DANIEL CHAPTER 1 Jehoiakim's captivity, DANIEL 1:1,2. By the king of Babylon's order the master of the eunuchs taketh Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to instruct them, and changeth their names, DANIEL 1:3 . They refusing to eat of the king''s meat thrive upon pulse and water, DANIEL 1:8 . T... [ Continue Reading ]
In this expedition Nebuchadnezzar carried away some of the vessels of the temple, and some captives, among whom was Daniel and his friends. These vessels he carried into the house of his god; which god was Baal or Bel, and Nebo, ISAIAH 46:1; which words they put into the names of their kings and fav... [ Continue Reading ]
These here called eunuchs were chief among the king's servants, and they are called EUNUCHS because many of them were such of old among all the princes of the East, and at this day, but they were not all such, JEREMIAH 52:25. The word translated EUNUCH signifies also CHAMBERLAIN; such was HATACH, ES... [ Continue Reading ]
If the princes are so curious in their choice, no marvel that God was cautious in his, LEVITICUS 21:17 22:20-25. The reason why they were so delicately trained up was, that they being in the flower of their age should be allured with the delights of the court, and should: thereby be brought to forge... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE KING'S MEAT; such as he had at his own table, wherein his bounty and humanity appeared towards them the more conspicuous, they being captives. By this preparation they were judged fit to stand before the king. Men of ingenuity and proficiency are fit to stand before kings, PROVERBS 22:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
Doubtless most of them of the royal lineage of Judah, to which tribe God had a special respect, upon the account of David; and this tribe of Judah had the pre-eminence in many things.... [ Continue Reading ]
NAMES; that is, other names: this was done by the subtle instigation of Satan, that they might renounce their names received in circumcision, by assuming names imposed relating to the idol gods, being a profanation and a further degree of their apostacy; for Daniel had THE NAME OF BELTESHAZZAR, or B... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 8. There may be several weighty reasons assigned why Daniel did this. 1. Because many of those meats provided for the king's table were such as were forbidden by the Jews law, whereof Daniel made conscience, 2. Daniel knew these delicacies would too much gratify and pamper the flesh, and ther... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a special act of God's favour to his afflicted people, to give them any favour in the eyes of them that do afflict them; PSALMS 106:46, HE MADE THEM TO BE PITIED OF THOSE THAT CARRIED THEM CAPTIVE. This is the effect of sincere holiness and innocence, PROVERBS 16:7. This is the effect of pra... [ Continue Reading ]
He believed their countenances would betray them; and the king having appointed it, he dares not disobey, for his life lay at stake.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
By these words Daniel secures Melzar against fear and danger, only by ten days trial; which was a fair and reasonable proffer. Thus the servants of God must carefully do, when they have good offices done them by the servants of princes, as Elijah was careful of good Obadiah, 1 KINGS 18:11,12, to sec... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
There be three things here to be observed. 1. The hand of God, in persuading Melzar to incline to Daniel's request. 2. The goodness of God, to make good Daniel's words. 3. That the blessing of God upon homely fare affords oftentimes more healthful nourishment and strength, than more costly fare t... [ Continue Reading ]
Which he could not but take well, for hereby he gained the costly provision of four men for the space of three years to his own use and profit. Hence observe that courtiers are no losers by the favours they procure for God's servants. They are most willing to serve God's servants when they can there... [ Continue Reading ]
We must own KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILL, AND WISDOM to come from God, JAMES 1:5. These are beams of light shining in us from the Father of lights, and a man can receive nothing of this unless it be given him from above, 1 THESSALONIANS 3:27. OBJECT. But was not this magic, and was not this learning forbidd... [ Continue Reading ]
At the three years end, according to the king's command, which Melzar punctually observed, and brought them in before the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMUNED WITH THEM, i.e. to try their proficiency: this argues the king's ability and judgment, how else could he discern their fitness and their excellency above others? He examined all candidates, he preferred those that outstripped others.... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a further confirmation of the king's noble endowments of mind, and of his great care whom he chose to be in offices of trust; namely, persons excellently qualified to serve him in the great affairs of the kingdom, not to serve his lusts by them for base jobs, for which men of no abilities or... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. In the court of Babylon until Cyrus, and then he was in the Persian court, and he lived in honour and high employment all that time, yea, after Cyrus began to reign; for, DANIEL 10:1, he had visions and revelations in the third year of Cyrus. He might live longer, for the word _until_ doth not... [ Continue Reading ]