Daniel 1

General context

In the third year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon besieges Jerusalem. The narrator says the Lord gives Jehoiakim into his hand with part of the vessels of the house of God, which the king carries to the land of Shinar and puts in the treasure house of his god. Nebuchadnezzar orders Ashpenaz, master of his eunuchs, to bring in children of Israel of royal and noble stock, unblemished and skilful, to be taught the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans for three years on a daily provision of the king's meat and wine. Among them are Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah of the children of Judah, renamed Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Daniel purposes not to defile himself with the king's meat or wine and asks the prince of the eunuchs to be excused; the prince fears for his head. Daniel then proposes to Melzar a ten-day test on pulse and water. At the end of ten days the four look fairer and fatter than the children who eat the king's portion, so Melzar removes the meat and wine. God gives the four knowledge and skill, and Daniel understanding in visions and dreams. Brought before Nebuchadnezzar, they are found ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his realm. The chapter closes by saying Daniel continues to the first year of king Cyrus.

Cited passages: Daniel 1:1, Daniel 1:2, Daniel 1:3, Daniel 1:4, Daniel 1:5, Daniel 1:6, Daniel 1:7, Daniel 1:8, Daniel 1:10, Daniel 1:12, Daniel 1:15, Daniel 1:16, Daniel 1:17, Daniel 1:19, Daniel 1:20, Daniel 1:21

Daniel 1 (KJV)

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Historical context

The chapter dates the siege to the third year of Jehoiakim king of Judah and names Nebuchadnezzar as king of Babylon; it does not say how long the siege lasts or describe the city's fall. The narrator attributes the outcome to the Lord, who gives Jehoiakim into Babylon's hand, and says only part of the temple vessels are taken. The place of exile is called the land of Shinar. Two officials appear: Ashpenaz, master of the eunuchs, and Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs sets over the four. The four are of the children of Judah, and each receives a Babylonian name; the narrator keeps using the Hebrew names in this chapter, while Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego appear in later chapters. Daniel's reason for refusing the meat is stated only as not wanting to defile himself; the text does not explain what about the food would defile. The prince of the eunuchs' fear is of the king. The closing note that Daniel continues to the first year of king Cyrus reaches beyond the Babylonian kings named later in the book, and Cyrus is otherwise unexplained here.

Cited passages: Daniel 1:1, Daniel 1:2, Daniel 1:3, Daniel 1:11, Daniel 1:6, Daniel 1:7, Daniel 1:8, Daniel 1:10, Daniel 1:21

Literary context

The chapter opens with a king taking vessels from the house of God to the house of his god, and it ends with the same king finding none like the four among those brought before him and rating them above all the wise men of his realm. Between these frames the narrator twice says what God does: God brings Daniel into favour with the prince of the eunuchs, and God gives the four knowledge and skill. The renaming in verse 7 lists four Hebrew names beside four Babylonian ones, and the narrator then keeps calling the men Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel's request runs through two officials: the prince of the eunuchs answers with fear, and Melzar consents to a test. The test is built on comparison, countenances to be looked upon side by side, and the result is a visible verdict. The closing verdict is also comparative: ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers. Verse 17 singles Daniel out for understanding in visions and dreams, preparing the dreams of chapter 2, and verse 21 stretches the story forward to Cyrus before the book returns to Nebuchadnezzar's second year.

Cited passages: Daniel 1:2, Daniel 1:19, Daniel 1:9, Daniel 1:17, Daniel 1:7, Daniel 1:13, Daniel 1:14, Daniel 1:20, Daniel 1:21, Daniel 2:1

Key moments

1. Vessels carried to Shinar (Daniel 1:2). Nebuchadnezzar takes part of the temple vessels to the house of his god.
2. Four from Judah renamed (Daniel 1:7). The prince of the eunuchs gives Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah Babylonian names.
3. Daniel purposes not to defile himself (Daniel 1:8). Daniel resolves against the king's meat and wine and asks to be excused.
4. A ten-day test proposed (Daniel 1:12). Daniel asks Melzar to try the four on pulse and water for ten days.
5. Fairer after ten days (Daniel 1:15). The four appear fairer and fatter than those eating the king's portion.
6. Ten times better (Daniel 1:20). The king finds the four ten times better than all his magicians and astrologers.
7. Daniel continues to Cyrus (Daniel 1:21). The narrator says Daniel continues to the first year of king Cyrus.

For reflection

Daniel asks for a ten-day trial rather than demanding an exemption, and the prince of the eunuchs admits he fears the king. What does the chapter show about making a request of someone who has his own risks to weigh?

People in this chapter

• Daniel
• Azariah
• Hananiah
• Mishael
• Judah
• Jehoiakim
• Nebuchadnezzar
• Cyrus
• Jacob

Also indexed here:

• Melzar
• Ashpenaz