Daniel Chapter 1

Outline of Daniel

Chapter 1: Daniel Taken Captive

Chapter 2: God reveals the dream and its meaning

Chapter 3: The Fiery furnace

Chapter 4: The conversion of Nebuchadnezzar

Chapter 5: The fall of Babylon

Chapter 6: Daniel in the lion’s den

Chapter 7: A vision of world governments

Chapter 8: The Medo-Persian and Grecian Empires

Chapter 9: Daniels prayer

Chapter 10: Spiritual battles

Chapter 11: Prophecies of future kingdoms

Chapter 12: The end of the vision

Daniel is classified as a prophetic book written in 536 BC. However, in the Tora it is classified as history.

Daniel was taken captive in 605 BC

The Tora is made of two parts; the Written and the Oral.

The written is broken down into three sections

1. The Law (Pentateuch)

2. The Prophets

3. The Writings, which is also broken down into three parts.

A. The Poetic Books: Job; Psalms; Proverbs.

B. The Rolls: Ruth; Esther; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon; Lamentations.

C. The Historical Books: Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Daniel

Many people try to discredit the Book of Daniel because they think that there is no way his predictions could be so accurate and detailed. They use the fact that there are three Greek words used, some Persian, partially Hebrew, and partially Aramaic, the ancient language of Syria.

Vv. 1-2 Jehoiakim was king of Judah.

Prelude to captivity

1 Kings 11 Solomon’s idolatry loses kingdom.

Isaiah 39:1-7 Hezekiah’s folly.

The Mosaic covenant was conditional.

Deuteronomy 28 outlines the conditions of the covenant.

Vv. 1-14 give the blessings for obedience.

Vv. 15-68 outline the curses for disobedience.

Besieged Jerusalem.

Nebuchadnezzar believed his gods delivered Judah into his hands. Daniel points out that God delivered Judah into his hands.

Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem 3 times.

605 BC, Daniel, his friends, and the elite nobility.

the two subsequent deportations, 597 BC, and 587 BC, left Judah desolate.

Ezekiel was part of the second deportation. 2 Kings 24:14-16.

The third year in Daniel is not a contradiction of Jeremiah 46:2.

The captivity.

Two reasons for being delivered into Babylon’s hand.

Israel’s idolatry.

Solomon’s disobedience and idol worship infected the whole nation before the split.

Judah’s failure to observe Sabbaths for the land. Lev. 25:1-7; 26:2-3.

490 years they farmed the lad without giving it rest.

in that time they would should have observed 70 Sabbath years.

The Temple treasure was taken to Babylon fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy to Hezekiah.

This was a demonstration of religious dominance telling the Judeans that God was too weak for the Babylonian gods.

Vv. 3-4 Taking the nations greatest treasure, their young men.

The selection process.

Physical requirement.

young without blemish.

Scholars put the age range between 14-17 years old.

Intellectual requirement.

To serve in the kings court they needed to be smart, quick to understand.

Social requirement.

They needed to have poise and social grace in the court.

Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah came from the line of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah.

They had the best schooling and were used to the high social standards of the royal court.

Vs 5-7 Training and name changes.

Training.

They were given the finest food and the best education.

They would spoil them with food, clothes and accommodations so they wouldn't leave.

Babylon was known for their academia.

Babylon was also called Chaldea alluding to their proficiency in magic and divination.

Name changes.

Daniel; God is Judge – Belteshazzar; Belz prince.

Hannaniah; Beloved of the Lord – Shadrach; illuminated by the sun god.

Mishael; Who is God – Meshach; who is like shack.

Azariah; The Lord is my help – Abed-Nego The servant of Nego.

This is all part of the assimilation process.

They would be immersed in the pagan culture as part of their reeducation.

Emasculation.

Isaiah had prophesied that the sons would be eunuchs in the kings court.

Ashpenaz was over the eunuchs and in charge of their training.

It was customary to emasculate the men in the kings court.

Vv. 8-10 Decisions and resolve.

Purposing in the heart.

Daniel had made his mind up well before ever being put into service.

Overcoming temptation begins in the mind.

The battles in life are won in the mind.

How we determine to approach life is reflective of our mental resolve.

These teenage boys bring us a great example to emulate.

Their Resolve.

Because of their faithfulness to God, He brought them favor in the sight of the chief.

When we are faithful God will provide opportunities for a life changing witness.

The chief of the eunuchs was nervous.

Their outcome had consequences to the chief.

Vv. 11-17 The proposal and test.

The chief of the eunuchs denied his request.

They had found favor but the chief wasn't willing to sacrifice his head.

The steward.

They approached the steward over them with a proposition.

10 days was long enough to judge their physical stature without drawing alarm.

God blessed them in their faithfulness.

They were blessed with wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Vv. 18-21 Graduation.

Blessings in dark times.

The king found these boys far superior to all others.

This is a great example of living a life of faithfulness in a fallen society.

God doesn't always deliver us from tribulation.

When we live a faithful life God will bless us in the tribulation and trials.

The world they lived in was much like today, hostile towards God, absorbed with the defilement of personal gratification.

Daniel and his friends serve as a witness to the power of God in the lives of those who surrender to Him.

They were a light to the kings of the world often bringing them to the knowledge of the power of the one true God.

In a world filled with apostasy and captivity to sin, God is looking for those He can use to be His light in the darkness.