In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. The Book of Daniel Written by himself (not by another of his name, in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, as wicked Porphyry, _a_ that professed enemy of Christianity, blater... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _And the Lord gave Jehoiakim._] Because the affliction by P... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 3. _And the king spake unto Ashpenaz._] Which signifieth in the Chaldee tongue the chief chider, or controller of the king's house,... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _Children in whom wa... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _And the king appointed them a daily provision._] A competent and comfortable subsistence and maintenan... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:_ Ver. 6. _Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel._] Who had not his name for nought, as we say, but by a providence. It signifieth, God is my judge; and so, indeed, he was throughout his whole li... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names._] Not without the command of the king, Dan 5:12 as desi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _But Daniel purposed in his heart._] The change of his name, though... [ Continue Reading ]
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. Ver. 9. _Now God had brought Daniel into favour._] God is never wanting to the truly conscientious. Let them choose rather to offend all the world than to do things sinful, and they shall be sure of good success.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _I fear my lord the king._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Ver. 11. _Then said Daniel to Melzar._] Or, To the steward, alimentator, the purveyor for the pages of honour. The prince of the eunuchs might haply give him a hint to go to this Melzar,... [ Continue Reading ]
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Ver. 12. _Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days._] All good means must be used for the keeping of a good conscience, and then God must be trusted for the issue. But did not Daniel herein temp... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _Then let our countenances be looked upon._] _See Trapp on "_ Dan 1:12 _"_ And as thou seest, deal with thy serv... [ Continue Reading ]
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. Ver. 14. _So he consented to them in this matter._] This had been well done, if done for God's sake; but it was nothing less. He had a hawk's eye herein to his own profit; he favoured them because he meant to finger something from th... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _Their countenances appeared fairer._] They had both better health (for _Tenuis mensa sanitatis mater,_ saith Chrysostom, Spare diet is very... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse._ Ver. 16. _Thus Melzar took away._] See on Daniel 1:14 . _ And gave them pulse._] This slender diet was some help to their studies; for leaden bellies make leaden wits, _a_ saith the Greek S... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 17. _As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning._] Both natural and supernatural. In the art of grammar, saith Sy... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 18. _Now at the end of the days,_] _i.e., _ After three years' time of studying. See on Daniel 1:5. Account is to be exacted of time and profiting. P... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 19. _And the king communed with them._] It seems he was himself a learned king, able to pose them, and put them to it. So was Alexander the Grea... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 20. _And in all matters of wisdom._] God will honour them that honour him: his gifts and graces he giveth to p... [ Continue Reading ]
And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king Cyrus. Ver. 21. _And Daniel continued, &c._] And afterwards also, though shrewdly lifted at under Darius; Dan 6:4 and in the third year of Cyrus he was overborne by the counsellors hired to hinder the building of the temple, whom he could not... [ Continue Reading ]