Chapter I: Written in Hebrew

[Sidenote: B.C. 606.]

1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

--This siege took place in B.C. 606. Verse 5 says that
Daniel and the royal captives received 3 years' training
and verse 18 shows that at the end of 3 years they
graduated. This brings us to the year B.C. 603 which
chapter 2 verse 1 says was the 2nd of Nebuchadnezzar's
reign, consequently Nebuchadnezzar began to reign in
B.C. 605. This date agrees with the figures given in the
Almagesta of Ptolemy, also with the statements of Berosus.
Besides it harmonizes perfectly the Bible account of
the first 5 years in Jehoiakim's reign, as set forth in
Jeremiah XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXXV, XXXVI, XLV, XLVI, and
II Kings XXIV. Still further a draughtsman can plot it
on a chart, with the same accuracy that a surveyor can
map a piece of land, provided he governs his work by that
remarkable group of locking-dates set forth in Jeremiah
XXV. 1. 2. 3. and Ezekiel XL. 1, also takes full account
of the historic events which happened in the 1st, 7th,
8th, 18th, and 19th years of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. It
thus will become manifest that Daniel and his companions
were taken captive in the Summer of B.C. 606.

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.

As foretold in Jeremiah XXIX. 10. the captivity of Judah
lasted 70 years, B.C. 606 to B.C. 536, when the Lord
stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim freedom to the
captives. Ezra 1st. chap. Isaiah XLIV. 28.

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.

--Precisely as foretold by the prophet Isaiah, more than a
century prior to the event. Isaiah XXXIX. 7.

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 Abed-nego.

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.

--"Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were
in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their
righteousness." Ezekiel XIV. 14. Note in passing, that
by order of birth these names should be read Noah, Job
and Daniel. However, according to a custom common among
the writers of Scripture, the line of Divine favor was
followed in preference to the order of birth. For example,
Japheth, Ham, Shem was the order of birth; but the records
stands: "These are the generations of the sons of Noah;
Shem, Ham and Japheth." So too we read of "Abram, Nahor,
and Haran" when the order of birth was Haran, Nahor and
Abram. Also of "Aaron and Moses and Miriam," when the true
order was Miriam, Aaron and Moses.

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.

The Scriptures everywhere associate a sense of
completeness and perfection with the numeral 7, also with
the numeral 10. The Mosaic Law teems with instances of
this sort. A Sabbatic period covered 7 years. Sprinklings
were administered 7 times, feasts lasted 7 days, priests
carried 7 trumpets, Jericho was compassed 7 times, Naaman
bathed 7 times in the Jordan, a servant bowed 7 times
to his lord and so on. As to the numeral 10, the Law
had 10 commandments, the tabernacle had 10 curtains,
10 pillars, 10 sockets. After the Israelites had tempted
the Lord 10 times, they were condemned to die in the
wilderness. Ten plagues were inflicted on the Egyptians.
In the matter of taxation, the herd was divided into
10 parts and one part set aside for the Lord.

When Nebuchadnezzar tested Daniel and his companions, "he
found them 10 times better than all the magicians and
astrologers." Thus we see plainly that the numerals 7 and
10 conveyed the idea of completeness and perfection to the
Hebrew mind.

[Sidenote: B.C. 603.]

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.

--"Behold art thou wiser than Daniel." Ezekiel XXVIII. 3.

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.

--At the end of the 3 years spoken of in verse 5.

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.

Cyrus began to reign, as king of Persia in B.C. 558, just
twenty years prior to his conquest of Babylon in B.C. 538.
The verse of course refers to the first year of his reign
as king of Babylon. In the following chapter the narrative
goes back to B.C. 603 which as already explained was the
2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar's individual reign. His father
Nabopolassar was still on the throne in B.C. 606, but on
his death in B.C. 605 Nebuchadnezzar returned at once to
Babylon and was made king, with full authority.