7 Unto whom the prince H8269 of the eunuchs H5631 gave H7760 names: H8034 for he gave H7760 unto Daniel H1840 the name of Belteshazzar; H1095 and to Hananiah, H2608 of Shadrach; H7714 and to Mishael, H4332 of Meshach; H4335 and to Azariah, H5838 of Abednego. H5664
And the prince H8269 of the eunuchs H5631 said H559 unto Daniel, H1840 I fear H3373 my lord H113 the king, H4428 who hath appointed H4487 your meat H3978 and your drink: H4960 for why should he see H7200 your faces H6440 worse liking H2196 than the children H3206 which are of your sort? H1524 then shall ye make me endanger H2325 my head H7218 to the king. H4428 Then said H559 Daniel H1840 to Melzar, H4453 whom the prince H8269 of the eunuchs H5631 had set H4487 over Daniel, H1840 Hananiah, H2608 Mishael, H4332 and Azariah, H5838
There are H383 certain H1400 Jews H3062 whom H3487 thou hast set H4483 over H5922 the affairs H5673 of the province H4083 of Babylon, H895 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego; H5665 these H479 men, H1400 O king, H4430 have H7761 not H3809 regarded H2942 thee: H5922 they serve H6399 not H3809 thy gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which thou hast set up. H6966 Then H116 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 in his rage H7266 and fury H2528 commanded H560 to bring H858 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego. H5665 Then H116 they brought H858 these H479 men H1400 before H6925 the king. H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 spake H6032 and said H560 unto them, Is it true, H6656 O Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 do not H3809 ye H383 serve H6399 my gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which I have set H6966 up? Now H3705 if H2006 ye be H383 ready H6263 that at what time H5732 ye hear H8086 the sound H7032 of the cornet, H7162 flute, H4953 harp, H7030 H7030 sackbut, H5443 psaltery, H6460 and dulcimer, H5481 and all H3606 kinds H2178 of musick, H2170 ye fall down H5308 and worship H5457 the image H6755 which I have made; H5648 well: but if H2006 ye worship H5457 not, H3809 ye shall be cast H7412 the same hour H8160 into the midst H1459 of a burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace; H861 and who H4479 is that God H426 that shall deliver H7804 you out of H4481 my hands? H3028 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 answered H6032 and said H560 to the king, H4430 O Nebuchadnezzar, H5020 we H586 are not H3809 careful H2818 to answer H8421 thee in H5922 this H1836 matter. H6600 If H2006 it be so, our God H426 whom we H586 serve H6399 is H383 able H3202 to deliver H7804 us from H4481 the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace, H861 and H4481 he will deliver H7804 us out of H4481 thine hand, H3028 O king. H4430 But if H2006 not, H3809 be it H1934 known H3046 unto thee, O king, H4430 that we will H383 not H3809 serve H6399 thy gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which thou hast set up. H6966 Then H116 was Nebuchadnezzar H5020 full H4391 of fury, H2528 and the form H6755 of his visage H600 was changed H8133 against H5922 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego: H5665 therefore he spake, H6032 and commanded H560 that they should heat H228 the furnace H861 one H2298 seven times H7655 more H5922 than H1768 it was wont H2370 to be heated. H228 And he commanded H560 the most H2429 mighty H1401 men H1400 that were in his army H2429 to bind H3729 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 and to cast H7412 them into the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 Then H116 these H479 men H1400 were bound H3729 in their coats, H5622 their hosen, H6361 H6361 and their hats, H3737 and their other garments, H3831 and were cast H7412 into the midst H1459 of the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 Therefore H3606 H6903 because H4481 H1836 the king's H4430 commandment H4406 was urgent, H2685 and the furnace H861 exceeding H3493 hot, H228 the flame H7631 of the fire H5135 slew H6992 those H479 men H1400 H1994 that took up H5267 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego. H5665 And these H479 three H8532 men, H1400 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 fell down H5308 bound H3729 into the midst H1459 of the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 Then H116 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 the king H4430 was astonied, H8429 and rose up H6966 in haste, H927 and spake, H6032 and said H560 unto his counsellors, H1907 Did not H3809 we cast H7412 three H8532 men H1400 bound H3729 into the midst H1459 of the fire? H5135 They answered H6032 and said H560 unto the king, H4430 True, H3330 O king. H4430 He answered H6032 and said, H560 Lo, H1888 I H576 see H2370 four H703 men H1400 loose, H8271 walking H1981 in the midst H1459 of the fire, H5135 and they have H383 no H3809 hurt; H2257 and the form H7299 of the fourth H7244 is like H1821 the Son H1247 of God. H426 Then H116 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 came near H7127 to the mouth H8651 of the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace, H861 and spake, H6032 and said, H560 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 ye servants H5649 of the most high H5943 God, H426 come forth, H5312 and come H858 hither. Then H116 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 came forth H5312 of H4481 the midst H1459 of the fire. H5135 And the princes, H324 governors, H5460 and captains, H6347 and the king's H4430 counsellors, H1907 being gathered together, H3673 saw H2370 these H479 men, H1400 upon whose bodies H1655 the fire H5135 had no H3809 power, H7981 nor H3809 was an hair H8177 of their head H7217 singed, H2761 neither H3809 were their coats H5622 changed, H8133 nor H3809 the smell H7382 of fire H5135 had passed H5709 on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar H5020 spake, H6032 and said, H560 Blessed H1289 be the God H426 of Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 who hath sent H7972 his angel, H4398 and delivered H7804 his servants H5649 that trusted H7365 in him, H5922 and have changed H8133 the king's H4430 word, H4406 and yielded H3052 their bodies, H1655 that they might not H3809 serve H6399 nor H3809 worship H5457 any H3606 god, H426 except H3861 their own God. H426 Therefore I H4481 make H7761 a decree, H2942 That every H3606 people, H5972 nation, H524 and language, H3961 which speak H560 any thing amiss H7960 H7955 against H5922 the God H426 of Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 shall be cut H5648 in pieces, H1917 and their houses H1005 shall be made H7739 a dunghill: H5122 because H6903 H3606 there is H383 no H3809 other H321 God H426 that can H3202 deliver H5338 after this H1836 sort. Then H116 the king H4430 promoted H6744 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 in the province H4083 of Babylon. H895
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Daniel 1
Commentary on Daniel 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
Da 1:1-21. The Babylonian Captivity Begins; Daniel's Education at Babylon, &C.
1. third year—compare Jer 25:1, "the fourth year; Jehoiakim came to the throne at the end of the year, which Jeremiah reckons as the first year, but which Daniel leaves out of count, being an incomplete year: thus, in Jeremiah, it is "the fourth year"; in Daniel, "the third" [Jahn]. However, Jeremiah (Jer 25:1; 46:2) merely says, the fourth year of Jehoiakim coincided with the first of Nebuchadnezzar, when the latter conquered the Egyptians at Carchemish; not that the deportation of captives from Jerusalem was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim: this probably took place in the end of the third year of Jehoiakim, shortly before the battle of Carchemish [Fairbairn]. Nebuchadnezzar took away the captives as hostages for the submission of the Hebrews. Historical Scripture gives no positive account of this first deportation, with which the Babylonian captivity, that is, Judah's subjection to Babylon for seventy years (Jer 29:10), begins. But 2Ch 36:6, 7, states that Nebuchadnezzar had intended "to carry Jehoiakim to Babylon," and that he "carried off the vessels of the house of the Lord" thither. But Jehoiakim died at Jerusalem, before the conqueror's intention as to him was carried into effect (Jer 22:18, 19; 36:30), and his dead body, as was foretold, was dragged out of the gates by the Chaldean besiegers, and left unburied. The second deportation under Jehoiachin was eight years later.
2. Shinar—the old name of Babylonia (Ge 11:2; 14:1; Isa 11:11; Zec 5:11). Nebuchadnezzar took only "part of the vessels," as he did not intend wholly to overthrow the state, but to make it tributary, and to leave such vessels as were absolutely needed for the public worship of Jehovah. Subsequently all were taken away and were restored under Cyrus (Ezr 1:7).
his god—Bel. His temple, as was often the case among the heathen, was made "treasure house" of the king.
3. master of … eunuchs—called in Turkey the kislar aga.
of the king's seed—compare the prophecy, 2Ki 20:17, 18.
4. no blemish—A handsome form was connected, in Oriental ideas, with mental power. "Children" means youths of twelve or fourteen years old.
teach … tongue of … Chaldeans—their language and literature, the Aramaic-Babylonian. That the heathen lore was not altogether valueless appears from the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses; the Eastern Magi who sought Jesus, and who may have drawn the tradition as to the "King of the Jews" from Da 9:24, &c., written in the East. As Moses was trained in the learning of the Egyptian sages, so Daniel in that of the Chaldeans, to familiarize his mind with mysterious lore, and so develop his heaven-bestowed gift of understanding in visions (Da 1:4, 5, 17).
5. king's meat—It is usual for an Eastern king to entertain, from the food of his table, many retainers and royal captives (Jer 52:33, 34). The Hebrew for "meat" implies delicacies.
stand before the king—as attendant courtiers; not as eunuchs.
6. children of Judah—the most noble tribe, being that to which the "king's seed" belonged (compare Da 1:3).
7. gave names—designed to mark their new relation, that so they might forget their former religion and country (Ge 41:45). But as in Joseph's case (whom Pharaoh called Zaphnath-paaneah), so in Daniel's, the name indicative of his relation to a heathen court ("Belteshazzar," that is, "Bel's prince"), however flattering to him, is not the one retained by Scripture, but the name marking his relation to God ("Daniel," God my Judge, the theme of his prophecies being God's judgment on the heathen world powers).
Hananiah—that is, "whom Jehovah hath favored."
Shadrach—from Rak, in Babylonian, "the King," that is, "the Sun"; the same root as in Abrech (Ge 41:43, Margin), "Inspired or illumined by the Sun-god."
Mishael—that is, "who is what God is?" Who is comparable to God?
Meshach—The Babylonians retained the first syllable of Mishael, the Hebrew name; but for El, that is, God, substituted Shak, the Babylonian goddess, called Sheshach (Jer 25:26; 51:41), answering to the Earth, or else Venus, the goddess of love and mirth; it was during her feast that Cyrus took Babylon.
Azariah—that is, "whom Jehovah helps."
Abed-nego—that is, "servant of the shining fire." Thus, instead of to Jehovah, these His servants were dedicated by the heathen to their four leading gods [Herodotus, Clio]; Bel, the Chief-god, the Sun-god, Earth-god, and Fire-god. To the last the three youths were consigned when refusing to worship the golden image (Da 3:12). The Chaldee version translates "Lucifer," in Isa 14:12, Nogea, the same as Nego. The names thus at the outset are significant of the seeming triumph, but sure downfall, of the heathen powers before Jehovah and His people.
8. Daniel … would not defile himself with … king's meat—Daniel is specified as being the leader in the "purpose" (the word implies a decided resolution) to abstain from defilement, thus manifesting a character already formed for prophetical functions. The other three youths, no doubt, shared in his purpose. It was the custom to throw a small part of the viands and wine upon the earth, as an initiatory offering to the gods, so as to consecrate to them the whole entertainment (compare De 32:38). To have partaken of such a feast would have been to sanction idolatry, and was forbidden even after the legal distinction of clean and unclean meats was done away (1Co 8:7, 10; 10:27, 28). Thus the faith of these youths was made instrumental in overruling the evil foretold against the Jews (Eze 4:13; Ho 9:3), to the glory of God. Daniel and his three friends, says Auberlen, stand out like an oasis in the desert. Like Moses, Daniel "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb 11:25; see Da 9:3-19). He who is to interpret divine revelations must not feed on the dainties, nor drink from the intoxicating cup, of this world. This made him as dear a name to his countrymen as Noah and Job, who also stood alone in their piety among a perverse generation (Eze 14:14; 28:3).
requested—While decided in principle, we ought to seek our object by gentleness, rather than by an ostentatious testimony, which, under the plea of faithfulness, courts opposition.
9. God … brought Daniel into favour—The favor of others towards the godly is the doing of God. So in Joseph's case (Ge 39:21). Especially towards Israel (Ps 106:46; compare Pr 16:7).
10. worse liking—looking less healthy.
your sort—of your age, or class; literally, "circle."
endanger my head—An arbitrary Oriental despot could, in a fit of wrath at his orders having been disobeyed, command the offender to be instantly decapitated.
11. Melzar—rather, the steward, or chief butler, entrusted by Ashpenaz with furnishing the daily portion to the youths [Gesenius]. The word is still in use in Persia.
12. pulse—The Hebrew expresses any vegetable grown from seeds, that is, vegetable food in general [Gesenius].
13-15. Illustrating De 8:3, "Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord."
17. God gave them knowledge—(Ex 31:2, 3; 1Ki 3:12; Job 32:8; Jas 1:5, 17).
Daniel had understanding in … dreams—God thus made one of the despised covenant-people eclipse the Chaldean sages in the very science on which they most prided themselves. So Joseph in the court of Pharaoh (Ge 40:5; 41:1-8). Daniel, in these praises of his own "understanding," speaks not through vanity, but by the direction of God, as one transported out of himself. See my Introduction, "Contents of the Book."
18. brought them in—that is, not only Daniel and his three friends, but other youths (Da 1:3, 19, "among them all").
19. stood … before the king—that is, were advanced to a position of favor near the throne.
20. ten times—literally, "ten hands."
magicians—properly, "sacred scribes, skilled in the sacred writings, a class of Egyptian priests" [Gesenius]; from a Hebrew root, "a pen." The word in our English Version, "magicians," comes from mag, that is, "a priest." The Magi formed one of the six divisions of the Medes.
astrologers—Hebrew, "enchanters," from a root, "to conceal," pactisers of the occult arts.
21. Daniel continued … unto … first year of Cyrus—(2Ch 36:22; Ezr 1:1). Not that he did not continue beyond that year, but the expression is designed to mark the fact that he who was one of the first captives taken to Babylon, lived to see the end of the captivity. See my Introduction, "Significance of the Babylonian Captivity." In Da 10:1 he is mentioned as living "in the third year of Cyrus." See Margin Note, on the use of "till" (Ps 110:1, 112:8).