1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
1:1-211In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem in the third year of king Jehoiakim of Judah. [1]
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.
God helped the Babylonians defeat Judah.
The vessels in God's house were carried to the house of the Babylonian god.
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.
Nebuchadnezzar told Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring the some Israelites from the royal family, who were inblemished, wise, and science-knowing to his palace, so they could be taught the knowledge and language of the Babylonians.
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.
The king gave them his meat and wine for three years.
Then they were brought to him.
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.
Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
8But 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.
But Daniel refused to eat the king's meat or drink his wine. [2]
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
God had brought Daniel into tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. [4]
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.
The king gave you meat and wine.
He'll kill me if I don't give it to you.
11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Daniel said to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs appointed over Daniel and his companions.
12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Well let's give it a try.
We'll drink water and eat vegetables for ten days.
13Then 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.
Then take a look at us, and compare us to the meat eaters.
14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Melzar agreed to the test, feeding them water and vegetables.
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.
After ten days, the vegans were fairer and fatter than the meat-eaters.
16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17As 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 gave Daniel and his friends knowledge, skill, and wisdom.
And Daniel understood 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.
At the end of the ten-day trial, Daniel and his friends were brought to 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.
They were best-looking guys the king had ever seen.
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.
And in wisdom and understanding, they were ten times better than all of his kingdom's magicians and astrologers.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Daniel continued to serve there until the first year of king Cyrus. [5]
The third year of the reign of Jehoiakim would be 606 BCE, at which time Nebuchadnezzar was not yet king of Babylon. It was 597 BCE that Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem for the first time (without actually destroying it). By that time Jehohiakim was dead and his son, Jehoiachin, was ruling. (See 2 Kings 24:10-12)
In Isaiah 39:7, Isaiah prophesies that Hezekiah that his sons will be eunuchs in the the king's palace in Babylon. Since Daniel and his companions were of royal descent and were under the authority of the prince of the eunuchs, it seems that Isaiah's prophecy has come true.
King Cyrus conquered Babylon 539 BCE.
