THE THIRD YEAR.. OF JEHOIAKIM] presents a historical difficulty at the outset. Nebuchadnezzar's supremacy over Palestine dated from the battle of Carchemish (605 b.c.). This battle took place in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 46:2), which is also called, the first year of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
INTRODUCTORY. THE ABSTINENCE OF DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS FROM UNCLEAN FOOD Daniel is introduced as one of a band of Jews taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim (Daniel 1:1). Along with three of his youthful countrymen he is chosen to be trained during three years for... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS GOD] The patron deity of Babylon was Marduk (Merodach, Jeremiah 50:2). SHINAR] the old name of Babylonia (Genesis 10:10).... [ Continue Reading ]
MASTER OF HIS EUNUCHS] The Heb. is _rab sarisim_, the same title as 'Rabsaris' in 2 Kings 18:17 THE KING'S SEED.. THE PRINCES] It is uncertain whether Israelites or Babylonians are meant.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN] RV 'youths,' and so in Daniel 1:10; Daniel 1:13; Daniel 1:15; Daniel 1:17. BLEMISH] in a physical sense. CUNNING] intelligent. SCIENCE] knowledge, so rendered in Daniel 1:17. LEARNING] lit. 'book,' literature: so in Daniel 1:17. CHALDEANS] not the Babylonians in general, but a special clas... [ Continue Reading ]
MEAT] RM 'dainties.' A Persian word occurring nowhere in OT. save in Daniel. STAND BEFORE THE KING] as court attendants.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN OF JUDAH] Daniel and his friends belonged to the royal tribe. DANIEL] The name means 'God is my judge.' HANANIAH] 'Jehovah is gracious.' MISHAEL] 'Who is what God is?' AZARIAH] 'Jehovah has helped.' All these names are found elsewhere in OT.: see especially Nehemiah 3:8; Nehemiah 3:23; Nehe... [ Continue Reading ]
DEFILE HIMSELF] The king's food might consist of the flesh of unclean animals, or might not be freed from blood, or part of it might have been offered in sacrifice to idols. Part of the wine would have been poured out as a libation to the gods.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR SORT] RV 'your own age.'... [ Continue Reading ]
MELZAR] RV 'the steward': so in V.16.... [ Continue Reading ]
PULSE] RM 'herbs': so in Daniel 1:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
DANIEL HAD UNDERSTANDING, etc.] A special statement by way of introduction to what follows in the book.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAGICIANS] A word used only in Daniel, and of the Egyptian magicians in Genesis 41:8; Genesis 41:24; Exodus 7:11; Exodus 7:22; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 9:11. ASTROLOGERS] RV 'enchanters.' The Babylonians had an elaborate system of magic, the fame and practice of which survived long after the Babylonian e... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST YEAR OF KING CYRUS] 538 b.c., some 66 years after the third year of Jehoiakim.... [ Continue Reading ]