(KJV) Daniel 11

<< Ezekiel 48 Daniel 2 >>

⥃Daniel Removed to Babylon

[1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.2 [2] And the Lord3 gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part4 of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar5 to the house of his god; and he6 brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.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;8 [4] Children9 in whom10 [was] no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful11 in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability12 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 daily13 provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank14: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand15 before the king. [6] Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel16, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: [7] Unto whom the prince17 of the eunuchs gave names18: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah19, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed–nego.

⥃Daniel’s Faithfulness

[8] But Daniel purposed20 in his heart that he would not defile21 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.22 [10] And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear23 my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking24 than the children which [are] of your sort25? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king. [11] Then said Daniel to Melzar26, 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 eat27, 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 their28 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.29

⥃Daniel’s Wisdom

[17] As for these four children, God30 gave them knowledge31 and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding32 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: therefore33 stood they before the king.34 [20] And in all35 matters of wisdom [and] understanding36, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten37 times better than all the magicians38 [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm. [21] And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king Cyrus. 39

<< Ezekiel 48 Daniel 2 >>

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

  2. 2Kgs 24:1-2, 2Kgs 24:13; 2Chr 36:5-7 ↩

  3. Dan 2:37-38, Dan 5:18; Deut 28:49-52, Deut 32:30; Judg 2:14, Judg 3:8, Judg 4:2; Ps 106:41-42; Isa 42:24 ↩

  4. Dan 5:2; 2Chr 36:7; Jer 27:19-20 ↩

  5. Gen 10:10, Gen 11:2; Isa 11:11; Zech 5:11 ↩

  6. Dan 5:2-3; Judg 16:23-24; 1Sam 5:2, 1Sam 31:9-10; Ezra 1:7; Jer 51:44; Hab 1:16 ↩

  7. Cir am 3398, bc 606 ↩

  8. Foretold, 2Kgs 20:17-18; Isa 39:7; Jer 41:1 ↩

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

  10. Lev 21:18-21, Lev 24:19-20; Judg 8:18; 2Sam 14:25; Acts 7:20; Eph 5:27 ↩

  11. Rather, as Houbigant 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. Dan 2:20-21, Dan 5:11; Eccl 7:19; Acts 7:22 ↩

  12. Dan 1:17-20; Prov 22:29 ↩

  13. Atheneus says the kings of Persia were accustomed to order for their courtiers the food left at their tables. 1Kgs 4:22-23; 2Kgs 25:30; Matt 6:11; Luke 11:3 ↩

  14. Heb. of his drink ↩

  15. Dan 1:19; Gen 41:46; 1Sam 16:22; 1Kgs 10:8; 2Chr 9:7; Jer 15:19; Luke 1:19; Luke 21:36 ↩

  16. Dan 2:17; Ezek 14:14, Ezek 14:20, Ezek 28:3; Matt 24:15; Mark 13:14 ↩

  17. Dan 1:3, Dan 1:10-11 ↩

  18. Dan 4:8, Dan 5:12; Gen 41:45; 2Kgs 23:34, 2Kgs 24:17 ↩

  19. Dan 2:49, Dan 3:12-30 ↩

  20. Ruth 1:17-18; 1Kgs 5:5; Ps 119:106, Ps 119:115; Acts 11:23; 1Cor 7:37; 2Cor 9:7 ↩

  21. 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 Atheneus calls the beasts served up at the tables of the Persian kings, ιερια, 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. Lev 11:45-47; Deut 32:38; Ps 106:28, Ps 141:4; Ezek 4:13-14; Hos 9:3-4; Acts 10:14-16; Rom 14:15-17; 1Cor 8:7-10, 1Cor 10:18-21, 1Cor 10:28-31 ↩

  22. Gen 32:28, Gen 39:21; 1Kgs 8:50; Ezra 7:27-28; Neh 1:11, Neh 2:4; Ps 4:3, Ps 106:46; Prov 16:7; Acts 7:10 ↩

  23. Prov 29:25; John 12:42-43 ↩

  24. Heb. sadder, Matt 6:16-18 ↩

  25. or, term, or continuance ↩

  26. or, the steward, Dan 1:16 ↩

  27. Heb. of pulse that we may eat, etc. Pulse, zeroim 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. Dan 1:16; Gen 1:29-30; Deut 8:3; Rom 14:2 ↩

  28. Exod 23:25; Deut 28:1-14; 2Kgs 4:42-44; Ps 37:16; Prov 10:22; Hag 1:6, Hag 1:9; Mal 2:2; Matt 4:4; Mark 6:41-42 ↩

  29. Dan 1:11 ↩

  30. Dan 2:21, Dan 2:23; 1Kgs 3:12, 1Kgs 3:28, 1Kgs 4:29-31; 2Chr 1:10, 2Chr 1:12; Job 32:8; Ps 119:98-100; Prov 2:6; Eccl 2:26; Isa 28:26; Luke 21:15; Acts 6:10, Acts 7:10; Col 1:9; Jas 1:5, Jas 1:17 ↩

  31. Acts 7:22 ↩

  32. or, he made Daniel understand, Dan 4:9-10, Dan 5:11-12, Dan 5:14, Dan 10:1; Gen 41:8-15; Num 12:6; 2Chr 26:5; Ezek 28:3; 1Cor 12:7-11 ↩

  33. Dan 1:5; Gen 41:46; 1Kgs 17:1; Prov 22:29; Jer 15:19 ↩

  34. am 3401, bc 603 ↩

  35. 1Kgs 4:29-34, 1Kgs 10:1-3, 1Kgs 10:23-24; Ps 119:99 ↩

  36. Heb. wisdom of understanding ↩

  37. Gen 31:7; Num 14:22; Neh 4:12; Job 19:3 ↩

  38. Dan 2:2-11, Dan 2:21-23, Dan 4:7, Dan 4:8-18, Dan 5:7-8, Dan 5:17; Gen 41:8; Exod 7:11-12, Exod 7:22, Exod 8:7, Exod 8:19; Isa 19:3, Isa 47:12-14; 2Tim 3:8-9 ↩

  39. Dan 6:28, Dan 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, Ps 112:8." ↩