---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Daniel 1"
description: "CHAPTER 1   :-. THE BABYLONIAN
CAPTIVITY BEGINS;
DANIEL"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/1"
---

CHAPTER 1

. THE BABYLONIAN
CAPTIVITY BEGINS;
DANIEL'S EDUCATION
AT BABYLON, &C.

**1. third year**—compare , "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 ([Jeremiah 25:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/1);
[Jeremiah 46:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/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 ([Jeremiah 46:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/46/2)), begins. But [2 Chronicles 36:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/6);
[2 Chronicles 36:7](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/7), 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 ([Jeremiah 22:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/18);
[Jeremiah 22:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/19); [Jeremiah 36:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/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 ([Genesis 11:2](../../../kjv/genesis/11/2); [Genesis 14:1](../../../kjv/genesis/14/1);
[Isaiah 11:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/11); [Zechariah 5:11](../../../kjv/zechariah/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 ([Ezra 1:7](../../../kjv/ezra/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, [2 Kings 20:17](../../../kjv/2-kings/20/17); [2 Kings 20:18](../../../kjv/2-kings/20/18).

**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 , 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 ([Daniel 1:4](../../../kjv/daniel/1/4)
[Daniel 1:5](../../../kjv/daniel/1/5); [Daniel 1:17](../../../kjv/daniel/1/17)).

**5. king's meat**—It is usual for
an Eastern king to entertain, from the food of his table, many
retainers and royal captives ([Jeremiah 52:33](../../../kjv/jeremiah/52/33);
[Jeremiah 52:34](../../../kjv/jeremiah/52/34)). 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 [Daniel 1:3](../../../kjv/daniel/1/3)).

**7. gave names**—designed to mark
their new relation, that so they might forget their former religion
and country ([Genesis 41:45](../../../kjv/genesis/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* ([Genesis 41:45](../../../kjv/genesis/41/45), *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
([Jeremiah 25:26](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/26); [Jeremiah 51:41](../../../kjv/jeremiah/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 ([Jeremiah 51:41](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/41)). The *Chaldee version* translates "Lucifer,"
in [Isaiah 14:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/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 [Deuteronomy 32:38](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/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 ([1 Corinthians 8:7](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/8/7);
[1 Corinthians 8:10](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/8/10); [1 Corinthians 10:27](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/10/27);
[1 Corinthians 10:28](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/10/28)). Thus the faith of
these youths was made instrumental in overruling the evil foretold
against the Jews ([Ezekiel 4:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/4/13);
[Hosea 9:3](../../../kjv/hosea/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" ([Hosea 9:3](../../../kjv/hosea/9/3); see [Daniel 9:3-19](../../../kjv/daniel/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 ([Ezekiel 14:14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/14/14);
[Ezekiel 28:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/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 (). Especially towards Israel (; compare [Proverbs 16:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/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 , "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**—
([Exodus 31:2](../../../kjv/exodus/31/2); [Exodus 31:3](../../../kjv/exodus/31/3);
[1 Kings 3:12](../../../kjv/1-kings/3/12); [Job 32:8](../../../kjv/job/32/8);
[James 1:5](../../../kjv/james/1/5); [James 1:17](../../../kjv/james/1/17)).
**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 ([Genesis 40:5](../../../kjv/genesis/40/5);
[Genesis 41:1-8](../../../kjv/genesis/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 [Genesis 41:1-1](../../../kjv/genesis/41/1-1)
"CONTENTS OF THE
BOOK."

**18. brought them in**—that is,
not only Daniel and his three friends, but other youths ([Daniel 1:3](../../../kjv/daniel/1/3);
[Daniel 1:19](../../../kjv/daniel/1/19), "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**— ([2 Chronicles 36:22](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/22);
[Ezra 1:1](../../../kjv/ezra/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 [Ezra 1:1](../../../kjv/ezra/1/1)
"SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY."
In [Daniel 10:1](../../../kjv/daniel/10/1) he is mentioned as
living "in the third year of Cyrus." See *Margin Note,*
on the use of "till" ([Psalms 110:1](../../../kjv/psalms/110/1);
[Psalms 112:8](../../../kjv/psalms/112/8)).

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