Daniel 1 Study Notes

1:1 Although Daniel recorded these events as taking place in the third year of . . . Jehoiakim, Jeremiah wrote that it was in the fourth year (Jr 25:1,9; 46:1). Daniel probably used the Babylonian system which did not count a king’s year of accession, while Jeremiah used the Israelite system of counting, which did include the accession year. The events took place during the accession year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, probably when he was still co-regent with his father and just after the battle of Carchemish (605 BC).

1:2 Although Nebuchadnezzar viewed his defeat of Judah as a victory for his gods, Daniel’s perspective was that it was the Lord who handed Jehoiakim over to the Babylonians. The historian Berosus mentioned these events when he wrote that Nebuchadnezzar conquered Hattiland (referring to Syro-Palestine). At that time, Nebuchadnezzar took vessels from the house of God, in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prediction when Hezekiah showed them to the Babylonian king a century beforehand (Is 39:2,6).

1:3 His chief eunuch could also be translated “his chief official,” since the meaning of Hebrew saris varies (see the word’s use in Gn 39:1; 2Kg 20:18; Est 2:3; Is 56:3).

1:4 The Hebrew word for young men here literally means “children” or “boys” and probably refers to teenagers, a good estimate being around age fifteen. Chaldean language and literature refers to an ancient university-style education in Sumerian, Akkadian, and Aramaic.

1:5 Persian literature shows that three years was the customary time allotted for such training.

1:6-7 Daniel and his friends, whose original names honored the God of Israel, were given other names intended to honor the false gods of Babylon. Daniel (“God is My Judge”) became Belteshazzar (“Bel Protect Him”); Hananiah (“God Has Been Gracious”) became Shadrach (“The Command of Akku”); Mishael (“Who Is What God Is?”) became Meshach (“Who Is What Aku Is?”); Azariah (“The Lord Has Helped”) became Abednego (“Servant of Nebo”).

1:8 The word determined means literally “set upon his heart,” referring to inner resolve. Daniel decided that he would not defile himself with a diet that included non-kosher meat such as horseflesh and pork, or drink wine that had been offered to Babylonian gods.

1:9-14 Only God’s Spirit could have convinced the official to disobey the king even for ten days.

1:15-16 The fact that Daniel and his friends looked better and healthier is not a biblical endorsement of vegetarianism (Gn 9:3). Rather, God in his providence made them healthy and strong.

1:17-19 The ability of Daniel and his friends to excel intellectually was clearly given by God.

1:20 Throughout the book of Daniel, there are six different expressions for the king’s counselors. The first two, used here, are magicians and mediums. The word for “magicians” comes from a root that means “engraver.” It refers to those who engraved Babylonian religious activities and astrological movements of the stars on clay tablets. The word “mediums” means “conjurers.” It refers to those who used spells and incantations to communicate with the spirit world.

1:21 Daniel saw the end of the exile, living until the first year of King Cyrus (539 BC) and even beyond that time (see 10:1, where “third year” dates to 536).