Isaiah prophesied of the fact that king Hezekiah’s sons, or the kings seed, would be taken captive by the Babylonians, and made eunuchs, in the palace of the king of Babylon. (Isaiah 39:7)
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and chose the best of Israel’s young men and tried to form and re-educate them to the Chaldean customs and practices. He made them eunuchs, changed their names, taught them the Chaldean language, culture and practices and gave them a Babylonian diet. But Babylon could not change their loyalty to and relationship with God.
The two sides in the conflict are introduced
•Two kings: Jehoiakim vs Nebuchadnezzar
•Two gods: The one true God vs Babylonian pagan god
•Two cities: Babylon vs Jerusalem
•Two temples: the temple of God vs the temple of the Babylonian pagan god
•Two peoples: The Hebrews vs the Babylonians
Daniel’s captivity resulted in the following:
•He brought the knowledge of the true God to the greatest empire and king the world has ever seen.
•King Nebuchadnezzar was converted to the one true God because of Daniel’s influence.
•God used Daniel to lead His people out of captivity at the end of the 70 year.
King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to make the following changes to his captives:
•Change their diet
•Change their names
•Change their education
Daniel Chapter 1 verse 1 to 2
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.
🔸“Jehoiakim king of Judah”
2 Chronicles 36:5 says, “Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.”
Because Jehoiakim did evil in the sight of God, Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem.
King Nebuchadnezzar put the vessels from the temple of God into the temple of Marduk/ Merodach (formally named Bel) the god of the Babylonians (Jeremiah 50:2).
Note: Jerusalem was besieged 2 more times, once under the reign of Jehoiachin 597 B.C. and secondly under the reign of Zedekiah in 586 B.C. in the which, Jerusalem’s walls were pulled down also the temple, and the city was burned only leaving husbandmen to tend to crops. (2 Kings 24 & 25; 2 Chronicles 36)
Daniel Chapter 1 verse 3 to 7
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.
🔸“Changes to their names”
Their names were changed to represent pagan deities, possibly to encourage them, or influence them, to compromise, (conform to), and take up the idolatrous religion and practices that encompassed them in the Babylonian nation.
Their names were changed as follows:
•Daniel (God is my Judge) to Belteshazzar (Lord of Bel’s treasure)
•Hananiah (God has favoured) to Shadrach (Inspiration of the sun - worship of Sun)
•Mishael (Who belongs to God) to Meshach (Of the goddess Shaca - worship of Venus)
•Azariah (Jehovah has helped) to Abednego (Servant of Nebo)
🔸“Changes to their diet”
Nebuchadnezzar attempted to influence Daniel and his friends by appointing them a Babylonian diet (Daniel 1:5). By appointing a substitute diet, the king was attempting to take the place of God who had originally appointed man’s diet.
Man’s original diet was ‘appointed’ by God (Genesis 1:29). It consisted of vegetables and fruits to eat (It was a vegan diet). It is only during the time of the the flood that God said that people can eat meat. This was probably because the flood destroyed all the vegetation and it takes months to grow some vegetables and can take more than a year for a fruit tree to grow.
The expression ‘to you it shall be for food’ (Genesis 1:29) is similar to Daniel 1:5 where the ‘king appointed for them’ their food. In other words, Nebuchadnezzar was taking over the prerogatives of God. He was providing a diet different than that which God had originally appointed for man.
🔸Babylon’s food had the following issues:
•The meats were not prepared according to the specifications of the dietary laws given by God to Moses (see Leviticus 17:14, 15; Acts 15:29). It was customary for the gentiles to eat the blood and fat of animals which was forbidden by God.
•Some of the meats were unclean. The gentile nations ate swine’s flesh and also mice (Isaiah 66:17; Deuteronomy 14:7, 8)
•It is highly likely that Daniel and his friends carefully studied the story of Nadab and Abihu and understood the effect that wine has upon their ability to distinguish the holy from the common (Leviticus 10; Isaiah 5:20-23).
🔸“Changes to their education”
The Chaldeans were a priestly caste of astrologers who felt that they could discern the future in the stars (Daniel 2:2, 4, 5, 10). They were the official spokesmen for the religion of Babylon. Isaiah 47:13 describes the Babylonian methods of divination which God abhorred. The king wanted to brainwash Daniel and his friends by having them study the Babylonian religion, culture, philosophy and language. It was the intention of the king to cause a paradigm shift in the thinking of the Hebrews.
Daniel Chapter 1 verse 8 to 21
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.
🔸“Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat”
The first test that these young men were faced with was the test of appetite. This seems to be rather an insignificant matter. But if we look to history we find that Adam and Eve’s first test was upon appetite. (Genesis 3:1-3) Christ’s first test in the wilderness, in reclaiming what man had lost, was appetite. (Matthew 4:3) This should be a warning sign to us today that appetite has a direct link to our spiritual life, for it shows that when the appetite is ruling sin is lying at the door. And when it is not ruling but under the control of reason, it is harder for sin to take hold upon us. So what we eat and drink can either hinder or promote our relationship with God.
🔸“God blessed them with wisdom and knowledge in learning”
This shows to us that the Lord is willing to bless those that put their faith and trust in Him, but that also we need to not just sit back and wait for the Lord to bless. As Daniel made every effort to have their diet changed, his faith in God opened the door of opportunity; so too are we to move forward by faith.