CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Daniel 1
Chapter 1 of 12
Chapter Overview
What happens in Daniel 1
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon captures Jerusalem and takes some of the best young men of Judah to serve in his palace. Daniel and three friends are among them. Daniel refuses to eat the king's food and trusts God to take care of him.
Scripture
Daniel 1
Young Men Taken to Babylon
Study note
In about 605 BC, Babylon conquered Judah and took many people captive. Nebuchadnezzar chose the smartest and strongest young men to train for royal service. The young men were given Babylonian names to replace their Hebrew names, which was meant to change their identity and loyalty.
1 Jehoiakim had ruled Judah for three years. Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came. His army camped all around Jerusalem's walls. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 God let Nebuchadnezzar defeat King Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar grabbed some of the special items from God's temple and hauled them back to Babylonia, storing them in the treasury of his own god's temple. 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 The king told Ashpenaz, his top official, to pick out some young men from Israel. He especially wanted ones from royal and noble families. 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;
4 He wanted young men who were strong, handsome, and brilliant. They needed to be well-trained, fast learners, and ready to work in the king's palace. They would study the Babylonian language and literature. 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.
5 Every day, they would eat the same rich food and drink the same wine the king enjoyed. Their training would last three years, and then they would begin serving the king. 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 Four of these young men came from the tribe of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7 The chief gave them all new names. Daniel became Belteshazzar. Hananiah became Shadrach. Mishael became Meshach. Azariah became Abed-nego. 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 Abed-nego.
Daniel Refuses the King's Food
Study note
The king's food likely included meat offered to idols and foods that were unclean under God's law given to Moses. Daniel's refusal was an act of faith and obedience to God, not just a dietary choice. The ten-day test with vegetables and water proved that God blessed Daniel's faithfulness.
8 Daniel decided in his heart that he would not dishonor God by eating the king's rich food or drinking his wine. So he went to the chief official and asked if he could eat something else instead. 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 God made the chief official feel kindly toward Daniel and want to help him. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 But the official was nervous. He told Daniel, "The king himself picked out your food and drink. If he notices that you look weaker than the other young men your age, he might have me killed!" 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.
11 So Daniel went to the guard who had been put in charge of him, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 "Give us a test for ten days," Daniel suggested. "Feed us vegetables and give us water to drink." Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 "After that, compare how we look with the young men eating the king's food. Then you can decide what to do with us based on what you see." 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.
14 The guard said yes and tested them for ten days. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 After ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier. They looked better fed than all who ate the king's rich food. 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 From then on, the guard stopped giving them the fancy food and wine and let them eat vegetables instead. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
God Blesses the Four Young Men
Study note
God gave Daniel and his friends wisdom far beyond what their Babylonian training provided. Daniel also received the special gift of understanding visions and dreams, which would become very important later. King Cyrus, mentioned in verse 21, was the Persian king who later allowed the Jews to return home.
17 God blessed these four young men with amazing knowledge and understanding in every subject they studied. On top of that, Daniel was given a special gift for understanding visions and dreams. 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 After the three years of training were finished, the chief official brought all the young men to meet King Nebuchadnezzar. 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 The king interviewed each one. Out of all of them, nobody came close to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they were chosen to serve the king directly. 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 The king asked them tough questions about wisdom. Every time, they gave answers ten times better than his best wise men could. 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 Daniel kept serving in the royal court all the way until King Cyrus of Persia took over. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Key Themes
Themes in Daniel 1
Faithfulness in a foreign landResisting cultural pressureGod's sovereignty over nationsIntegrity in small thingsGod honors those who honor him
Apply This Today
Living Daniel 1
Daniel and his friends faced enormous pressure to conform to Babylonian culture, yet they found a respectful way to stay true to their convictions. This chapter shows us that we do not have to compromise our faith to succeed. When we honor God in the small decisions, He opens doors we could never open ourselves.
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