1. DANIEL 1

2. Timeline Overview of OT history including characters of:
○ Moses – Law (covenant)
○ Saul – 1st king
○ David – Linage of Christ
○ Kingdom split
○ Israel taken captive 722 (Samaria)
○ Judah’s captivity
○ Prophets: Ezekiel; Jeremiah; Daniel

3. DANIEL 1:1-2 3rd year of Jehoiakim (605 BC)
God gave Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand
Vessels from the house of the Lord taken to Shinar, to the house of his god
1. 3rd year of Jehoiakim (605 BC). Jer 46:1-2 gives the 4th year of Jehoiakim
● Egyptian & Jewish (Jeremiah) time telling are different from Babylonian (Daniel)
2. God gave Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand - God is in control
3. Vessels from the house of the Lord taken to Shinar, house of his god
○ God lets his house be plundered (Image: Babylonian god Marduk with pet)
○ How would the Babylonians view the plundering? Our god is stronger.
Example: Ark of the Covenant - Philistine gods temple, Dagon (1 Sam 5:2)
○ Shinar – Site of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11)

4. DANIEL 1:3-4 Ashpenaz’s orders Youths Characteristics To be taught
Chaldean background
1. Ashpenaz orders – Bring some of the sons of Israel (incl. royal family & nobles)
The chief of the Eunuchs - Meant that he was responsible for:
Education of the royal princes
Welfare of the King’s Harem
Spotting prime candidates for the kings service (Dan 1)
2. Youths Characteristics:
No defects - Good looking
Showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom
Endowed with understanding
Discerning knowledge
Ability for serving in the king’s court
3. To be taught - the literature and language of the Chaldeans (Reprogrammed)
4. Chaldean background (Abraham - Ur of the Chaldees Gen 11:31)
Society known for it’s magic lore and Literature including:
Polytheistic literature (not condemned for studying)
Omens, magic incantations, Prayers & hymns
Myths, legends, Astrology, Sciences formulae
Glass making & Mathematics

5. DANIEL 1:5 Daily ration of kings choice food & wine
Educated & nourished 3 years
1. Daily ration of kings choice food & wine
2. Educated & nourished 3 years
Preparation for service
By eastern standards you would be indebted to the king
Obligated to be loyal to him.
He educated and fed you

6. DANIEL 1:6-7 4 youths from Judah Daniel - God will judge
Belteshazzar – “Lady protect the king”
Hananiah – God is gracious
Shadrach – “I am very fearful (of god)”
1. Four youths from Judah – Who were they? Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah
2. Daniel was given - Belteshazzar meant
“May (a god) protect his life” (problem with Dan 4:8 - name of Neb’s god)
Assyriologist alternative derivation of “Lady protect the king” (Belet-sar-usur)
“Belet” – title for the wife of the god Marduk
3. Hananiah was given - Shadrach meant “I am very fearful (of god)”

7. DANIEL 1:6-7 Mishael – Who is like God Azariah – God has helped
Meshach – “I am of little account”
Azariah – God has helped
Abed-nego – “Servant of the shining one” (Aramaic)
1. Mishael was given - Meshach meant “I am of little account”
2. Azariah was given - Abed-nego meant “servant of the shining one” (Aramaic)
Possible word play on the Akkadian name for the god “Nabu”

8. DANIEL 1:8-16 Daniel purposed in his heart
Daniel did not want to defile himself
Ashpenaz’s concern
Daniel’s test
Test Results & solution
1. Daniel purposed in his heart – Made up his mind (ahead of time?)
2. Daniel did not want to defile himself – with the kings food or wine
How would Daniel be defiling himself?
Unclean animals (Lev 11) - pig, horse
Not killed properly (strangled), including blood sacrifices (Lev 17:10-14)
Offered to their gods/idols (importing a NT issue into a OT setting?)
Wine – Drunkenness, foolishness (Prov 20:1; 31:6)
3. Ashpenaz’s concern - feared the king who had appointed the food.
Faces would look more haggard than other youths
Endanger his own head
4. Daniel’s test (talked the steward set over them into it)
Try vegetables (pulse – things grown from seeds) and water for 10 days
Compare them with the others
Can man survive on vegetables alone? No meat before Noah - Gen 1:29-30;9:3
What outside influence caused Ashpenaz to accept Daniels test? Dan 1:9
5. Test Results & solution:
Results - Fairer and fatter of flesh when compared to the others
Solution – Continued serving vegetables and water to the four youths.

9. DANIEL 1:17-21 God given abilities Compared to the other youths
Daniel’s length of service
1. God given abilities
All 4 – Knowledge, skill in learning and wisdom
Daniel – Understanding in all visions and dreams
In a society where magic and sorcery were considered elite, only Daniel
(with Gods help) could truly explain dreams.
2. Compared to the other youths
The king found none like them, therefore served the king
10 times better than all the magicians and enchanters
3. Daniel’s length of service – 1st year of king Cyrus (approx 70 years)

10. QUESTIONS
1. What are three examples in chapter one of God being in control?
v2 – God gave Judah into Babylonian hands (Deut 30:1-3)
v9 – God granted Daniel favor in the sight of the commander
v17 – God given gifts (knowledge, wisdom, understand visions)
2. What do you think caused God to have compassion on Daniel? Gods plan?
Daniel had purposed not to defile himself (faithful to God)
(even if from their point of view that “God had left them” - exile)