Daniel 1:1-7
DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS BROUGHT TO BABYLON... [ Continue Reading ]
DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS BROUGHT TO BABYLON... [ Continue Reading ]
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Cf 2 Kings 24:1; 2 Chronicles 36:6, CAME NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON, UNTO JERUSALEM, AND BESIEGED IT. This account, which has been declared to be untrue by unbelieving Bible critics, is abundantly supported and verified by secular acco... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God, the rest being taken in later expeditions, 2 Kings 25, WHICH HE CARRIED INTO THE LAND OF SHINAR, the ancient name for Babylonia, TO THE HOUSE OF HIS GOD, the temple of Bel, one of the chief deiti... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, the chief of all the officers of the court, THAT HE SHOULD BRING CERTAIN OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, of those who had been taken captive to Babylon, AND OF THE KING'S SEED AND OF THE PRINCES, 2 Kings 20:17,... [ Continue Reading ]
children, young men of the middle adolescent period, between the ages of sixteen and twenty, IN WHOM WAS NO BLEMISH, that is, no physical defect, so that they would be faultlessly handsome, BUT WELL FAVORED, this being considered essential among Oriental nations in the case of those destined for cou... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king appointed them, namely, for those who were to be selected, A DAILY PROVISION OF THE KING'S MEAT, of the food which was served on his own tables, AND OF THE WINE WHICH HE DRANK, literally, "of the wine of his drinking," or "banqueting," SO NOURISHING THEM THREE YEARS, their education and... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, among these, among the youths selected in accordance with this royal order, WERE OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH, of the most prominent tribe of the Jewish people, DANIEL, HANANIAH, MISHAEL, AND AZARIAH,... [ Continue Reading ]
unto whom the prince of the eunuchs, as being in charge of this entire experiment, 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 ABED-NEGO. "The changing of names as a sign of entrance into the condition of sub... [ Continue Reading ]
But Daniel purposed in his heart, definitely made up his mind, THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF WITH THE PORTION OF THE KING'S MEAT NOR WITH THE WINE WHICH HE DRANK, chiefly because the heathen had the custom of consecrating their food and, in fact, their entire meals by offering a portion to their... [ Continue Reading ]
DANIEL FAITHFUL TO HIS RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, God, whose kind providence is brought out throughout the narrative, HAD BROUGHT DANIEL INTO FAVOR AND TENDER LOVE WITH THE PRINCE OF THE EUNUCHS, so that the latter was favorably disposed toward Daniel, was ready to grant him any reasonable request from the outset.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the prince of the eunuchs, to whom Daniel promptly presented his petition, SAID UNTO DANIEL, as he gave evidence of the favorable mental attitude which he had toward the Jewish youth, I FEAR MY LORD, THE KING, WHO HATH APPOINTED YOUR MEAT AND YOUR DRINK, by a definite command; FOR WHY SHOULD HE... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, the official who was their immediate superior during the course of their training,... [ Continue Reading ]
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days, making an experiment in their case; AND LET THEM GIVE US PULSE TO EAT AND WATER TO DRINK, the simplest kind of vegetable food with water, all luxuries in the line of food being omitted in their diet.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, in a careful examination of their physical condition, AND THE COUNTENANCE OF THE CHILDREN THAT EAT OF THE PORTION OF THE KING'S MEAT, making a comparison between these four and the youths who complied with the king's order concerning their diet;... [ Continue Reading ]
So he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days, making the experiment in accordance with their petition.... [ Continue Reading ]
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh, they were clearer-eyed and in better condition in every way, THAN ALL THE CHILDREN, or youths, WHICH DID EAT THE PORTION OF THE KING'S MEAT.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus Melzar, who evidently was in charge of the king's kitchen, TOOK AWAY THE PORTION OF THEIR MEAT AND THE WINE THAT THEY SHOULD DRINK, he no longer set it aside for their diet; AND GAVE THEM PULSE, vegetables, especially legumes.... [ Continue Reading ]
As for these four children, God, who thus rewarded their faithfulness, GAVE THEM KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL IN ALL LEARNING AND WISDOM, so that they mastered the Chaldean literature and scientific knowledge; AND DANIEL, in addition to these accomplishments, HAD UNDERSTANDING IN ALL VISIONS AND DREAMS, this... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, that is, at the end of the three-year period originally fixed, THEN THE PRINCE OF THE EUNUCHS BROUGHT THEM IN BEFORE NEBUCHADNEZZAR, so that all the Jewish youths were presented for inspection and examination.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king communed with them, examining them in all the branches which they had studied; AND AMONG THEM ALL WAS FOUND NONE LIKE DANIEL, HANANIAH, MISHAEL, AND AZARIAH, none of the others equaled them either in physical beauty or in mental excellencies; THEREFORE STOOD THEY BEFORE THE KING, they e... [ Continue Reading ]
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king enquired of them, namely, at the general examination, HE FOUND THEM TEN TIMES BETTER THAN ALL THE MAGICIANS AND ASTROLOGERS, the most learned men and those who practiced occult arts, THAT WERE IN ALL HIS REALM.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Daniel continued, he held positions at court, he lived in Babylonian court circles, EVEN UNTO THE FIRST YEAR OF KING CYRUS. If God's children are faithful in their adherence to His Word and commandments, He often rewards them even in this life by giving them positions of wealth and influence in... [ Continue Reading ]