1 Jehoiakim's captivity.
3 Ashpenaz takes Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
8 They refusing the king's portion do prosper with pulse and water.
17 Their proficiency in wisdom.

2Ki 24:1,2,13 2Ch 36:5-7

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.

Cir A.M. 3398. B.C. 606. the Lord. 2:37,38 5:18 De 28:49-52 32:30 Jud 2:14 3:8 4:2 Ps 106:41,42 Isa 42:24

with part. 5:2 2Ch 36:7 Jer 27:19,20

Shinar. Ge 10:10 11:2 Isa 11:11 Zec 5:11

and he. 5:2,3 Jud 16:23,24 1Sa 5:2 31:9,10 Ezr 1:7 Jer 51:44 Hab 1:16

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;

Foretold. 2Ki 20:17,18 Isa 39:7 Jer 41:1

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.

Children. The word {yeladin,} rendered children, is frequently used for lads, or young men. (see Ge 21:8, 14-16), as the LXX render; and Daniel must have been at this time at least seventeen of eighteen years of age.

in whom. Le 21:18-21 24:19,20 Jud 8:18 2Sa 14:25 Ac 7:20 Eph 5:27

and skilful. Rather, as Houbi-gant renders, apt to understand wisdom, to acquire knowledge, and to attain science; for it was not a knowledge of the sciences, but merely a capacity to learn them, that was required.

2:20,21 5:11 Ec 7:19 Ac 7:22

ability. 17-20 Pr 22:29

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.

a daily. Athenaeus says the kings of Persia were accustomed to order for their courtiers the food left at their tables.

1Ki 4:22,23 2Ki 25:30 Mt 6:11 Lu 11:3

which he drank. Heb of his drink. stand. 19 Ge 41:46 1Sa 16:22 1Ki 10:8 2Ch 9:7 Jer 15:19 Lu 1:19 Lu 21:36

6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Daniel. 2:17 Eze 14:14,20 28:3 Mt 24:15 Mr 13:14

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.

the prince. 3,10,11

gave names. 4:8 5:12 Ge 41:45 2Ki 23:34 24:17

Hananiah. 2:49 3:12-30

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.

purposed. Ru 1:17,18 1Ki 5:5 Ps 119:106,115 Ac 11:23 1Co 7:37 2Co 9:7

defile. Heathen nations not only ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by Jewish law, but even the clean animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods, and part of the wine was poured out as a libation on their altars. Hence Athenaeus calls the beasts served up at the tables of the Persian kings, victims. Daniel was therefore resolved not to defile himself with their viands; yet he did not rudely refuse what was intended as a kindness, but mildly and modestly requested the proper officers to indulge him in this respect.

Le 11:45-47 De 32:38 Ps 106:28 141:4 Eze 4:13,14 Ho 9:3,4 Ac 10:14-16 Ro 14:15-17 1Co 8:7-10 10:18-21,28-31

9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Ge 32:28 39:21 1Ki 8:50 Ezr 7:27,28 Ne 1:11 2:4 Ps 4:3 106:46 Pr 16:7 Ac 7:10

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.

I fear. Pr 29:25 Joh 12:42,43

worse liking. Heb. sadder.
sadder Mt 6:16-18

sort. or, term, or continuance.

11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Melzar. or, the steward. 16

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

pulse to eat. Heb. of pulse that we may eat, etc. Pulse, {zer?im,} denotes all leguminous plants, which are not reaped but pulled or plucked; which, however wholesome, was not naturally calculated to render them fatter in flesh than the others.

16 Ge 1:29,30 De 8:3 Ro 14:2

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.

no references for this verse

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

No references for this verse

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.

their. Ex 23:25 De 28:1-14 2Ki 4:42-44 Ps 37:16 Pr 10:22 Hag 1:6,9 Mal 2:2 Mt 4:4 Mr 6:41,42

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.

God. 2:21,23 1Ki 3:12,28 4:29-31 2Ch 1:10,12 Job 32:8 Ps 119:98-100 Pr 2:6 Ec 2:26 Isa 28:26 Lu 21:15 Ac 6:10 7:10 Col 1:9 Jas 1:5,17

knowledge. Ac 7:22
Daniel had understanding. or, he made Daniel understand. 4:9,10 5:11,12,14 10:1 Ge 41:8-15 Nu 12:6 2Ch 26:5 Eze 28:3 1Co 12:7-11

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.

no references for this verse

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.

A.M. 3401. B.C. 603. therefore. See on ver. 5 Ge 41:46 1Ki 17:1 Pr 22:29 Jer 15:19

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.

in all. 1Ki 4:29-34 10:1-3,23,24 Ps 119:99

wisdom and understanding. Heb. wisdom of understanding. ten. Ge 31:7 Nu 14:22 Ne 4:12 Job 19:3

the magicians. 2:2-11,21-13 4:7,8 5:7,8,17 Ge 41:8 Ex 7:11,12,22 8:7,19 Isa 19:3 47:12-14 2Ti 3:8,9

21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

6:28 10:1 He lived to see that glorious time of the return of his people from the Babylonia captivity, though he did not die then. So till is used Ps 110:1, 112:8.