~ The Captivity of Judah ~

      "In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it. The Lord (YHVH) delivered King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power, together with some of the vessels of the House of God, and he brought them to the land of Shinar to the house of his god; he deposited the vessels in the treasury of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief officer, to bring some Israelites of royal descent and of the nobility--youths without blemish, handsome, proficient in all wisdom, knowledgeable and intelligent, and capable of serving in the royal palace--and teach them the writings and the language of the Chaldeans. The king allotted daily rations to them from the king’s food and from the wine he drank. They were to be educated for three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king’s service."
(Daniel 1:1-5)

~ The Benefits of Kosher Laws ~

      "Among them were the Judahites Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief officer gave them new names; he named Daniel Belteshazzar, Hananiah Shadrach, Mishael Meshach, and Azariah Abed-nego. Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food or the wine he drank, so he sought permission of the chief officer not to defile himself, and God disposed the chief officer to be kind and compassionate toward Daniel. The chief officer said to Daniel, ‘I fear that my lord the king, who allotted food and drink to you, will notice that you look out of sorts, unlike the other youths of your age - and you will put my life in jeopardy with the king.’ Daniel replied to the guard whom the chief officer had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days, giving us legumes to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the youths who eat of the king’s food, and do with your servants as you see fit.’ He agreed to this plan of theirs, and tested them for ten days. When the ten days were over, they looked better and healthier than all the youths who were eating of the king’s food. So the guard kept on removing their food, and the wine they were supposed to drink, and gave them legumes. God made all four of these young men intelligent and proficient in all writings and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding of visions and dreams of all kinds. When the time the king had set for their presentation had come, the chief officer presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king spoke with them, and of them all none was equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Misheel and Azariah; so these entered the king’s service. Whenever the king put a question to them requiring wisdom and understanding, he found them to be ten times better than all the magicians and exorcists throughout his realm."
(Daniel 1:6-20)

~ Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream ~

      (Now, it was) "In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, his spirit was agitated, yet he was overcome by sleep. The king ordered the magicians, exorcists, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to be summoned in order to tell the king what he had dreamed. They came and stood before the king, and the king said to them, ‘I have had a dream and I am full of anxiety to know what I have dreamed.’ The Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, ‘O king, live forever! Relate the dream to your servants, and we will tell its meaning.’ The king said in reply to the Chaldeans, ‘1 hereby decree: If you will not make the dream and its meaning known to me, you shall be torn limb from limb and your houses confiscated. But if you tell the dream and its meaning, you shall receive from me gifts, presents, and great honor; therefore, tell me the dream and its meaning.’ Once again they answered, ‘Let the king relate the dream to his servants, and we will tell its meaning.’ The king said in reply, ‘It is clear to me that you are playing for time, since you see that I have decreed that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one verdict for you. You have conspired to tell me something false and fraudulent until circumstances change; so relate the dream to me, and I will then know that you can tell its meaning.’ The Chaldeans said in reply to the king, ‘There is no one on earth who can satisfy the king’s demand, for the great king or ruler - none has ever asked such a thing of any magician, exorcist, or Chaldean. The thing asked by the king is difficulty; there is no one who can tell it to the king except the gods whose abode is not among mortals.’ Whereupon the king flew into a violent rage, and gave an order to do away with all the wise men of Babylon.
      "The decree condemning the wise men to death was issued. Daniel and his companions were about to be put to death when Daniel remonstrated with Arioch, the captain of the royal guard who had set out to put the wise men of Babylon to death. He spoke up and said to Arioch, the royal officer, ‘Why is the decree of the king so urgent?’ Thereupon Arioch informed Daniel of the matter. So Daniel went to ask the king for time, that he might tell the meaning to the king. Then Daniel went to his house and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, of the matter, that they might implore the God of Heaven for help regarding this mystery, so that Daniel and his colleagues would not be put to death together with the other wise men of Babylon."
(Daniel 2:1-18)

~ The Mystery Revealed ~

"The mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision; then Daniel blessed the God of Heaven. Daniel spoke up and said:

‘Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power are His.
He changes times and seasons,
Removes kings and installs kings;
He gives the wise their wisdom
And knowledge to those who know.
He reveals deep and hidden things,
Knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.
I acknowledge and praise You,
O God of my fathers,
You who have given me wisdom and power,
For now You have let me know what we asked of You;
You have let us know what concerns the king.’
(Daniel 2:19-23)

~ Daniel Takes Action ~

      "Thereupon Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to do away with the wise men of Babylon; he came and said to him as follows, ‘Do not do away with the wise men of Babylon; bring me to the king and I will tell the king the meaning!’ So Arioch rushed Daniel into the king’s presence and said to him, ‘I have found among the exiles of Judah a man who can make the meaning know to the king!’ The king said in reply to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar), ‘Can you really make known to me the dream that I saw and its meaning? Daniel answered the king and said, ‘The mystery about which the king has inquired wise men, exorcists, magicians, and diviners cannot tell to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what is to be at the end of days. This is your dream and the vision that entered your mind in bed: O king, the thoughts that came to your mind in your bed are about future events; He who reveals mysteries has let you know what is to happen. Not because my wisdom is greater than that of other creatures has this mystery been revealed to me, but in order that the meaning should be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. Such was the dream, and we will now tell the king its meaning. ...’"
( Daniel 2:24-30, 36)

~ The Interpretation ~

      "...The great God has made known to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is sure and its interpretation reliable.’...
      "The king said in reply to Daniel. ‘Truly your God must be the God of gods and Lord of kings and the revealer of mysteries to have enabled you to reveal this mystery.’ The king then elevated Daniel and gave him very many gifts, and made him governor of the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect of all the wise men of Babylon. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to administer the province of Babylon; while Daniel himself was at the king’s court"
(Daniel 2:45, 47-49)

~ The Golden Image ~

      "King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue of gold sixty cubits high and six cubits broad... (and) sent word to gather the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, officers, and all the provincial officials to attend the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So ... (they) and all the provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and stood before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. The herald proclaimed in a loud voice, ‘You are commanded, O peoples and nations of every language, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre, psaltery, bagpipe, and all other types of instruments, to fall down and worship the statue of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever will not fall down and worship shall at once he thrown into a burning fiery furnace. And so, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre, psaltery, and all other types of instruments, all peoples and nations of every language fell down and worshipped the statue of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
      "Seizing the occasion, certain Chaldeans came forward to slander the Jews. They spoke up and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live forever! You, O king, gave an order that everyone who hears the horn, pipe, zither, lyre, psaltery, bagpipe, and all types of instruments must fall down and worship the golden statue, and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you appointed to administer the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; those men pay no heed to you, O king; they do not serve your god or worship the statue of gold that you have set up."
(Daniel 3:1-12)

~ The King’s Rage ~

      "Then Nebuchadnezzar, in raging fury, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, arid Abed-nego to be brought; so those men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke to them and said, is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my god or worship the statue of gold that have set up? Now if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue that I have made when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all other types of instruments, [well and good]; but if you will not worship, you shall at once be thrown into a burning fiery furnace, and what god is there that can save you from my power?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego said in reply to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter, for if so it must be, our God whom we serve is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will save us from your power, O king. But even if He does not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue of gold that you have set up.’
(Daniel 3:13-18)

~ The Fiery Trial ~

      "Nebuchadnezzar was so full of rage... that his visage was distorted, and he gave an order to heat up the furnace to seven times its usual heat. He commanded some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to throw them into the burning fiery furnace. So these men, in their shirts, trousers, hats, and other garments, were bound and thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent, and the furnace was heated to excess, a tongue of flame killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. But those three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, dropped, bound, into the burning fiery furnace."
(Daniel 3:19-23)

~ YHVH Saves ~

      "Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and, rising in haste, addressed his companions, saying, ‘Did we not throw three men, bound, into the fire?’ They spoke in reply, ‘Surely, O king.’ He answered, ‘But I see four men walking about unbound and unharmed in the fire and the fourth looks like a divine being.’ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the hatch of the burning fiery furnace and called, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, servants of the Most High God, come out!’ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out of the fire. The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the royal companions gathered around to look at those men, on whose bodies the fire had had no effect, the hair of whose heads had not been singed, whose shirts looked no different, to whom not even the odor of fire clung. Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who sent His angel to save His servants who, trusting in Him, flouted the king’s decree at the risk of their lives rather than serve or worship any god but their own God. I hereby give an order that [anyone of] any people or nation of whatever language who blasphemes the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb, and his house confiscated, for there is not other God who is able to save in this way.’
      "Thereupon the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon."
(Daniel 3:24-30)

~ Evil Men Lay Traps ~

      (Some time later) "...Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. It pleased Darius to appoint over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps to be in charge of the whole kingdom; over them were three ministers, one of them Daniel, to whom these satraps reported, in order that the king not be troubled. This man Daniel surpassed the other ministers and satraps by virtue of his extraordinary spirit, and the king considered setting him over the whole kingdom. The ministers and satraps looked for some fault in Daniel’s conduct in mailers of state, but they could find neither fault nor corruption, inasmuch as he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Those men then said, ‘We are not going to find any fault with this Daniel, unless we find something against him in connection with the laws of his God.’ Then these ministers and satraps came thronging in to the king and said to him ‘O King Darius, live forever! All the ministers of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, companions, and governors are in agreement that a royal ban should be issued under sanction of an oath that whoever shall address a petition to any god or man, besides you, O king, during the next thirty days shall be thrown into a lions’ den. So issue the ban, O king, and put it in writing so that it be unalterable as a law of the Medes and Persians that may not be abrogated.’ Thereupon King Darius put the ban in writing."
(Daniel 6:1-10)

~ Daniel Worship’s YHVH ~

      "When Daniel learned that it had been put in writing, he went to his house, in whose upper chamber he had had windows made facing Jerusalem, and three times a day he knelt down, prayed, and made confession to his God, as he had always done. Then those men came thronging in and found Daniel petitioning his God in supplication. They then approached the king and reminded him of the royal ban: ‘Did you not put in writing a ban that whoever addresses a petition to any god or man beside you, O king, during the next thirty days, shall be thrown into a lion’s den?’ The king said in reply, ‘The order stands firm, as a law of the Medes and Persians that may not be abrogated.’ Thereupon they said to the king, ‘Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, pays no heed to you, O king, or to the ban that you put in writing; three times a day he offers his petitions [to his God].’ Upon hearing that, the king was very disturbed, and he set his heart upon saving Daniel, and until the sun set made every effort to rescue him. Then those men came thronging in to the king and said to the king, ‘Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that any ban that the king issues under sanction of oath is unalterable.’ By the king’s order, Daniel was then brought and thrown into the lions’ den. The king spoke to Daniel and said, ‘Your God, whom you serve so regularly, will deliver you.’ A rock was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; the king sealed it with his signet and with the signet of his nobles, so that nothing might be altered concerning Daniel."
(Daniel 6:11-18)

~ Trusting YHVH ~

      "The king then went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and his sleep fled from him. Then, at the first light of dawn, the king arose and rushed to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he cried to Daniel in a mournful voice; the king said to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, was the God whom you served so regularly able to deliver you from the lions?’ Daniel then talked with he king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel, who shut the mouths of the lions so that they did not injure me, inasmuch as I was found innocent by Him, nor have I, O king, done you any injury.’ The king was very glad, and ordered Daniel to be brought up out of the den. Daniel was brought up out of the den, and no injury was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. Then, by order of the king, those men who had slandered Daniel were brought and, together with their children and wives, were thrown into the lions’ den. They had hardly reached the bottom of the den when the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones."
(Daniel 6:19-25)

~ A Final Decree ~

      "Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language that inhabit the earth, ‘May your well-being abound! I have hereby given an order that throughout my royal domain men must tremble in fear before the god of Daniel, for He is the living God who endures forever; His kingdom is indestructible, and His dominion is to the end of time; He delivers and saves, and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, for He delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.’ Thus Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian."
(Daniel 6:26-29)

Fear YHVH and be blessed!

DEW & SAW

Back

Next