The book of Daniel, chapter by chapter and verse by verse

 Daniel 1:8-16 KJV (9 verses)

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.

The eunuchs had been put in charge of these Israelite children when they'd been brought to captivity in Babylon.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

We must note that God brought this special favour about.

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 that the chldren 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,

The names are a bit confusing here but the last three are known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego because Nebuchadnezzar had renamed them when they came into captivity.

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

"pulse" - things that grow in pods: peas, beans, wheat, etc.

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.

The Book of Daniel, chapter by chapter and verse by verse

 Daniel 1:3-7 KJV (5 verses)

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;

The "king's seed" here means the reigning king of Jerusalem at that time, who was now taken out of power by Nebuchadnezzar.

4 Children in whom there 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 was big on education. This is why Daniel was chosen as one of these "children", because he was educated and wise.

Nebu = god of wisdom. "tongue of the Chaldeans" means the Babylonian language.

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.

Babylonian food was not clean for the children of Israel.

6 Now among these were the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names, for unto Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

(You may remember the song, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego" from children's church, speaking of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace). Next blog post will show us how Daniel handled the food situation and what happened as a result.

The book of Daniel – chapter by chapter and verse by verse

 

Daniel 1:1-2 KJV (2 verses)

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

Jesus mentions Daniel in Mark 13. God mentions Daniel in the book of Ezekiel.

Daniel means "my God is Judge". We must remember to leave the judging to God. (However, we have God-given discernment.)

The 10 northern tribes of Israel had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians 200 years prior to this time, but the other two southern tribes (Judah and Benjamin) are just being taken into captivity in Babylon by king Nebuchadnezzar after he had besieged Jerusalem.

See Jeremiah 27:6 - God calls Nebuchadnezzar "my servant". Until Iran came into power, Nebuchadnezzar, his son and his grandson stayed in power.

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.

Notice lower case "g" regarding Nebuchadnezzar's "god".

Shinar is Babylon, it translates to "two rivers", the Tigris and the Euphrates.