Daniel 1 · The Lantern

Daniel Removed to Babylon

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

This is the beginning of the book, "In the third year of the kingdom of Jehoiakim the king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came into Jerusalem and blockaded it.

Verse 1. "In the third year of the reign of Joacim (Jehoiakim) king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it." Jehoiakim, son of the Josiah in whose thirteenth regnal year Jeremiah began to prophesy, and under whom the woman Hulda prophesied, was the same man as was called by the other name of Eliakim, and reigned over the tribes of Judah and J…

Naturally, at the outset, the king who ruled is revealed and the year made clear, when the capture first occurred. And so by calling to mind the king that reigned at that point, he [Daniel] demonstrates … that he is a prophet. For other prophets begin in the very same way.

And the Lord gave into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and part of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god — and the vessels he brought to the treasure house of his god.

And the king said to Ashpenaz, the chief of his eunuchs, to bring some of the sons of Israel, and of the seed of the kingdom and of the nobles:

And Scripture says, "And the king told Ashpenaz the chief of the eunuchs to bring in some of those from the sons of the captivity of Israel and from the seed of the king and from the princes, young men, who have no blemish, who are beautiful in appearance and are understanding in all wisdom, being well versed in knowledge, disposed to prudence, and who have in themselves the st…

Verse 3. "And the king said to Ashpenaz the overseer of his eunuchs, that he should out of the number of the children of Israel and, of the royal seed and (the seed of) the rulers bring in some young lads who were free from all blemish." Instead of Ashpenaz ("Asphanez") I found Abriesdri written in the Vulgate edition.

And so the God of all makes evident the foolishness, infirmity and loathsome ways of the world in order to put to shame its power and wisdom. People who care for bodily things and seek beauty, greatness and great bodily strength know nothing of divine wisdom but rather only a false and artificial sort of eloquence. And thus is the distance between humanity and God.

youths in whom there was no defect, good of appearance, having insight in all wisdom, knowing knowledge and understanding learning, and in whom there was strength to stand in the palace of the king; and to teach them the writing and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

And the king appointed for them a day’s portion each day from the food of the king and from the wine of his drinking, and to raise them three years; and at the end of them they would stand before the king.

And among them, from the sons of Judah, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

And the prince of the eunuchs set names for them: for Daniel, Belteshazzar; and for Hananiah, Shadrach; and for Mishael, Meshach; and for Azariah, Abed-nego.

Daniel’s Faithfulness

And Daniel set on his heart that he would not defile himself with the food of the king or with the wine of his drinking; and he sought from the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

For these, having acquired the fear of God from boyhood, did not want to partake from the table of the king nor to drink from the wine which he drank. O blessed boys, who guarded the covenant of the fathers and did not transgress the law which was given through Moses, but who feared God on account of his preaching!

Verse 8. "Daniel, however, purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled by food from the king's table, nor by the wine which he drank, and he asked the chief of the eunuchs that he might not be polluted." He who would not eat or drink of the king's food or wine lest he be denied (especially if he should be aware that the wisdom and teaching of the Babylonians is mistaken)…

For those who love God do not seek after the God of all in just one place, but even in the midst of this misfortune they worshiped as if in the house of the Creator. In that place there are many wondrous moments to be found.

And God gave Daniel loyal love and compassion before the prince of the eunuchs.

And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces more sullen than the youths of your age? Then you would make my head guilty before the king.

And Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah:

Test your servants, please, ten days; and let them give us some of the vegetables to eat, and water to drink.

The exception of certain kinds from use as food is a partial fast.… Daniel and his companions, preferring as they did a diet of vegetables and the beverage of water to the royal dishes and decanters, were found "more handsome" … and in addition were more spiritually cultured.

Verse 12. "I beg thee, try us thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat and water to drink." His faith was so incredibly great that he not only promised he would be in good flesh by eating the humbler food, but he even set a time-limit. Therefore it was not a matter of temerity but of faith, for the sake of which he despised the sumptuous fare of the king.

A fish is caught by being enticed by a hook. A bird falls into a net while trying to get food. Animals that are tough by nature's endowment fall into a pit from the desire to eat, and what nature does not soften, food deceives.

And let our appearance be seen before you, and the appearance of the youths eating the food of the king; and as you see, so do with your servants.

And he listened to them in this matter and tested them ten days.

And at the end of ten days their appearance was seen to be better and fatter of flesh than all the youths eating the food of the king.

And the steward was taking away their food and the wine of their drinking, and giving them vegetables.

Daniel’s Wisdom

And these youths, the four of them — God gave them learning and insight in all writing and wisdom; and Daniel understood in every vision and in dreams.

In regard to the prophets among the Jews, some of them were wise men before they became divinely inspired prophets, while others became wise by the illumination that their minds received when divinely inspired.

Verse 17. "But God gave these lads knowledge and learning in every book and branch of wisdom, and He gave to Daniel besides an understanding of all visions and dreams." Note that God is said to have given the holy lads knowledge and learning in secular literature, in every book and branch of wisdom.

Of Daniel and his companions, who were continent, it is said that "God gave them knowledge and discipline in every book and wisdom." Delight concerning touch assails the gift of understanding most greatly: drunkenness from the anterior part and lust from the posterior part.

And at the end of the days that the king had said to bring them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; and they stood before the king.

And in every matter of the wisdom of understanding that the king sought from them, he found them ten hands above all the magicians and enchanters in all his kingdom.

And Daniel was there until the first year of Cyrus the king.

Daniel1

Daniel Removed to Babylon

Daniel’s Faithfulness

Daniel’s Wisdom