Historical Summany

Daniel goes into exile. The first chapter is introductory and answers the questions: who, what, where, when, and why? It is about how Daniel gets to Babylon, what happens to him when he arrives, how his faith is tested, and his success and promotion.

Daniel was born in a time of political upheaval.

The Assyrian empire had dominated the Mediterranean countries for over 200 years but now was in decline. Her diminishing power threatened world peace. Two men emerged to challenge Assyria: Pharaoh Necho of Egypt and Nebopolassar of Babylon. Each wrestled from Assyria their independence and then sought to conquer Assyrian territories. This began in 625 B.C. when Nebopolassar organized the Babylonians and then declared his independence from Assyria. He established himself as King of the Babylonians.

Little by little his strength grew and with the help of the Medes and Scythians he attacked Nineveh, the capitol city and heart of Assyria monarchy. The final assault took place in 612 B.C. The Fall of Assyria created a vacuum which drew into conflict Egypt and the newly formed Babylonian kingdom. In 609 B.C. these two arch rivals met in battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates river. The Egyptians were soundly defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nebopolassar.

According to Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 3, p.212 ". . . Nebuchadnezzar was a vigorous and brilliant commander, and physically as well as mentally strong, fully worthy of succeeding his father. He was to become the greatest man in his time in the Near East, as a soldier, a statesman, and as an architect. He was greatly concerned with building up his kingdom on a world-wide scale. He married a Median princess which secured his kingdom from a Northern invasion. This was an excellent military maneuver. It pointed to his brilliance as a commander. It was for this wife that the famous hanging gardens of Babylon were built (considered by the Greeks as the 7^th wonder of the world)."

Three Babylonian sieges of Jerusalem not one.

To avoid confusion we should note that there were three invasions by Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 1:1,2 records the first which takes place in 606 B.C. Then Nebuchadnezzar returns to Judah a second time in 597 B.C. This is in response to King Jehoiachin's rebellion. In this incursion, Jerusalem was brought into subjection to Babylon, and 10,000 captives were taken to Babylon, among whom was the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1-3; 2 Kings 24:8-20; 2 Chronicles 36:6-10). Finally, Nebuchadnezzar returns to Judah a third time in 588 B.C. After a long siege against Jerusalem the city walls were breached, the city destroyed, and the temple burned in the year 586. Most of the Jews who were not killed in this assault were deported to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1-7; Jeremiah 34:1-7; 39:1-7; 52:2-11).

The Principle of Grace before judgement

The ordeals of Judah in chapter one paints a picture too ugly to imagine. The tragedy of a people systematically plundered and eventually robbed of their freedom is another awful reminder of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. However, another question emerges from this: Where is God in all of this? How could God allow this?

What occurs in this opening chapter is the fulfillment of over a 100 years of divine warning. God's message of impending judgement upon Judah was enumerated by Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah. These men clearly attested that if Judah continued to rebel against God, continued to violate the Mosaic Covenant, God would discipline her.

Israel had a Wall of Fire around her. It was a spiritual and invisible barrier which repelled all agencies both angelic or earthly which sought to harm her. Judah was an impregnable fortress. If she walked with the Lord in obedience she would enjoy peace and prosperity. BUT what if she walked in disobedience? This is what the prophets warned. Israel's discipline would come in the form of national destruction. This was spelled out clearly in the Law. It was taught to Israel and all of the prophets preached on the basis of it. This was so important that it was written down and we find it explained in Leviticus 26 and repeated in Deuteronomy 28 (see appendix A "The Doctrine of the Five Cycles of Discipline").

What we find is that for over100 years the prophets warned Judah that because she was saturated with the evil of idolatry, and because she broke the law and the covenant, she was to face the "fifth cycle", the loss of national sovereignty. The following chart may help to understand the background for the events which led up to Nebuchadnezzar invasion:

Chapter One: Commentary

I. Daniel's Deportation 1:1-7

A. Siege of Jerusalem

1) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah (606 BC), Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

This is not the first time Jerusalem is under attack. The Assyrian kings for the last two hundred years all attacked little Israel. In 722 B.C. the capitol city of Samaria fell and the Northern kingdom was destroyed by Sargon II. From this time forward it will cease to exist. The temptation here is to interpret this event as just bad people doing bad things. We live in a sinful and evil world and bad guys are all around. Jesus said "you will be hearing of wars and rumor of wars". Until the king of king comes to bring everlasting peace and armies "beat their swords into plowshares" there will exist in our world evil and aggressor type nations .¹ However, Israel is a priest nation² and there are spiritual reasons for these events. (See appendix for the Doctrine of the Five Cycles of Discipline)

B. Surrender of Judah

1. Confiscation of the Holy vessels

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along 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, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god (city of Babylon).

This act of putting the holy vessels of defeated people into the Temple of Bel, who is the Babylonian god of creation, was like playing spiritual king of the mountain. Since I beat you, my god is greater than your God. War trophies of defeated nations was a great morale builder for the Chaldean army who called upon Bel to protect them in battle and give them victory.

I remind you however that Daniel correctly interprets history, "And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand. . . ." This is where a principle begins to emerge and will be carried right through the Book. There is an invisible authority which controls history. Although Daniel seems to be in grave danger, there is no real threat to his life. We know this because the story of Daniel is written and revealed. All through the book we see God's Sovereignty. God's hand is at the helm and He is guiding all things to their predetermined ends. God is the Person in charge.

When the Army of Nebuchadnezzar was storming the walls of the city was Daniel in grave danger? When the walls were breached and the enemy swarmed into the city sacking it and setting it on fire, was Daniel in grave danger? When Daniel was arrested and began the 1000 mile journey to Babylon was Daniel in grave danger? When the commander of the palace walked through the crowd of youth and saw Daniel and asked him to step out, "let me look at you", and Daniel separated from the other Jewish captives for three years was Daniel in grave danger? No! He survived all these hardships!

As for Daniel he looks at his life from the divine viewpoint. He walks by faith not by sight. His faith is resting in the Word of God, resting in his understanding of the Person of God. Daniel's God is absolutely sovereign, all-powerful, everywhere present, and all-knowing. These are the attributes of the divine nature that Daniel's faith is resting in. Daniel has a BIG GOD!

Why should I study Daniel? This book is written to encourage you in circumstances where everything is going wrong. When you are facing some trouble or some difficulty.

Every time you turn around, in every chapter Daniel is in hot water. In chapter two he is going to be executed with the entire State Department. He saves the day. In chapter three his friends are thrown into the fiery furnace. They emerge unscathed and unharmed. Again, in chapter five the Fall of Babylon occurs. Daniel is protected and promoted by the Persians. Finally the history section is completed in chapter six and once again Daniel is in danger. He is cast into the lion's den. No one ever got out of the lion's den alive. Daniel did.

Dare to be a Daniel. Daniel looked at life through the Word of God. He understood through the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and through the Law that the fall of Jerusalem was in the hands of God. This is similar to the prospective of the Apostle Paul when he was placed by Rome under arrest. He wrote the Ephesians, "I therefore a prisoner of the Lord . . .". (Ephesians 4:1) He was not a prisoner of Rome just as Daniel was not a prisoner of Babylon or Persia.

2. Choosing of the hostages 1:3,4

3) Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles,

In order to insure the allegiance of Israel, Nebuchadnezzar instructed Ashpenas to bring back hostages. This man was the Minister of the Royal Palace of Babylon. He would be responsible for the selection and training of the hostages. So young boys, teenagers, from the family of David and other families of Judean nobility were taken to Babylon.

4) youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding, and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king's court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

Some of the qualities that were sought: They had to be healthy, that is , to be without physical impairment or handicaps. Pleasing physical features, intellectual abilities, poise, and good manners were other traits needed.

3. Chaldean Brainwashing 1:5-7

5) And the king appointed for them a daily ration from the king's choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king's personal service.

They were to be educated to think like Chaldeans. This was the first stage in their indoctrination and it was to take three years. This verse shows the importance placed on these young men. They were not ordinary prisoners. They would eat the same food as the king. They received the best treatment one could possibly get as a prisoner.

6) Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

7) Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach, and to Azariah Abed-nego.

Here is the second way they attempted to indoctrinate these young men. They changed their names. Why do you think this was necessary? I think because most Jewish names have spiritual meaning. Their names tied them to their God as well as to their families and homeland. Daniel's Hebrew name means "God is Judge". His name is changed to Bel-te-shazzar which means "Bel's prince. Bel is the chief deity of the Babylonian pantheon. Daniel's name contains the honored name of God "Elohim". "Elohim" is the Mighty and Majestic God of the Universe; He is "the putter forth of power" . He is sovereign, all-powerful, everywhere present, all-knowing and wise. An attempt is made to blot out a reminder of the awesome nature of Daniel's God.

Hananiah means "The Lord is gracious." His name is changed to "Shadrach" which means "illumined by the sun God. Here is an attempt to blot out any reminder of the grace of God. Mishael means "Who and What is the Lord". His new name is "Meshach" which means "Who and What is Ishtar." Ishtar is the goddess of love. Here our devotion and love of the Lord is to be transferred to devotion and love of Ishtar. Finally, Azariah whose name means "The Lord is my help" now becomes Abed-nego which means "servant of Nego". Instead of serving God he is now to serve "Nego" the God of wisdom and education.

It is apparent that the hidden agenda in changing the names was to turn their hearts away from their God. For three years the brainwashing would continue. Did it work? See Daniel 2:20-23.

II. Daniel's Decision 1:8-16

A. Daniel's Faith

1. The Faith Of Daniel 1:8

8) But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

He would not defile himself. He would not sin against God in order to appease the King or his own flesh. The idea that Daniel purposed in his heart means that he took some time to think about the decision he would make. He thought it over. He weighed the pro's and con's. He came to a settled conclusion. He would not eat the food. The food that was forbidden to be eaten by Jews. Also, the food was offered to some god and therefore to partake of the food would be honoring that god, this is a violation of the First Commandment. Human viewpoint would have lead Daniel to rationalizing his circumstances:

1. This was the kings law and I am taught to be a law-abiding citizen. I should eat this food, Acts 5:29.

2. If I disobey, I will be punished. I might forfeit my life. Dead is not a good thing. God wants only my good, so to eat is the only safe course.

3. The ends justifies the means. If I play along with things maybe later on when I am in a better position I can chose not to eat these foods.

4. Quality of the food would be very attractive. Best cuisine in the empire.

5. I am so far away from Jerusalem. How would anyone know.

6. Since God put me here, it is his fault.

Daniel's captivity was not unforseen, nor was he unfortunate or unlucky. It was in the plan of God. That is what Daniel choose to believe.

Notice that Daniel "requested". This Hebrew word is important for it indicated the absence of malice, anger or bitterness. He didn't demand his rights. He didn't throw a temper tantrum. He was polite, thoughtful, courteous, and kind. His calmness under stress is a wonder, since he is just a teenager. We see him calm, cool, and collected.

2. The Favor Of God 1:9

9) Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials,

Once again we see the principle of the Sovereignty of God. It was not in the nature and character of this man to grant Daniel any favors. God simply overruled. See Proverbs 16:19. It is important that we see the hostile environment in which Daniel lived. It is difficult not to follow what is popular or the "in thing". It is easy not to give in the "in crowd". No one wants to be disliked or ostracized. The pressure to go with the flow is great, but Daniel has the victory. God honor's those who put Him first.

3. The Fear of Ashpenas 1:10

10) and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king."

B. Daniel's Test (11-16)

11) But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,

12) "Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.

The number has Jewish significance. It is the number of judgement. There are 10 commandments and there were 10 plagues upon Egypt. Ten is the number of judgment and a judgment will have to be made.

13) "Then let our appearance be observed in your presence, and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king's choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see."

14) So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.

15) And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food.

16) So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.

III. Demonstration of Grace 1:17-21

A. Growing In Grace (17-20)

1. Gifts of Grace (17)

17 And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.

Whatever is necessary in the crisis God gave. Underline that phrase. God could have removed them from their captivity, but He didn't. However, He provides everything that Daniel will need. Here we see the innocent suffering with the guilty. Sinful Israel causes a loss of national freedom which hurls Daniel into the whirlwind of the fifth cycle of discipline. Innocent Daniel now torn away from friends, family, his home and inheritance. What will befall him? Here is a picture of Logistical Grace.

2. Graduation Day (18-19)

18) Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar.

19) And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's personal service.

3. Grace Abounds (20)

20) And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.

B. Continuing In Grace (21)

21) And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.

The reference to the first year of Cyrus in this passage is approximately 539 BC. Daniel would have been in Babylon for 67 years and he would be approximately 81 years old. I believe he was around 15 years of age when he entered captivity. The first year of Cyrus' reign over the Chaldean empire was also very important to the Jews for he decreed that the Jews could return (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Ezra 1). Sixty seven stormy and difficult years and the grace of God sustained Daniel. Daniel was alive to see the answer to his prayers and the fulfillment of God's prophetic Word.

1. What kind of a God do you worship and serve?

My God is a big God. He is the Sovereign God of this universe: He remains at all times and in all circumstances as THE PERSON IN CHARGE. My God is Omnipresence. He is in the problems that I face. He is ALWAYS NEAR. HE NEVER LEAVES NOR FORSAKES ME. My God is All-powerful. God is able to sustain, protect, and provide for me under every circumstance. My God is Omniscience. He knows everything that can be known and therefore there is no problem I face where there is no solution. We must come to know our God and then live our lives in the light of that truth.

Daniel's problem is that he is in captivity. He is a teenager, so we understand he is helpless and hopeless. But is God helpless? Absolutely not! How does God work in Daniels case?

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

God cannot be faithful If he does not provide a way of escape for Daniel. So, someone says, "but Daniel was in captivity, he never left Babylon." Absolutely not true. Daniel escapes captivity. He becomes a chief prince in the Chaldean Empire. He is honored and exalted by two cultures and loved and adored by millions of people, both Gentiles and Jews. The real truth is that Daniel chose to stay in Babylon. It is where God wanted him. God turned the cursing into blessing. He turned it into something good. Through Daniel's half of a century ministry millions of Babylonian and Persians come to the Lord for salvation. Oh poor Daniel. You know something. I have read this book many times and not once have I ever felt sorry for Daniel. Daniel has little control over his circumstances, but God is in absolute control of all Daniel's circumstances. What is the lesson?

We all face difficulties. So when our circumstances are difficult, or if we lose a dear loved one, or when there are delays in the answer to our prayers, when there are dirty deals done to us, and when our safety, security, and even survival is threatened what should our minds cling to and what should our hearts be convinced of? Know your God! It is Daniel's personal knowledge of who and what God is that sustains him through the crisis.

Review the attributes:

God is sovereign: God is in control.

God's sovereignty sustains and guides human affairs to the predetermined ends that He has foreordained. There is a good reason for every event, for every circumstance. Life is not absurd. Things just don't happen. They have meaning: God's meaning. They have design, God's design. How they fit together may not be understood but they do.

God is Omniscient: God knows things, all things. No problem is beyond a solution.

God is Omnipotent: God is all powerful. God is at work. Romans 8:28 says God is up to something. God is up to something good. God's hand is shaping all that is happening to me.

God is omnipresent: God is in the problem.

When I face my difficulty and bring the Lord into the picture what kind of God I am trusting? If He is weak, powerless and confused then I will be fearful, but if He is Daniel's God I will have confidence and an emotional calm will be evident.

2. God allows trouble to touch our lives to bring about positive personal benefit and blessing to us. If Daniel wasn't a captive of Babylon, what is the likelihood that he would ever become a prince of Babylon. In God's will we profit from problems: Obstacles become opportunities, stumbling blocks become stepping stones, 1 Pet 1:6,7

6) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

7) that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

God permits undeserved suffering so that He might be glorified and we might be blessed.

He is glorified when:

• Satan is rebuked: 1 Peter 3:17; Ephesians 3:9-13; Job 1, 2; Colossians 1:24; 1 Peter 1:12.
• Christ is magnified: Philippians 1:12,13,20, 21; 1 Peter 4:14.
• The power of God is demonstrated in our lives: 2 Corinthians. 11:24-33; 12:7-10.
• We manifest the fruit of the Spirit: 2 Corinthians. 4:8-ll.
• We witness for Christ in the midst of suffering: 1 Peter 3:l5; 4:16; 2 Corinthians. 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:8-9.

We are blessed and benefitted by suffering when:

1. When we are taught by it:

• Endurance - James 1-2-4.
• Wisdom - James 1:5-8.
• Obedience - Hebrews 5:8.
• Contentment - Philippians 4:11.
• Humility- James 1:9-11, 2 Corinthians. 12:1-10.
• Holiness of God - Job 42:5, 6.

2. When we grow in Christ in the midst of it, James 1: 2-4; 1 Peter 5:10.

3. When we help others through it, 2 Corinthians 1:3-24; 1 Corinthians 4:9-16.

4. When we are rewarded in eternity for it, James 1:12.