1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 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.

3 And the king spoke to 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;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful 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.

5 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.

6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7 To whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

8 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.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has 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 you make me endanger my head to the king.

11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove your servants, I beseech you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked on before you, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as you see, deal with your servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15 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.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them vegetables.

17 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.

18 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.

19 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.

20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

21 And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.

2Ki 24:1, 2Ki 24:2, 2Ki 24:13, 2Ch 36:5-7

Reciprocal: 2Ki 24:10 - At that time 2Ch 36:6 - came up 2Ch 36:10 - goodly vessels Ezr 5:12 - into the hand Jer 25:1 - in the Jer 35:1 - in the Jer 35:11 - when Jer 52:28 - in the Eze 14:20 - Daniel Dan 2:1 - in

Cir am 3398, bc 606

the Lord: Dan 2:37, Dan 2:38, Dan 5:18, Deu 28:49-52, Deu 32:30, Jdg 2:14, Jdg 3:8, Jdg 4:2, Psa 106:41, Psa 106:42, Isa 42:24

with part: Dan 5:2, 2Ch 36:7, Jer 27:19, Jer 27:20

Shinar: Gen 10:10, Gen 11:2, Isa 11:11, Zec 5:11

and he: Dan 5:2, Dan 5:3, Jdg 16:23, Jdg 16:24, 1Sa 5:2, 1Sa 31:9, 1Sa 31:10, Ezr 1:7, Jer 51:44, Hab 1:16

Reciprocal: Gen 14:1 - Shinar Exo 20:5 - for I 2Ki 24:10 - At that time 1Ch 9:1 - carried 2Ch 36:6 - came up 2Ch 36:10 - goodly vessels Ezr 5:12 - into the hand Ezr 6:5 - the golden Isa 39:6 - that all Isa 39:7 - they shall be Jer 20:5 - I will deliver Jer 27:16 - Behold Jer 28:3 - that Jer 35:11 - when Jer 50:2 - her idols Jer 52:17 - pillars Dan 11:8 - their precious vessels Mat 1:11 - about

Foretold, 2Ki 20:17, 2Ki 20:18, Isa 39:7, Jer 41:1

Reciprocal: 1Sa 8:15 - officers 2Ch 18:8 - officers Est 1:10 - chamberlains Isa 56:3 - neither Jer 29:2 - eunuchs Dan 1:7 - the prince Dan 11:8 - their precious vessels

Children: The word yeladim rendered children, is frequently used for lads, or young men (see Gen 21:8, Gen 21:14-16), νεανισκους, as the LXX render; and Daniel must have been at this time at least seventeen or eighteen years of age.

in whom: Lev 21:18-21, Lev 24:19, Lev 24:20, Jdg 8:18, 2Sa 14:25, Act 7:20, Eph 5:27

and skillful: Rather, as Houbigant renders, "apt to understand wisdom, to acquire knowledge, and to attain science;" for it was not a knowledge of the sciences, but merely a capacity to learn them, that was required. Dan 2:20, Dan 2:21, Dan 5:11, Ecc 7:19, Act 7:22

ability: Dan 1:17-20, Pro 22:29

a daily: Atheneus says the kings of Persia were accustomed to order for their courtiers the food left at their tables. 1Ki 4:22, 1Ki 4:23, 2Ki 25:30, Mat 6:11, Luk 11:3

which he drank: Heb. of his drink

stand: Dan 1:19, Gen 41:46, 1Sa 16:22, 1Ki 10:8, 2Ch 9:7, Jer 15:19, Luk 1:19, Luk 21:36

Reciprocal: Psa 141:4 - and let me

Daniel: Dan 2:17, Eze 14:14, Eze 14:20, Eze 28:3, Mat 24:15, Mar 13:14

Reciprocal: Est 2:7 - Hadassah Dan 2:25 - captives of Judah Dan 6:13 - That Daniel

the prince: Dan 1:3, Dan 1:10, Dan 1:11

gave names: Dan 4:8, Dan 5:12, Gen 41:45, 2Ki 23:34, 2Ki 24:17

Hananiah: Dan 2:49, Dan 3:12-30

Reciprocal: 1Sa 8:15 - officers 2Ch 18:8 - officers Est 2:7 - Hadassah Dan 2:17 - Hananiah Dan 2:26 - Daniel Dan 4:19 - Daniel Dan 10:1 - whose

purposed: Rth 1:17, Rth 1:18, 1Ki 5:5, Psa 119:106, Psa 119:115, Act 11:23, 1Co 7:37, 2Co 9:7

defile: Heathen nations not only ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by Jewish law, but even the clean animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods, and part of the wine was poured out as a libation on their altars. Hence Atheneus calls the beasts served up at the tables of the Persian kings, ιερια, victims. Daniel was therefore resolved not to defile himself with their viands; yet he did not rudely refuse what was intended as a kindness, but mildly and modestly requested the proper officers to indulge him in this respect. Lev 11:45-47, Deu 32:38, Psa 106:28, Psa 141:4, Eze 4:13, Eze 4:14, Hos 9:3, Hos 9:4, Act 10:14-16, Rom 14:15-17, 1Co 8:7-10, 1Co 10:18-21, 1Co 10:28-31

Reciprocal: Lev 11:2 - General 2Ch 18:8 - officers Pro 23:3 - General Pro 23:6 - desire Ecc 12:1 - Remember 2Ti 3:10 - purpose

Gen 32:28, Gen 39:21, 1Ki 8:50, Ezr 7:27, Ezr 7:28, Neh 1:11, Neh 2:4, Psa 4:3, Psa 106:46, Pro 16:7, Act 7:10

Reciprocal: Gen 30:27 - favour Exo 12:36 - the Lord Neh 2:8 - the king Est 2:9 - she obtained Pro 3:4 - shalt Ecc 12:1 - Remember

I fear: Pro 29:25, Joh 12:42, Joh 12:43

worse liking: Heb. sadder, Mat 6:16-18

sort: or, term, or continuance

Reciprocal: 1Ki 8:50 - and give them Dan 1:7 - the prince

Melzar: or, the steward, Dan 1:16

Reciprocal: Dan 1:7 - the prince Dan 2:17 - Hananiah

pulse to eat: Heb. of pulse that we may eat, etc. Pulse, zeroim denotes all leguminous plants, which are not reaped but pulled or plucked; which, however wholesome, was not naturally calculated to render them fatter in flesh than the others. Dan 1:16, Gen 1:29, Gen 1:30, Deu 8:3, Rom 14:2

Reciprocal: Dan 12:11 - a thousand

their: Exo 23:25, Deu 28:1-14, 2Ki 4:42-44, Psa 37:16, Pro 10:22, Hag 1:6, Hag 1:9, Mal 2:2, Mat 4:4, Mar 6:41, Mar 6:42

Reciprocal: 1Ki 19:8 - in the strength Lam 4:7 - purer

Dan 1:11

Reciprocal: Dan 1:12 - pulse to eat Rom 14:2 - eateth

God: Dan 2:21, Dan 2:23, 1Ki 3:12, 1Ki 3:28, 1Ki 4:29-31, 2Ch 1:10, 2Ch 1:12, Job 32:8, Psa 119:98-100, Pro 2:6, Ecc 2:26, Isa 28:26, Luk 21:15, Act 6:10, Act 7:10, Col 1:9, Jas 1:5, Jas 1:17

knowledge: Act 7:22

Daniel had understanding: or, he made Daniel understand, Dan 4:9, Dan 4:10, Dan 5:11, Dan 5:12, Dan 5:14, Dan 10:1, Gen 41:8-15, Num 12:6, 2Ch 26:5, Eze 28:3, 1Co 12:7-11

Reciprocal: 1Ki 10:24 - which God 2Ch 9:23 - God Ecc 12:1 - Remember Dan 1:4 - ability Dan 2:49 - he set Zec 2:4 - young 2Ti 2:7 - and Jas 3:17 - the wisdom

Reciprocal: 1Sa 8:15 - officers 1Ki 22:9 - officer Est 1:10 - chamberlains Dan 2:16 - and desired

am 3401, bc 603

therefore: Dan 1:5, Gen 41:46, 1Ki 17:1, Pro 22:29, Jer 15:19

Reciprocal: Est 1:10 - chamberlains Pro 16:20 - handleth Dan 2:13 - and they Dan 2:16 - and desired

in all: 1Ki 4:29-34, 1Ki 10:1-3, 1Ki 10:23, 1Ki 10:24, Psa 119:99

wisdom and understanding: Heb. wisdom of understanding

ten: Gen 31:7, Num 14:22, Neh 4:12, Job 19:3

the magicians: Dan 2:2-11, Dan 2:21-23, Dan 4:7, Dan 4:8-18, Dan 5:7, Dan 5:8, Dan 5:17, Gen 41:8, Exo 7:11, Exo 7:12, Exo 7:22, Exo 8:7, Exo 8:19, Isa 19:3, Isa 47:12-14, 2Ti 3:8, 2Ti 3:9

Reciprocal: Deu 4:6 - Surely 1Sa 18:30 - behaved himself 1Ki 4:30 - the children Ezr 8:18 - a man of understanding Isa 44:25 - maketh Eze 28:3 - thou art Dan 2:13 - and they Dan 4:9 - master

Dan 6:28, Dan 10:1,"He lived to see that glorious time of the return of his people from the Babylonia captivity, though he did not die then. So till is used Psa 110:1, Psa 112:8.

Reciprocal: Dan 5:13 - Art thou Dan 9:1 - Darius