DANIEL LESSON 1
The book of Daniel was written by the prophet Daniel. Daniel
prophesied after he was taken to Babylon with the first captives. He
was chosen out to learn the language, and to work in the king's
palace. He was chosen, along with other young men from prominent
families, to serve in the Babylonian court. He was made a eunuch to
serve the king. It appears, he was just a youth when taken captive,
and had never married.
Daniel's prophecies were different from Isaiah's, and Jeremiah's.
Their prophecies were usually begun by saying, "Thus saith the Lord".
Daniel did not use that expression when giving his. His ministry was
involved in interpreting dreams and riddles. The most prominent of
ministries, possibly, were the visions he had himself of events future
to even our day. Revelation and Daniel have much in common. Some
future events are mentioned in both. Daniel had three friends who were
fellow captives. We will see all four of these young men, standing up
for God under great stress.
The book of Daniel must be understood through the spirit, if we
are to understand anything it says. As many prophecies, this covers
the time they lived in, and covers times future to us, as well. The
sovereignty of God is revealed in this book.
We will now begin the verse by verse study of the book of Daniel
in Daniel 1:1 "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of
Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged
it."
Jehoiakim began to reign after Josiah. Josiah did right in the
sight of God, but Jehoiakim was evil. This is a setting of the time on
the attack of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Eliakim and Jehoiakim are
the same person. II Chronicles 36:5 "Jehoiakim [was] twenty and five
years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in
Jerusalem: and he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD
his God."
Daniel 1:2 "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."
"Lord", in the verse above, means Adonai. LORD, means Jehovah.
This is not speaking of the time later on, when Jerusalem is
destroyed. This is speaking of the overthrow of Jehoiakim. At this
time, the temple is not completely ravaged, but some of the vessels of
the house of God are taken. The land of Shinar was a portion of
Babylon. The god, spoken of here, is the false god of Nebuchadnezzar.
II Chronicles 36:6 "Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon." II
Chronicles 36:7 "Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the
house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon."
Daniel 1:3 "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;"
We see from this, that those young men, who were taken were
princes and seed of the king, and Israelites who were very prominent.
Nebuchadnezzar wanted eunuchs for the court. II Kings 20:18 "And of
thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall
they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of
Babylon."
Daniel 1:4 "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."
These young men, that were chosen to take back to Babylon to work
in the court, had to be the well educated. They had to be intelligent
enough to learn the language, and to conduct themselves with good
manners. The Chaldeans and the Babylonians are the same. The young men
needed to be nice looking to represent the king well. He wanted only
the best in the court of the king.
Daniel 1:5 "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."
They were sent to training school for 3 years to prepare them for
work in the court of the king. They were fed and housed as part of
their training. In fact, they were fed the same food and wine as the
king. This was a time of preparation. The king was having them
schooled in the ways of Babylon. He, also, wanted them to know what
was required of them in their duties. He might even use them as
interpreters to communicate with the captured Hebrews.
Daniel 1:6 "Now among these were of the children of Judah,
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:"
The name "Daniel" means judge of God. "Hananiah" means Jah has
favored. "Mishael" means who is what God is. "Azariah" means Jah has
strengthened. It appears from this verse, these 4 were of the tribe of
Judah.
Daniel 1:7 "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."
When they are called into service of the king, they must take on
Babylonian names. Daniel's new name, Belteshazzar, is very similar to
the name of a later king of these Babylonians, Belshazzar. Sometimes,
these names were given to cut connection with their old lives.
Sometimes, they were named for the false gods of their captors.
Daniel 1:8 "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."
We see from this, that Daniel's faith in God made him know that
God would protect him. He remembered the dietary laws that were given
in Leviticus. Daniel did not want to anger God by eating unclean food.
This defilement would have been because of the law in Leviticus.
Leviticus 11:47 "To make a difference between the unclean and the
clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may
not be eaten." Daniel would rather die than break the Levitical law.
This is not true now, since Jesus fulfilled the law. Food is cleansed
by prayer. I Timothy 4:5 "For it is sanctified by the word of God and
prayer." The prince of eunuchs was over Daniel. This is a bold
request of Daniel. It might even cost him his life.
Daniel 1:9 "Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender
love with the prince of the eunuchs."
We see this very same thing happened to Joseph, when he was
captive in Egypt, in the following verse. Genesis 39:21 "But the LORD
was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the
sight of the keeper of the prison." You see, God ultimately is in
control of everyone. God tenders the heart of the prince of the
eunuchs, so that he loves Daniel.
Daniel 1:10 "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."
The prince of the eunuchs is just sure that Daniel will look
terrible, if he stops eating the food and wine the king has provided.
When Daniel begins to look bad, the prince of the eunuchs will be in
trouble with the king, and the king might have him killed. The
Hebrews, that were not in the palace, got very little to eat, and they
were not very healthy looking. The king wanted his eunuchs to be the
best looking people in the land.
Daniel 1:11 "Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the
eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,"
"Melzar" means butler, or steward. We see from this, there were
several ranks even among the eunuchs.
Daniel 1:12 "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and
let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink."
"Pulse" means a vegetable. We can easily see that Daniel was
trying to avoid eating an unclean animal from the king's table. This
10 days symbolizes a time dealing with worldliness, since 10 means
world government. This is not a total fast, but God will bless Daniel
for taking this stand for Him.
Daniel 1:13 "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."
We see that Daniel gives Melzar a way out of this. He explains
that, if he looks any different than the people eating and drinking
the kings food and drink, the prince can punish him. Servants is
plural here, so Daniel is, probably, speaking for himself and
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Daniel 1:14 "So he consented to them in this matter, and proved
them ten days."
Since this will not get him in trouble, Melzar agrees to it.
Daniel 1:15 "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."
God intervenes and feeds Daniel and his friends food that the
steward knows not of. This is food from God. Exodus 23:25 "And ye
shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy
water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." It is
better to obey God, than to have a feast of unclean food. They are in
great shape at the end of the 10 days. This is the first of the great
manifestations of God in Daniel.
Daniel 1:16 "Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and
the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse."
When the steward saw they were no worse for their restricted
diet, he allowed them to continue on that diet.
Daniel 1:17 "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."
Notice, where their skill and knowledge came from. God gave it to
them as a gift. Their faithfulness to God was overwhelming. God gave
them gifts to help them in this hostile place. Daniel's gifts were
even more. He received the gift of interpretaions, along with the
understanding and wisdom. God would, also, communicate with Daniel in
dreams. The things these 4 received from God are very much like the
gifts of the Spirit the Christians receive. I Corinthians 12:7 "But
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal." I Corinthians 12:8 "For to one is given by the Spirit the
word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;"
I Corinthians 12:9 "To another faith by the same Spirit; to another
the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" I Corinthians 12:10 "To
another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to
another the interpretation of tongues:"
Daniel 1:18 "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."
They were to be trained and groomed, before they were brought
before the king. It appears this time has elapsed here, and it is time
to bring them to the king for his approval.
Daniel 1:19 "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."
From this, we see there were many more than these 4, but the king
was the most impressed with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. He
chose these 4 to serve close to him.
Daniel 1:20 "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."
Magicians and astrologers have a little power, but their power
comes from another source other than God. Their wisdom and
understanding does not measure up to the 4 headed up by Daniel. Daniel
and his friends get their wisdom and understanding from God. We see
the comparison in the Scripture above is 10 to 1. Satan has a little
power that God allows him to have. He does not have unlimited power.
God's power is unlimited. God controls Satan. These men who had stood
up for God were representing God to this court. God's power through
them was unlimited.
Daniel 1:21 "And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of
king Cyrus."
While Babylon stands, Daniel continued. Daniel 6:28 "So this
Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the
Persian." Verse 21 above, does not say Daniel stopped at the first
year of Cyrus. It says he continued unto his reign. Daniel continued
many years under several kings.
Daniel 1 Questions
1. When Daniel was captured, where did he go?
2. Why was he made a eunuch?
3. How did his prophecies differ from Ezekiel's and Isaiah's?
4. What was Daniel's ministry involved in?
5. What other book in the Bible has much in common with Daniel?
6. The book of Daniel must be understood through the __________.
7. What time did his prophecy cover?
8. The ___________ of God is revealed in this book.
9. Who reigned before Jehoiakim?
10. How did they differ?
11. How old was Jehoiakim, when he began to reign?
12. How long did he reign?
13. Who gave Jehoiakim into the hands of the Babylonians?
14. Where were some of the temple vessels carried?
15. Where was Shinar?
16. What does "Lord" mean?
17. Who was master of the eunuchs?
18. Who were the young men who were taken for eunuchs?
19. What were some of the qualifications they must have to be a eunuch
in the king's court?
20. How were they fed?
21. How long were they in training, before they were presented to the
king?
22. What were they being trained in?
23. Who were three others, who were named, that were with Daniel?
24. What does "Daniel" mean?
25. "Hananiah" means ______ _____ _________>
26. "Mishael" means what?
27. What does "Azariah" mean?
28. These 4 were of what tribe?
29. What was Daniel's new name?
30. What names were given to his 3 friends?
31. What was a reason for changing their names?
32. What did Daniel refuse to do?
33. Quote Leviticus chapter 11 verse 47.
34. Was Daniel allowed to do what he requested?
35. What is "pulse"?
36. What does the number 10 mean?
37. Quote Exodus chapter 23 verse 25.
38. What special gifts did God give Daniel and his friends?
39. What is this similar to for a Christian?
40. Who did the king choose, of all the eunuchs, to serve him?
41. How much better were they than the magicians and astrologers?
42. How long did Daniel continue?
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