Daniel and His Companions
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.
5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
Commentary
The king of Judah was captured by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon when the city was besieged. He also took items from the temple of God to put in their temple in Babylon. Young handsome Jewish men without any physical defects were taken to serve in the king's palace They were to be taught the language and literature of the Babylonians. They were assigned a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years before they could enter the king's service. Daniel and his three friends were chosen. It is interesting today we refer to Daniel by his Hebrew name, but the friends by their Babylonian names.
Foods and Drinks
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” 11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Commentary
Daniel refused to eat the rich food from the king's table. Instead, he asked permission not to defile himself that way. The official showed favor and compassion to Daniel. He warned him that if the king saw him looking worse than the other men his age the king would kill him. Then Daniel asked to be tested for ten days with nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
No Royal Food or Wine
13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men, God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Commentary
After ten days, Daniel and his companion looked healthier and better nourished than the other young men who ate rich foods and wine. From then on, Daniel and his friends ate only vegetables. God gave all four of the Hebrews young men knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. Additionally, Daniel could understand visions and all kinds of dreams.
Three years later, Nebuchadnezzar discovered that none of the other young men were equal to Daniel and his friends. In fact, they were ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in the king's entire kingdom. Therefore, Daniel and his friends remained in Babylon from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar until the first year of King Cyrus.
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