Daniel - Chapter 1

Mark Dunagan
01/25/15 - Sunday Morning

Series: Daniel

Daniel

Chapter 1

The name Daniel means, “God is Judge” or “a judge who pronounces judgment in the name of God”. Little is known of Daniel’s family background. From the testimony of his contemporaries he was known for his righteousness (Ezekiel 14:14,20) and his wisdom (28:3). He is mentioned in these passages with Noah and Job, and with them are considered real people of history. He is also alluded to in Hebrews chapter 11 as one who by faith “shut the mouths of lions”. Daniel was born into the royal family (Daniel 1:3,6). He was physically attractive and mentally sharp (1:4). He lived at least until the third year of Cyrus, that is, until 536 B.C. (10:1). Therefore, he must have been a young man when Nebuchadnezzar took him captive in 605 B.C. (1:4). If he were 16 when captured, he was around 85 in Cyrus’ third year. Daniel is the writer of this book, for Daniel names himself (speaking in the first person) as one receiving the revelations (8:1; 9:2), and he is ordered to preserve the book in which these words are found (12:4). Added to this, Jesus placed His stamp of approval on Daniel’s status as a prophet, “which was spoken through Daniel the prophet” (Matthew 24:15), and quotes from the book of Daniel assigning Daniel as the author (Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27; 11:31).   

The book is very unified, for example the temple vessels are carried into Babylon in chapter 1 and they will become an issue in chapter 5. We are told that Daniel and his companions gain places of importance before the king and this helps explain the later animosity of their opponents. We are told that Daniel was there when the Medo-Persians arrived and this prepares us for his confrontation with the lions. The fact that manuscript fragments (of all 12 chapters) from the book of Daniel were found in Qumran, written perhaps in the second century B.C., preclude the notion that Daniel was written in 165 B.C., as many critics suggest. The reason that many reject Daniel being written shortly after 536 B.C. is that this would mean that Daniel accurately predicted the future world empires that would follow the Babylonian Empire (Daniel 2:36ff). And this would mean that God does exist and that He spoke through Daniel. The last thing that some scholars, even bible scholars want is an all-powerful God running around lose, telling them what to do – and judging them at the last day. The trouble with too many “experts” is that they want to tell the rest of us how to think and live, but they don’t want an expert or authority over them.

Purposes of the Book

The book demonstrates Daniel and his friend’s personal devotion to God in very difficult circumstances. Basically four teenage boys are taken over 1000 miles into a distant empire and there the attempt is made to systematically brainwash them and destroy their faith, and instead of weakening, they refuse to compromise, even upon the pain of death (Daniel 3). And 70 years later, Daniel is still faithful (chapter 6). The book also emphasizes God’s complete control over even the most power nations. He establishes kings and removes them. It was this great truth that Nebuchadnezzar came to understand (Daniel 4:35). The book demonstrates how God protected His people even when they were in captivity. 

Languages

The book of Daniel is bilingual. From 2:4 to 7:28 it is written in Aramaic; the rest is Hebrew. The comments between 2:4 and 7:28 one primarily designed to teach the world powers of those days a lesson, and this may be the reason that it was written in the language which was the world language of the time. 

There is a God in Babylon

In the year 605 B.C., the third year of the Judean king Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem. Nothing is said about him sacking or destroying the city, this will not be done until 586 B.C. (2 Chronicles 36:17-19). 1:2 “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand”: This phrase sets the tone for the book. Here we have a clear reference to the power of God and His sovereignty over all the nations. No one is victorious unless it is “given” to him. None is a ruler unless God “gives” to him the kingdom (2:37). It reminds Jewish readers that Jerusalem did not fall because God was weak, but because God’s people had sinned and He was punishing them. God allows His temple to be plundered and some vessels removed and taken to Babylon. “I’m reminded of much earlier days when the Philistines had victory over Israel (See 1 Samuel 4-6). They took captive the ark of God but discovered to their dismay that they had a ‘tiger by the tail’. Belshazzar will have a similar experience in chapter 5” (Daniel, McGuiggan, p. 29). 

The Brainwashing Begins

1:4 These are the kings own specifications. They must come from neither the royal family (a descendant of David) or from the nobility (1:3). They must have no physical blemish or infirmity. They must be physically handsome and be mentally sharp. In ancient times (and even today), the outward appearance was thought to manifest an inner quality. “Showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom”: The ability to apply themselves to Chaldean and not merely Jewish subjects of wisdom. “To teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans”: They must now learn the language and culture of the people among whom they now dwelt. They are to undergo an intensive three-year course of training. That educational program probably included a study of agriculture, architecture, astrology, astronomy, law, mathematics, and the difficult Akkadian language. The Babylonians had inherited the sexagesimal system from the ancient Sumerians. This system of numbering by sixties is still in use, i.e., sixty seconds in a minute, sixty minutes in an hour, and 360 degrees in a circle. Clay tablets have been found showing a common familiarity with measurement of the area of rectangles and right and isosceles triangles. An amazing knowledge of algebra is also shown in Babylonian literature, tablets of squares, square roots, cubes and cube roots. We need to be impressed that all this learning does not corrupt Daniel or go to his head (1:8). He is attending the most prestigious university of his time and yet he does not lose his faith and neither does he begin to look down upon the Scriptures. 

1:5  “A daily ration”: It was customary for royalty to support its advisors and officers from the royal income (1 Kings 4:22-23). Such meals were impressive and included the finest that the empire could offer. The term “choice food” or “dainties” probably refers to foods in which the king could afford to indulge, luxurious, costly, and rare delicacies. 

1:6-7 How many were selected for this very special course of training we cannot say, four are mentioned as coming from “the children of Judah”. The name Daniel means, “my judge is God”. Hananiah meant, “gracious is Yahweh”. Mishael meant “who is He that is God?” Azariah meant, “God hath helped”. All the names are of a kind that might in evil days be given to children of godly parents. New names are now given to these young men, “Belteshazzar” means “protect his life”, “Shadrach” means “command of Aku” (Aku being the moon-god), “Meshach” means “who is what Aku is?” And “Abed-nego” means “servant of Nebo”, another Babylonian god. The change of name involved the idea that the god of those whom bestowed the new name was to be honored rather than the god of the vanquished. No doubt the purpose was to so completely assimilate these young men into the Babylonian culture that they would become, for all practical purposes, Babylonians and disassociate themselves completely from the Hebrew ways, even from their God. 

1:8  “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food”: Daniel could accept the new teaching, because he could filter it (Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22; 1 Timothy 6:20), and the new languages because truth is truth in any language. He could accept the name change, because you cannot control what people from call you and he still knew that he was Daniel. The matter of eating from the king’s table was another problem, seeing that many of these foods probably were violations of the Jewish food laws. 1) Instead of trying to divide up God’s laws into important and not-so-important laws, or moral verses ceremonial laws, Daniel knew that every command that God had given is important. 2) Daniel also knew that obeying the commands of God is not legalism. 3) Daniel knew that the way to resist temptation is to make up his mind; he knew the difference between obedience and disobedience, and that success or failure is the decision that is made in the heart. 4) Daniel understood that disobedience defiled “himself”, that the person truly affected or hurt by disobedience is ourselves. 1:8 “So he sought permission”: A devotion to God’s truth can be presented in away that is humble and respectful. Daniel was both courteous and courageous. 

1:9  “Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander”: God is behind the scenes working. In addition, Daniel’s courteous attitude and good example also contributed to this favor. God not only works on the national and international level, He also works in the life of the individual.

1:10  “I am afraid”: Give the commander of the officials this much credit; he was a very conscientious about his job. Note the difference, this man feared Nebuchadnezzar, while Daniel feared  Nebuchadnezzar’s Lord. 1:11-14 I am impressed that Daniel had a plan. Often we fail because we do not have a plan. If we are going to teach people, then we need to anticipate their objections (1 Peter 3:15). Such planning will come naturally when we, like Daniel, take our service to God seriously. Since the law of Moses did not name any unclean vegetables, Daniel could safely eat all the Babylonian vegetables he wanted. Note that God’s children do not mind being “tested”. “When we know our ground, we are not only willing to be tested we are eager for the trial” (McGuiggian, p. 32). The word for “vegetables” here involves more than such things as peas and beans and would include wheat and other grains so that bread would also be part of their diet. 1:15-16 We need to note that Daniel is not trying to live on “bread and water”, but rather, the Babylonian kitchen certainly had access to many “vegetables” and vegetable dishes. 

1:17  “God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom”: The first part of this verse may mean that God gave such knowledge to these men because they applied themselves, and they were providentially given the best teachers. The second part of the verse, “Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams”, clearly refers to a miraculous giving by God. 

1:18-20 “Ten times better”: Daniel and his friends, when questioned or critiqued by the king, give far better answers than the king’s own personal advisors. Some complain, “If the king thought them better than his wise men, why did not he call on them when he had the disturbing dream of chapter 2?” Yet, a student or apprentice may show superior knowledge in some area over a teacher or craftsman and yet still be the second choice when it comes to obtaining advice and aid. The terms “magicians” and ”conjurers” refers to those who practiced the arts of divination, which includes astrologers, palm-readers, and so on. Be impressed that learning that is applied with God’s truth is 10 times better in knowledge, discernment, and wisdom than the practices and theories of unbelievers. Daniel and his friends had the same basic learning as the magicians and conjurers. What made the difference was that Daniel and his friends had monitored their learning with the Scriptures, that is, what did not conflict with the Scriptures was embraced, what did, was rejected. God’s truth gave them the ability to rightly apply what they were learning. 

1:21 Daniel’s service in the Babylonian royal court continued until the Babylonian Empire came to an end in 539 B.C.. Chapter 10:1 tells us that Daniel received a vision in the third year of Cyrus. This passage informs us that Daniel survived on into the new empire. When the kingdom changed hands the man who had prophesized such a change was there! 

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net