1
Four Young Israelites at the Babylonian Court
1 #
2 Kings 24.1; 2 Chr 36.6 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2#Isa 11.11; Jer 27.19, 20; Zech 5.11The Lord gave King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar,#1.2 Gk: Heb adds to the house of his own gods and he placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.
3Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility: 4#2 Sam 14.25; Dan 2.4young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5#1 Kings 10.8The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king’s court. 6#Ezek 14.14, 20Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. 7#Dan 2.49; 3.12; 4.8; 5.12The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
8 #
Deut 32.38; Ezek 4.13; Hos 9.3 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine, so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. 9#Job 5.15, 16; Ps 106.46; Prov 16.7Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion from the palace master. 10The palace master said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your age, you would endanger my head with the king.” 11Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations and deal with your servants according to what you observe.” 14So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. 15#Ex 23.25; Prov 10.22At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. 16So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables. 17#1 Kings 3.12; Dan 2.19; 7.1; 8.1; Jas 1.5, 17To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.
18At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, 19#Gn 41.46; 1 Kings 10.8; Jer 15.1and the king spoke with them. Among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court. 20#Dan 2.2, 27, 28, 46, 48In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21#Dan 6.28; 10.1And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Currently Selected:
Daniel 1: NRSVUE
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
