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Daniel

Chapter 1
1~~In the third year {606 B.C.} of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah {and second son of Josiah} came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem, and besieged it {for about 10 days}.

{Note: Nebuchadnezzar came by Jerusalem while chasing Pharaoh Necho back toward Egypt.}

2~~And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his {Nebuchadnezzar} hand, with part of the vessels of the house of
God . . . which he {Nebuchadnezzar} carried into the land of Shinar {Babylonia} to the house of his gods; and he {Nebuchadnezzar} brought the vessels into the treasure house of his gods.

{Note: Nebuchadnezzar's father died and he returned to Babylon. He admired Jehoiakim for his loyalty to the king of Egypt. So he decided to leave Jehoiakim in charge of a puppet organization. But as a guarantee, he decided to take hostages of the best and brightest people in Jerusalem.}

3~~And the king {Nebuchadnezzar} spoke unto Ashpenaz the prince of his eunuchs {administrator of the palace}, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed {royal family}, and of the princes {approximately 50 to 70 hostages}.

4~~Children {teenagers} who were:

  outwardly perfect,

  physically handsome,

  a high IQ,

  endowed with knowledge,

  understanding science {mechanics and astronomy were
  important to the Chaldeans},

  and such as had ability {poise} in them to stand in the king's
  palace {Chaldean culture},

  and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of
  the Chaldeans.

{Note: These children were to be brainwashed into 'thinking' like a Chaldean!}

5~~And the king designated to them a daily provision of the king's meat {best food of the land- from his own table}, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king {for a 'final examination'}.

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.

{Note: Daniel means 'God is Judge'. The name stands for the whole doctrine of judgment . . . the Great White Throne and the lake of fire. Daniel was the most unusual of the 4 boys. He was highly intelligent, aristocratic and very good looking. So he was given the greatest of the 4 Chaldean names. Belteshazzar means 'Bel's prince. Bel was the top of their false gods - similar to Zeus or Jupiter. Hananiah means 'The Lord is gracious'. His new name Shadrach meant 'illuminated by the sun god." He apparently had a glamorous appearance. Mishael means "Who and what is the Lord?" His new name Meshach means "who and what is Ishtar (or Venus - goddess of love)?" Finally we have Azariah which means 'The Lord is my help". His new name Abednego means 'the servant or slave of Nego. Nego is a corruption of Nebo, which is the Akkadian name Nabu - the god of wisdom and education.}

8~~But Daniel made a decision that he would not defile himself by eating the king's food, nor with the wine he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself {by breaking the dietary laws (Codex III of the Mosaic Law)}.

{Note: The doctrine of the Mosaic Law. The whole Mosaic Law is given in the Pentateuch with an addendum to the law in Deuteronomy 29. There are three sections to the Mosaic Law:

  1. Moral Code - Codex I - Commandments also called the Decalogue (Ex 20: 1-17) Basis for the Divine Institutions and Divine Laws of Establishment.

  2. Spiritual Code - Codex II - Spiritual code - The Ordinances. This is a complete shadow Christology and Soteriology (Hebrews 10:1). It includes the Tabernacle, Holy Days, Levitical Offerings, dress and modus operandi of the Levitical Priesthood.

  3. Social Code - Codex III - Judgements. Presents Divine Laws of Establishment designed to provide freedom and privacy for the human race during the course of the angelic conflict. Includes the function of the Divine Institutions, plus diet, sanitation, quarantine, soil conservation, taxation, military service, marriage, divorce, etc. Punishments for non-observance were stated.

Mosaic Law was given to the Jews ONLY. Never applied to the Gentiles. And, Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17). Codex I - by living a perfect life. Codex II by His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and session. Codex III by His patriotism and observance of the Laws of Establishment.}

9~~Now God had brought Daniel into favor and appreciation with the prince of the eunuchs.

10~~And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces less healthy than the children which are of your sort {the other Jewish children}, then shall you make me endanger my head to the king."

11-12~~Then said Daniel to Melzar {literally - the steward} whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over {made responsible for} Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12~~" Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink."

13~~"Then compare our countenances with the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and you take a look . . . then deal with your servants."

14~~ So he consented to them in this matter, and tested them ten days.

15~~ And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared healthier {coloring} and fatter in flesh {good texture of the skin} 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 vegetables.

17~~As for these four children, God gave them doctrine/knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams {gift of prophecy}.

{Note: The boys had doctrine in their right lobes. This doctrine sustained them in the 3 years of training/brainwashing in captivity. God also graciously gave them spiritual gifts.}

18~~Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in {3 years have passed}, then the prince of the eunuchs {Ashpenaz} brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19~~And the king extensively examined them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah . . . therefore stood they before the king {given positions in his government - the 'State Department'}.

20~~And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired 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 {Daniel was influential until 539B.C - when Cyrus the Great of Persia began his rule}.