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Israel's enemies take Daniel and his friends to Babylon

1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem with his army. He put his soldiers around the city to attack it. This happened when Jehoiakim had been king of Judah for nearly three years. ² The Lord God gave Nebuchadnezzar power over King Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar took away some special things that belonged in God's temple in Jerusalem. He took those things back to Babylon. He put them among the valuable things in the temple of his own god.

³ Nebuchadnezzar had an officer who was called Ashpenaz. Ashpenaz had authority over the king's other officers. One day, Nebuchadnezzar said to Ashpenaz, ‘Bring some of the Israelite men to me. Choose some men from the king of Judah's family, and choose some men from the other important Israelite families.’ ⁴ Nebuchadnezzar wanted young men who were strong and handsome. They must be clever so that they could learn and understand things quickly. They must be good enough to become King Nebuchadnezzar's servants. They would learn the language of Babylon, and they would read its books.

⁵ Every day, King Nebuchadnezzar sent special food for these men to eat. It was the same food and wine that he had for himself. His officers would teach the young men for three years. After that, the young men would be ready to serve the king.

⁶ Some of the young men from Judah that Ashpenaz chose were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ⁷ The king's officer gave new names to them. Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.

Daniel refuses to eat the king's food

⁸ But Daniel decided that God did not want him to eat the king's food and wine. He knew that it might be against God's rules. So he asked the king's special officer that he might not have to eat the king's food. ⁹ God had already caused the officer to like Daniel and to be kind to him. ¹⁰ But the officer said to Daniel, ‘I am afraid of the king, who is my master. He has chosen the food that he wants you to eat. If you eat different food, you might become weaker than the other young men. If the king sees that, he might kill me!’

¹¹ The officer had chosen a guard to watch Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. So Daniel spoke to this man. ¹² He said, ‘Please sir, watch us for ten days. Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ After ten days, see what our faces and our bodies look like. Also see what the other young men who eat the king's food look like. When you look at them and you look at us, you can decide what to do with us.’

¹⁴ The guard agreed to what they said. He watched them for ten days. ¹⁵ After ten days, their faces seemed more handsome than the young men who ate the king's food. Their bodies also seemed to be fatter. ¹⁶ So the guard no longer gave them the king's food and wine to eat. He gave vegetables and water to them instead.

God makes Daniel and his friends wise

¹⁷ God helped these four young men to become clever and wise. While they studied, he helped them to learn from many different books. They could understand many things. Daniel could also understand the meaning of all kinds of dreams.

¹⁸ King Nebuchadnezzar had said that the young men must study for three years. After that time finished, the king's officer took them to the king. ¹⁹ The king spoke with all the young men. He discovered that there was nobody else like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. So they became the king's servants. ^{[ a ]} ²⁰ Whenever the king needed help to understand something important, these men showed how wise they were. They knew ten times more than any of the king's other wise men. Those men used magic or they studied the stars to know what would happen in the future. They came from all the different countries that Nebuchadnezzar ruled.

²¹ And Daniel lived in Babylon until the year when Cyrus became king.

Footnotes

1:19 Nebuchadnezzar was clever. He was able to ask the young men questions to see how wise they were.

Daniel Taken to Babylon

1 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and surrounded it with his army. This happened during the third year that Jehoiakim ^{[ a ]} was king of Judah. ² The Lord allowed Nebuchadnezzar to defeat Jehoiakim king of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar took all the dishes and other things from God’s Temple and carried them to Babylon. ^{[ b ]} He put those things in the temple of his gods.

³ Then King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Ashpenaz, the man in charge of his officials, to bring some of the boys into the palace to train them. He was to include boys from among the Israelites, ^{[ c ]} from important Judean families, and from the royal family of Judah. ⁴ King Nebuchadnezzar wanted only healthy boys who did not have any bruises, scars, or anything wrong with their bodies. He wanted handsome, smart young men who were able to learn things quickly and easily to serve in his palace. He told Ashpenaz to teach these young men the language and writings of the Chaldeans.

⁵ King Nebuchadnezzar gave the young men a certain amount of food and wine every day. This was the same kind of food that he ate. He wanted them to be trained for three years. After that they would become servants of the king of Babylon. ⁶ Among those young men were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the tribe of Judah. ⁷ Ashpenaz gave them Babylonian names. Daniel’s new name was Belteshazzar, Hananiah’s was Shadrach, Mishael’s was Meshach, and Azariah’s was Abednego.

⁸ Daniel did not want to eat the king’s rich food and wine because it would make him unclean. So he asked Ashpenaz for permission not to make himself unclean in this way.

⁹ God caused Ashpenaz, the man in charge of the officials, to be kind and loyal to Daniel. ¹⁰ But Ashpenaz told Daniel, “I am afraid of my master, the king. He ordered me to give you this food and drink. If you don’t eat this food, you will begin to look weak and sick. You will look worse than other young men your age. The king will see this, and he will become angry with me. He might cut off my head. And it would be your fault.”

¹¹ Then Daniel talked to the guard who had been put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah by Ashpenaz. ¹² He said, “Please give us this test for ten days: Don’t give us anything but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then after ten days, compare us with the other young men who eat the king’s food. See for yourself who looks healthier, and then decide how you want to treat us, your servants.”

¹⁴ So the guard agreed to test Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah for ten days. ¹⁵ After ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than all the young men who ate the king’s food. ¹⁶ So the guard continued to take away the king’s special food and wine and to give only vegetables to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

¹⁷ God gave these four young men the wisdom and ability to learn many different kinds of writing and science. Daniel could also understand all kinds of visions and dreams.

¹⁸ At the end of the three years of training, Ashpenaz brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked to them and found that none of the young men were as good as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So these four young men became the king’s servants. ²⁰ Every time the king asked them about something important, they showed great wisdom and understanding. The king found they were ten times better than all the magicians and wise men in his kingdom. ²¹ So Daniel served the king until the first year that Cyrus ^{[ d ]} was king.

Footnotes

Daniel 1:1 the third year … Jehoiakim This was about 605 B.C.
Daniel 1:2 Babylon Literally, “Shinar,” which may be a form of the name Sumer.
Daniel 1:3 Israelites Here, this probably means “ordinary citizens of Judah and Israel.” But it could mean “people from the northern tribes of Israel.”
Daniel 1:21 the first year … Cyrus This was about 539–538 B.C.

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 Choice Young Men

1 In the third year of the reign of ^{( A )} Jehoiakim king of Judah, ^{( B )} Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² And the ^{( C )} Lord handed Jehoiakim king of Judah over to him, along with some of the ^{( D )} vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of ^{( E )} Shinar, to the house of his ^{[ a ]} god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his ^{[ b ]} ^{( F )} god.

³ Then the king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his ^{[ c ]} officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the ^{[ d ]} royal ^{( G )} family and of the nobles, ⁴ youths in whom there was ^{( H )} no impairment, who were good-looking, suitable for ^{( I )} instruction in every kind of expertise, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability to ^{[ e ]} serve in the king’s ^{[ f ]} court; and he ordered Ashpenaz to teach them the ^{[ g ]} literature and ^{( J )} language of the ^{( K )} Chaldeans. ⁵ The king also allotted for them a daily ration from the ^{( L )} king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank, and ordered that they be educated for three years, at the end of which they were to ^{[ h ]} ^{( M )} enter the king’s personal service. ⁶ Now among them from the sons of Judah were ^{( N )} Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. ⁷ Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name ^{( O )} Belteshazzar, to Hananiah ^{( P )} Shadrach, to Mishael ^{( Q )} Meshach, and to Azariah ^{( R )} Abed-nego.

Daniel’s Resolve

⁸ But Daniel ^{[ i ]} made up his mind that he would not ^{( S )} defile himself with the ^{( T )} king’s choice food or with the ^{( U )} wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. ⁹ Now God granted Daniel ^{( V )} favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. ¹⁰ The commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has allotted your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking gaunt in comparison to the youths who are your own age? Then you would ^{[ j ]} make me forfeit my head to the king.” ¹¹ But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ¹² “Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be ^{( W )} given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then let our appearance be ^{[ k ]} examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

¹⁴ So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days. ¹⁵ And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed ^{( X )} better, and ^{[ l ]} they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. ¹⁶ So the overseer continued to ^{[ m ]} withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept ^{( Y )} giving them vegetables.

¹⁷ And as for these four youths, ^{( Z )} God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every kind of ^{[ n ]} literature and expertise; Daniel even understood all kinds of ^{( AA )} visions and dreams.

¹⁸ Then at the end of the days which the king had ^{[ o ]} specified ^{[ p ]} for presenting them, the commander of the officials ^{[ q ]} presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like ^{( AB )} Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they ^{[ r ]} ^{( AC )} entered the king’s personal service. ²⁰ As for every matter of ^{( AD )} expertise ^{[ s ]} and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ^{( AE )} ten times ^{( AF )} better than all the ^{( AG )} soothsayer priests and conjurers who were in all his realm. ²¹ And Daniel ^{[ t ]} continued until the ^{( AH )} first year of Cyrus the king.

Footnotes

Daniel 1:2 Or gods
Daniel 1:2 Or gods
Daniel 1:3 Or eunuchs , and so throughout the ch
Daniel 1:3 Lit seed of the monarchy
Daniel 1:4 Lit stand
Daniel 1:4 Lit palace
Daniel 1:4 Or writing
Daniel 1:5 Lit stand before the king
Daniel 1:8 Lit set upon his heart
Daniel 1:10 Lit make my head guilty
Daniel 1:13 Lit seen
Daniel 1:15 Lit fat of flesh
Daniel 1:16 Lit take away
Daniel 1:17 Or writing
Daniel 1:18 Lit said
Daniel 1:18 Lit to bring them in
Daniel 1:18 Lit brought them in
Daniel 1:19 Lit stood before the king
Daniel 1:20 Lit of
Daniel 1:21 Lit was until

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim ^{( A )} king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar ^{( B )} king of Babylon ^{( C )} came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ^{( D )} ² And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried ^{( E )} off to the temple of his god in Babylonia ^{[ a ]} and put in the treasure house of his god. ^{( F )}

³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility ^{( G )} — ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome, ^{( H )} showing aptitude for every kind of learning, ^{( I )} well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language ^{( J )} and literature of the Babylonians. ^{[ b ]} ⁵ The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine ^{( K )} from the king’s table. ^{( L )} They were to be trained for three years, ^{( M )} and after that they were to enter the king’s service. ^{( N )}

⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, ^{( O )} Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ^{( P )} ⁷ The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; ^{( Q )} to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. ^{( R )}

⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile ^{( S )} himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor ^{( T )} and compassion ^{( U )} to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your ^{[ c ]} food and drink. ^{( V )} Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test ^{( W )} your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” ^{( X )} ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested ^{( Y )} them for ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ^{( Z )} ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. ^{( AA )}

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding ^{( AB )} of all kinds of literature and learning. ^{( AC )} And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. ^{( AD )}

¹⁸ At the end of the time ^{( AE )} set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. ^{( AF )} ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians ^{( AG )} and enchanters in his whole kingdom. ^{( AH )}

²¹ And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. ^{( AI )}

Footnotes

Daniel 1:2 Hebrew Shinar
Daniel 1:4 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 1:10 The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural.

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Table of Contents

Israel's enemies take Daniel and his friends to Babylon

Daniel refuses to eat the king's food

God makes Daniel and his friends wise

Footnotes

Daniel Taken to Babylon

Footnotes

The Choice Young Men

Daniel’s Resolve

Footnotes

Cross references

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Footnotes

Cross references

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BibleStudyIt Daniel 1

Daniel 1's Chapter Tabs Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.

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Israel's enemies take Daniel and his friends to Babylon

Daniel refuses to eat the king's food

God makes Daniel and his friends wise

Footnotes

Daniel Taken to Babylon

Footnotes

The Choice Young Men

Daniel’s Resolve

Footnotes

Cross references

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Footnotes

Cross references

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Daniel 1's Chapter Tabs
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