1 The 1st Babylonian Captivity

vv. 1,2 Ø THE HISTORICAL SETTING

[1 In the third year of the reign of king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.]

The begins by setting the historical time period of its subject matter.

[In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim….] Jehoiakim was the 17th of 19 kings of Judah, eldest son of Josiah and he reigned from 608-597 BC.

See the Figure 1-1 for a list of list Jewish kings during the rise of the Babylonian Empire and its attacks on Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. Kings in the shaded boxes lived during the three major Babylonian invasions and also the lifetimes of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Habakkuk and Daniel.

Josiah 640-608 BC

Jehoahaz Jehoiakim Zedekiah 608 BC 608-597 BC 597-586 BC

Jehoiachin 597 BC Figure 1- 1. Kings of Judah During the Time of Nebuchadnezzar.

[…..Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.] See the Figure 1-2 for a list of the early kings1 of Babylonia noting that two of these kings were married to Nebuchadnezzar’s daughters2.

1 Under Nebuchadnezzar, Judah and Jerusalem were carried away as captives to Babylon, and the Chaldean armies overran the Fertile Crescent, with Nebuchadnezzar making the Babylon of his day the most splendid city of the ancient world. Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by his son Evil-Merodach (562-560 BC), who was murdered by his brother-in-law Neriglissar (560-558 BC). The next king, Labashi-Marduk, reigned only three months and was succeeded by the usurper Nabonidus, whose son was coregent until the fall of the Chaldean Empire in 539 BC. 2 Note also that Nabonidus co-reigned with his son, Belshazzar. This has been a stumbling block for liberals and skeptics since, for a while, the archeological record indicated that only Nabonidus was the king during this time. So the charge was made that the book of Daniel was inaccurate. That is, until evidence for Belshazzar’s co-regency was also found.

›1š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004 Kings3 in the shaded boxes are explicitly referred to in the Book of Daniel.

Nebopolassar 627-605 BC

Nebuchadnezzar 605-562 BC

Evil-Merodach daughter married Nitocris married 562-560 BC Neriglissar Nabonidus 560-556 BC 556-539 BC

Labashi-Marduk Belshazzar 556 BC 553-539 BC

Figure 1- 2. Early Kings of Babylon. Kings in shaded boxes are mentioned in the Book of Daniel.

Note that it was a time of moral and political corruption in Israel. Habakkuk, who lived contemporaneously with Daniel, is distressed over the state of affairs. Listen to what he says

The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds. – Habakkuk 1:1-4.

But God already prophesies about the impending Babylonian invasion [the Chaldeans are Babylonians] in his answer:

“Look among the nations and watch-- be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you. For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; their cavalry comes from afar; they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.” – Habakkuk 1:5-8.

3 In Daniel 5:2 Nebuchadnezzar is called Belshazzar’s father and some have claimed this is inaccurate and Daniel made a mistake. However, it must be remembered that the term of kinship is oftentimes based on genealogy, a blood relative, rather than on an immediate descendent.

›2š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004 The prophet Jeremiah, also a contemporary of Daniel, prophesied the coming Babylonian captivity as judgment for Judah having forsaken the LORD and he also prophesied how long it would last. {Refer to :8-13; 29:10-14}. Daniel lived to see both prophecies fulfilled.

[“…. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah”] However, Jeremiah 25:1 says, “….in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon)”. {See also Jeremiah 46:2}.

The fourth full year of Jehoiakim would have been 605 BC {608, 607, 606, 605} and this corresponds to the historical record of when Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem. In 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar led a campaign against Egypt in the Battle of Carchemish on the east side of the river Euphrates in Babylonia. Egypt was defeated {Jeremiah 46:2} and Carchemish was destroyed.

While Nebuchadnezzar pursued the fleeing Egyptians to Syria he received word that his father, Nebopolassar, has died. He returns to Babylon to receive the crown.

One month later, early in the fall of 605 BC [September], he returns to Palestine and attacks the holy city of Jerusalem. He raids the Temple [the house of God] and takes some of the valuable items stored there. Such things as gold and silver plates and utensils as well as gold drinking vessels {e.g., Daniel 5:2,3} and perhaps even the Golden Lampstand.

Jeremiah 25:1 says the fourth year of Jehoiakim was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar but Daniel 1:1 says that it was during Jehoiakim’s third year. At first glance there appears to be a discrepancy of one year here. Why does Daniel use the term “….the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim”?

The issue here is that there are two methods of reckoning a king’s reign, Babylonian and Jewish. The Jewish calendar begins in the month of Tishri [September-October] while the Babylonian calendar begins in the month of Nisan [March-April].

Therefore, one explanation is that Jeremiah probably used Babylonian calendar while Daniel used the Jewish calendar. The timeline in Figure 1-3 below illustrates this difference. The first row represents the Babylonian calendar from Nisan to Nisan [N], the second row represents the Jewish calendar from Tishri to Tishri [T].

Jehoiakim becomes King of Judah

N N N N N N 608 607 606 605 604 608 607 606 605 604

T T T T T T Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem

Figure 1- 3. Babylonian versus Jewish Calendar and the Dating of Jehoiakim’s Reign.

›3š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004 Another explanation is based on the Babylonian method of reckoning the dates of a king’s reign. The portion of a king’s reign that preceded the beginning of a New Year in the month of Nisan [the year of accession] was called the first year even if it was of short duration. If we again assume that Jeremiah followed the Babylonian method of reckoning, he would have counted Jehoiakim’s year of accession [which was only part of a full year] as the first year. And if we again assume Daniel used the Jewish method of reckoning [which did not count the partial year prior to the New Year] then he counted only three full years of Jehoiakim’s reign.

[“…..which he carried into the land of Shinar”] Nebuchadnezzar carried these spoils to Shinar, another name for Babylonia {See Genesis 10:8-12}.

[….brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.] This probably refers to the fact that these vessels had been taken to a special room in the temple of Bel, or Belus, in Babylon, not to be used in the worship of the idol, but to be stored up among the valuable treasures there. As the temples of the gods were sacred, and were regarded as untouchable, it would be natural to make them the repository of valuable spoils and treasures4. This treasure is enumerated in Ezra 1:7-11.

At this time, Jewish captives including the higher ranked classes are also deported back to Babylon.

vv. 3-5 Ø BABYLONIAN TRAINING

[3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.]

Of the Jewish captives, many of them would now be chosen for special training and grooming in the ways of the Babylonians to provide special service in Nebuchadnezzar’s palace. Only the “crème of the crop” would be chosen by this secular selection process.

How uncharacteristic this is of the way God selects His servants. He looks on the heart – not the “skin”.

Since these individuals were youths, between 14 to 20 years of age, this training at an early age would be more effective than for older individuals.

Note that a premium was put on those of noble birth or royal heritage, king’s descendants and some of the nobles. They would be young men, youths whose facial features, skin and body were free of defects such as scars, acne, lameness and deformity. They were all to be handsome, each one a cover model for GQ magazine.

4 Many of the spoils of the Roman conquests were routinely displayed suspended around the walls of the temples of their gods.

›4š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004 Not only were they to be physically attractive, but mentally and emotionally attractive as well. They were to be “gifted” in all wisdom, knowledge, intelligently able to apply understanding and be quick learners.

By passing this screening, they became prime candidates for becoming “the Babylonian” – being able to serve with distinction in the king’s royal court and be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

vv. 6,7 Ø THE YOUNG JEWISH CAPTIVES RECEIVE NEW NAMES

[6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.]

As a sign of ownership, Daniel and the other young men were given Babylonian names. Whereas their Hebrew names honor the LORD God, their new names were meant to honor the gods of the Babylonians {Bel, Aku, Marduk, Nego/Nebo}. Bel was the chief god of Babylon, Aku was the moon god and Nebo was Bel’s son, the god of writing and vegetation. See the table below for the meanings of these names.

Table 1- 1. The Meaning of the Names of the Jewish Youths5. Hebrew Babylonian Daniel “God is my Judge” Belteshazzar “Bel protect his life” Hananiah “Jehovah was gracious” Shadrach “fearful of Aku” Mishael “who is like God” Meshach “humbled before Aku”6 Azariah “helped by Jehovah” Abed-nego “servant of Nego/Nebo”

The names were changed primarily for the purpose of causing the individual to be less inclined to remember their origin, their country and culture. At the same time it would serve to lead them to more fully identify themselves with their new culture and environment. Such a change would contribute to making them feel more identified with the people among whom they were adopted, and to make them forget the customs and opinions of their own country.

It is also a common practice that missionaries will give new names to the children who are taken into the boarding-schools, and especially the names of the Christian benefactors at whose expense they are supported. Additionally, when non-believer becomes a Christian in a pagan culture it is not uncommon that they also receive a new name reflecting this change.

When Israel is restored to her kingdom glory, the LORD will give her a new name {Isaiah 62:1-4}.

Note that Christians are identified with Christ and receive a new name {Revelation 2:17; 3:12}.

5 Older commentaries give different meanings for some of these names. 6 The meaning of Meshach is uncertain. Knowledge Commentary definition given here.

›5š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004 vv. 8-16 Ø DANIEL’S PERSONAL INTEGRITY & GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

[8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king." 11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 "Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants." 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.]

Daniel held faithfully to the dietary and religious standards of the Law. He did not what to defile himself with fatty and rich foods of the royal household, nor did he want to drink the wine. For this, God gave him favor with the chief of the eunuchs who was afraid that Daniel would “waste away”.

So Daniel calls for a test [a demonstration of his wisdom and knowledge]. He and his three youthful friends would eat just vegetables and water for ten days after which their health would be compared with the others who ate the “delicacies”.

As one could have predicted, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier than those who ate the king’s delicacies did. So, the steward replaced everyone’s diet with the vegetables and water. We can only imagine how this “endeared” Daniel to the other Jewish youths.

It is truly amazing that these four youths remained steadfastly faithful in Jehovah. They are young men with temptations and far from home. But they never wavered once – they are to be commended for their loyalty to the LORD in the face of such circumstances.

After all, they were in a foreign land, with different customs and religion and surrounded by strangers. Their parents could very well have been killed or entered into slavery. No one back home would ever know what they did and they were far away from the Temple worship.

But the parents of these four youths probably instilled in them faithfulness, obedience and integrity. They realized the consequences of disobedience could be devastating so they persevered. {Refer to Deut. 6:4-9; Psalms 78:1-8; Proverbs 22:6; Ecclesiastes 12:1}.

Others of lesser character would have given in to the dozens of temptations that life in royal court offered. How did they do it? By knowing God’s Word, meditating and memorizing it. Oh that all Christians would follow the example of Daniel and his three companions.

Psalms 119:9 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”

Ps 119:10,11 says, “With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!”

›6š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004

There are many today who would question the possibility, and perhaps even the sanity, of anyone who believes that parents can successfully raise godly sons and daughters in today's permissive and self-centered society. Too many obstacles to doing this they would say. “Can a parent overcome the pervasive and insidious promotion of immorality, idolatry and materialism by the news media, in the schools, on TV programs and in the movies? Can the massive influence of the secular culture really be overcome?” they would ask.

The lives of Daniel and his three companions answer these kinds of questions with an emphatic "Yes!". These four youths, between the ages of 14 to 20, were raised by their parents in a cultural environment very similar to our own in the 21st century. Listen to how Jeremiah, a contemporary of Daniel, describes the conditions existing in Judah during this time.

1 "Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her. 2 Though they say, 'As the LORD lives,' surely they swear falsely." 7 "How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, then they committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. 8 They were like well-fed lusty stallions; every one neighed after his neighbor's wife. 30 "An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end? – Jeremiah 5:1-2,7-8,30-31.

“Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.” – Jeremiah 7:17,18.

And yet Daniel and his three companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were raised, obviously by faithful parents, in such a culture. But they remained faithful to the LORD despite all the temptations thrown at them both back home in Judah and in Babylon7.

7 Even after the tragedy and trauma of Babylonian invasion and captivity, the people still were rebellious. Jeremiah 44:15-19 says: Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods, with all the women who stood by, a great multitude, and all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying: “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well off, and saw no trouble. But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” The women also said, “And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make cakes for her, to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands' permission?”.

›7š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004 vv. 17-20 Ø PROMOTION OF THE JEWISH YOUTHS

[17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.]

The promotion of these four young men, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, came from the LORD. It was He who blessed these youths with knowledge, skill in all literature and wisdom.

“Knowledge” here means intelligence, reasoning powers, the idea of genius to solve difficult problems.

“Skill in all literature” here means insight into the body of known writings, familiarity and understanding of a variety of all subjects.

“Wisdom” here means the correct and proper application and use of the knowledge and understanding.

There is a wonderful element of Divine providence here. Had these youths stayed in Judah, they would have remained in obscurity and we would never even known about them nor would they have been used in such a mighty way.

But by being taken as “prisoners of war” back to Babylon, going through a tragic set of circumstances, the trauma of being uprooted from their homeland, God was able to exalt them and bring a blessing not only upon His own people but the Babylonians as well.

Such is the grace and sovereignty of God! Truly this is another awesome example of “you meant it for evil but God meant it for good” {Genesis 50:20}.

Psalms 75:5-7 says,

“Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck. For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: he puts down one, and exalts another.”

Here is a pagan king, eventually led to acknowledge and come to faith in the one true God {refer to :34-37}, being used by God unknowingly. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; he turns it wherever He wishes.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was to bring the physical and mental gifts and skills of these four Jewish youths to maturity for the benefit of the “state”– he thought he was doing it to develop and exploit potential talent for his kingdom. BUT GOD USED IT TO TESTIFY OF HIS GREATNESS AND BRING HONOR AND GLORY TO HIMSELF!

After king Nebuchadnezzar interviewed the four young men he was so impressed by their knowledge and wisdom that he chose them for personal service to himself.

›8š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004 These young men were honored for their knowledge, skill in understanding and wisdom which came from trusting in the LORD.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” – Psalms 111:10.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” – Proverbs 9:10.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were found by Nebuchadnezzar to be ten times better than all the other sources in his entire kingdom! God glorified and honored them because their faith honored and glorified Him.

vv. 21 Ø DANIEL’S PERIOD OF MINISTRY

[21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.]

Some take exception to this phrase saying it implies Daniel was writing about his own death – the criticism being how can any man know the time of his death beforehand. Therefore these critics say a “real” Daniel probably did not write this book.

However, this is a simplistic approach since is obvious from the book that this does not imply Daniel’s death, only the time of his final ministry.

That is Daniel’s ministry continued until the year 539 BC when Cyrus8 the king of Persia with Darius, the commander of the armies of the Medes and Persians, took the city of Babylon {Daniel 5:28-31}. Apparently Daniel continued during the reigns of both Cyrus king of Persia {539 – 530 BC} and Darius king of Medes {Daniel 6:1-3} who was made the king of Chaldeans by Cyrus {Daniel 9:1} in that same year that Babylon was conquered.

When the proclamation was issued by Cyrus to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem in 539-538 BC, {Ezra 1:1-3}. Therefore, Daniel continued in influence and authority at different times during the period of and Darius as well as during the entire seventy years of captivity.

This closing remark is intended to convey that Daniel continued to occupy a position of influence and authority in the royal court until the captivity was accomplished, and the royal order was issued for rebuilding the temple.

8 Cyrus II, the Great, founder of the Persian Empire. This great humane ruler holds an important position both in biblical prophecy {Isaiah 41:25; 44:28; 45:1-13} and history {Ezra 1:1-8; 4:3-5; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Daniel 1:21; 10:1}. He laid the foundations for the vast Persian Empire under whose dominion Judea was to remain a province for the next two hundred years. Cyrus established his capital at Pasargadae in the land of Parsa and on a ruined palace there the repeated inscription can still be read, "I, Cyrus, the king, the Achaemenid".

›9š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004 Daniel was among the first of the captives that were taken to Babylon, and he lived to see the end of the captivity – "the joyful day of Jewish freedom”. It is commonly believed that, when the captives returned, Daniel remained in Chaldea, probably detained by his high responsibilities in the Persian Empire, and that he died either at Babylon or at the fortress palace in the Persian city of Shushan {:2} also known as Susa9.

Why was Daniel able to serve the LORD for so long? Because of his faithfulness, integrity, and obedience to God’s commandments. Note Daniel ‘s prayer in Daniel 9:3-23.

References:

(1) New Unger's Bible Dictionary, originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright © 1988. (2) Nelson Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers. Copyright ©1986. (3) Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. III Proverbs-Malachi, J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Radio, Pasadena, CA., 1982. (4) The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Vol. I , John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck editors, Victor Books (Scripture Press Publications, Inc.), 1988.

9 The Code of Hammurabi was uncovered there by Jacques de Morgan, 1901. The ancient site lies on the Karkheh about 150 miles north of the Persian Gulf.

›10š Daniel Chapter 1 Klaus G. Schiessel © December 2004