1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
The first chapter of the Book of Daniel in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible sets the stage for the entire book, introducing the main characters, themes, and historical context. It narrates the beginning of the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, the selection and training of Daniel and his friends in the king's court, and their decision to remain faithful to God despite the pressures to conform to the Babylonian culture.
The chapter begins with the historical context: In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and takes some of the sacred vessels of the temple of God to Babylon. This act symbolizes the apparent victory of the Babylonian gods over the God of Israel and serves as a backdrop for the faith struggles that Daniel and his friends would face.
The king orders Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and nobility, young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, four young men from the tribe of Judah, are among those chosen. They are given new Babylonian names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, respectively.
The renaming is significant. It signifies an attempt to erase their Hebrew identity and assimilate them into the Babylonian culture. But the four young men resist this cultural assimilation, especially in matters that would compromise their faith in God.
The king assigns them a daily amount of food and wine from his table. But Daniel resolves not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. This decision is a courageous act of faith and loyalty to God. The Mosaic law prohibited the Jews from eating certain types of food, and it is likely that the royal food included such prohibited food. Besides, the food and wine might have been offered to the Babylonian gods, which would make them unclean.
Daniel asks the chief official for permission not to defile himself. God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official fears that he might be put to death if Daniel and his friends look worse than the other young men. So Daniel proposes a test: He and his friends would eat vegetables and drink water for ten days, and at the end of the ten days, their appearance would be compared with the young men who ate the royal food.
God blesses Daniel and his friends with knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. Daniel also has the ability to interpret visions and dreams. At the end of the training period, the king finds them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom. This divine favor and wisdom set the stage for their future roles in the Babylonian and Persian courts.
The chapter ends with a note that Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of King Cyrus. This note serves as a foreshadowing of the events to come and the endurance of Daniel's faith and wisdom throughout the changing political landscapes.
The first chapter of the Book of Daniel introduces several themes that run throughout the book: faithfulness to God in a foreign land, wisdom and understanding from God, and God's sovereignty over the nations.
The decision of Daniel and his friends not to defile themselves with the king's food illustrates the theme of faithfulness to God. Despite being in a foreign land and under pressure to conform to the Babylonian culture, they choose to remain faithful to the dietary laws of their faith. Their faithfulness is rewarded with better health and wisdom. This theme of faithfulness in the face of pressure to conform is a recurring theme in the book and a challenge to the readers to remain faithful to God in their own contexts.
The wisdom and knowledge given to Daniel and his friends by God is another major theme. Unlike the Babylonian magicians and enchanters who rely on their own abilities or the spirits, Daniel and his friends rely on God for wisdom and understanding. This divine wisdom and understanding make them superior to the Babylonian wise men and set the stage for their future roles in interpreting dreams and visions.
Finally, the chapter introduces the theme of God's sovereignty over the nations. Despite the apparent victory of the Babylonian gods over the God of Israel, God is at work in the lives of Daniel and his friends and in the affairs of the nations. The Book of Daniel will continue to explore this theme in the dreams and visions that Daniel interprets, showing that God is in control of the rise and fall of empires.
In conclusion, the first chapter of the Book of Daniel sets the stage for the rest of the book. It introduces the main characters, themes, and historical context. It challenges the readers to remain faithful to God in their own contexts, to rely on God for wisdom and understanding, and to trust in God's sovereignty over the nations.
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