VERSE 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah (hd'Why>-%l,m, ~yqiy"Ahy> tWkl.m;l. vAlv' tn:v.Bi [prep. b w/noun f.s.constr. shanah year + adj.f.s.abs. shalash three + prep. l w/noun f.s.constr. malekuth reign + noun proper abs. "Yaheh will establish" + noun m.s.abs. melek king + proper noun abs. yehudah Judah; name of the southern kingdom after the tribe]),

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it (h'yl,[' rc;Y"w: ~l;iv'Wry> lb,B'-%l,m, rC;an<d>k;Wbn> aB' (Qal perf.3.m.s. bo come + proper noun Neb.; the Akkadian original meant "Nebo, protect my border" + noun m.s.abs. melek king + proper noun Babel; means "Gate of God" but Gen.11:9 employs a parody from balal "to confuse" + proper noun Jerushalam + waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. tsur beseige, bind + prep. al against w/3f.s.suff.]).

ANALYSIS: VERSE 1

1. This 605 BC expedition was the first of three major invasions of Palestine by Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabopolassar, the king of Babylon.
2. The second occurred in 597 BC, when Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim, was compelled by the Chaldeans to surrender Jerusalem (2Kgs.24:10:14) and go into captivity with all his princes and leaders, the flower of his army, and all the skilled craftsmen in his capital¾ including some of the priests, like young Ezekiel.
3. The third and final captivity took place after the siege and fall of Jerusalem in 587/6 BC, when all the people of Judah that had not escaped to the hills and joined the guerillas were taken into captivity in Babylonia.
4. Note that it is important to keep these stages of the Captivity in mind when computing the seventy years of exile announced by Jeremiah 29:10; the interval between the first deportation in 605 BC, in which Daniel himself was involved, and 536 BC, when the first returnees under Zerubbabel once more set up an altar in Jerusalem amounting to the seventy years.
5. Likewise, the interval between the destruction of the first temple by Nebuzaradan in 586 and the completion of the second temple by Zerubbabel in 516 was about seventy years.
6. The date of the first invasion in 605 BC (which has been verified by Wiseman, Chaldean Kings, pp. 25, 46-47, 66-69) is here given as the "third" year of the reign of Jehoiakim.
7. This follows Babylonian practice, which reckoned the first regnal year as beginning on the first of Nisan following the year of ascension to the throne.
8. Thus Nebuchadnezzar’s first regnal year was computed as commencing in Nisan (April) of 604, even though he had already been crowned in Tishri (September) of 605.
9. Jehoiakim began his reign in 608, as an appointee of Necho king of Egypt (4^th cycle), who officially changed his name from Eliakim ("El will establish") to Jehoiakim ("Yahweh will establish").
10. Necho then invested him as vassal king under Egyptian authority sometime in the fall of 609, after his brother Jehoahaz had ruled for the three months following the death of their father, Josiah.
11. At the Battle of Megiddo, Josiah had made a vain attempt to halt the progress of Necho northward as he went to join his Assyrian allies at Haran.
12. If, then Jehoiakim’s first regnal year began in Nisan 608, the Battle of Carchemish, in which Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Assyrian-Egyptian coalition in June 605, would have taken place in Jehoiakim’s third regnal year, according to the Babylonian reckoning; and Nebuchadnezzar’s subsequent advance on Jerusalem (prior to Nisan 609) would have fallen in the same year.
13. The Jewish calendar, however, began the civil New Year on the first of Tishri (the 7the month), rather than the first of Nisan (the 1^st month of the religious year).
14. So if Jehoiakim was first appointed king in the late fall of 609, his first must have begun in Tishri 608.
15. Therefore Tishri 605 would have marked the beginning of his fourth regnal year, and Nebuchadnezzar apparently did not reach Jerusalem in his mopping up operations after the victory at Carchemish till November or December of 605.
16. It is only natural, therefore that Jeremiah (25:1; 46:2) would refer to this recent event as taking place in the fourth year of Jehoiakim.
17. Hence there is no discrepancy whatever between the two reckonings, and the often-repeated argument (based on these reckonings) against the historical trustworthiness of Daniel is worthless.
18. Hence, the background and setting to verse 1!
19. The "fourth year" of Jer.25:1 and 46:2 and the "third year" of this verse is the difference between the Judean and Babylonian reckoning of regnal rule respectively.
20. Again, the date for verse 1 is 605 BC.

VERSE 2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand (hd'Why>-%l,m, ~yqiy"Ahy>-ta, Ady"B. yn"doa] !TeYIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. nathan give + proper noun Adonai Lord, master, owner + prep. b w/noun f.s.constr.w/3.m.s. yad hand + d.o.marker + noun proper abs. Jehoiakim + noun m.s.abs. melek king + proper noun Judah]), along with some of the vessels of the house of God (~yhil{a/h'-tybe yleK. tc'q.miW [waw w/prep. min from; "with" + noun f.s.constr. qetsath end, extremity; "some" + noun m.p.constr. keli utensil + noun m.s.constr. bayith house + def.art. w/noun m.p.abs. Elohim God]); and he brought them to the land of Shinar (r['n>vi-#r,a, ~aeybiy>w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3.m.s.w/3.m.p.suff. bo bring + noun both s.abs. eretz land + proper noun Shinar; OT designation for southern Mesopotamia, the alluvial plain between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris; the area was known by the ancient Sumerians as Sumer and Akkad; it later became known as Babylonia; in Gen.10:10 we are told that the great tyrant and empire builder Nimrod founded his kingdom in Babel, Erech (Sumerian Uruk), Akkade (Agade) and Calneh in the land of Shinar; Shinar was the major center for the development of culture and civilization built on counterfeit religion and rebellion against God]), to the house of his god (wyh'l{a/ tyBe [noun m.s.constr. bayith house + noun m.p.abs. elohim, gods or god]), and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god (wyh'l{a/ rc;Aa tyBe aybihe ~yliKeh;-ta,w> [waw w/d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. keli vessel, utensil + Hiphil perf.3.m.s. bo bring, go + noun m.s.constr. bayith house + noun m.s.constr. otsar treasury + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. elohim god(s)]).

ANALYSIS: VERSE 2

1. From the very beginning of this record, it is make clear that Nebuchadnezzar’s success was not primarily of his own doing; it was the hidden work of the one true God (e.g., Lord of the Armies), who controls the course of human history and brought about the collapse of the Judean monarchy and the deportation of the Jewish people into Babylonian exile.
2. Thus the main theme of the Book of Daniel is God’s absolute sovereignty is presented in the historical narrative of the opening lines.
3. The One who disciplines his people for their good and preserves the chosen race for His redemptive glory controls all events good and bad relative to their destiny.
4. The same "hand" who gave them over to their enemies was the same hand who both preserved and restored them to their shattered land 70 years later in accordance with Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer.25:12).
5. Typically the pagan world interpreted conquest as a token of the superiority of the gods of the conquerors.
6. But in this case, and especially in this case, this was all wishful thinking as Nebuchadnezzar himself would come to learn (cf. Dan.4).
7. The sacred vessels of the 1^st temple were placed in the house and treasury of the Babylonian monarch.
8. This was the fate of all who suffered defeat at the hands of monarchs.
9. No of this changed even one doctrine taught by the true shadow system.
10. After all, these things were just objects or tokens of a far greater reality.
11. For the conquered Jews it was humiliating but God’s plan was not in the least affected by this sacrilege.
12. Shinar was the most ancient name for the area between the two rives of Mesopotamia.
13. It connotes the wellspring of pagan idolatry for here began the great postdiluvian revolt against God and his plan with Nimrod and the Tower of Babel.
14. That particular rebellion exists to this day and will be destroyed ironically by Nimrod’s greater counterpart, the Antichrist, as per Rev.17.

VERSE 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials (wys'yrIs' br; zn:P.v.a;l. %l,M,h; rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. amar say; "ordered" + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king + prep. l w/proper noun Ashpenaz; Persian name + noun m.s.abs. rabh chief + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. saris official; eunuch], to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles (~ymiT.r>P;h;-!miW hk'WlM.h; [r;Z<miW laer'f.yI ynEB.mi aybih'l. [prep. l w/Hiphil infin.constr. bo bring + prep. min w/noun m.p.constr. ben son + proper noun Israel + waw w/prep. min w/noun m.s.abs zera seed; "some" + def.art. w/noun f.s.abs. melukah royal family + waw w/prep. min w/noun m.p.abs. partemim nobles; only in Esther and Daniel; loan word from the Persian]),

VERSE 4 youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking (ha,r>m; ybeAjw> Î~WmÐ ¿~Wam.À-lK' ~h,B'-!yae rv,a] ~ydIl'y> [noun m.p.abs. yeled youth as in teens + rel.pro. asher who + neg.part. ayin no + prep. b w/3.m.p.suff. "in whom" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + non m.s.abs. mum defect + waw w/adj.m.p.constr. tob good + noun m.s.abs. mare-eth appearance]), showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom (hm'k.x'-lk'B. ~yliyKif.m;W [waw w/Hiphil part.m.p.abs. shakal understand, show aptitude + prep. b w/noun m.s.constr. kol all, every + noun f.s.abs. chokamah wisdom], endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge ([D'm; ynEybim.W t[;d; y[ed>yOw> [waw w/Qal part.m.p.constr. yada know; "endowed" + noun f.s.abs. da-ath knowledge + waw w/Hiphil part.m.p. bin discern + noun m.s.abs. mada learning], and who had ability for serving in the king's court [%l,M,h; lk;yheB. dmo[]l; ~h,B' x;Ko rv,a]w: [waw w/rel.pro. asher who + noun m.s.abs. koach strength, ability + prep. b w/3.m.p.suff. "in them" + prep. l w/Qal infin.constr. amad stand; "serve" + prep. b w/noun m.s.constr. hekal palace + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king]; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans (~yDIf.K; !Avl.W rp,se ~d'M.l;l]W [waw w/prep. l w/Piel infin.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. lamad teach + noun m.s.abs. seper writing; "literature" + waw w/noun both s.constr. lashon language + proper noun Chaldean; ethnic or native tongue; Indo-European]).

VERSE 5 The king appointed for them a daily ration from the king's choice food and from the wine which he drank (wyT'v.mi !yYEmiW %l,M,h; gB;-tP;mi AmAyB. ~Ay-rb;D> %l,M,h; ~h,l' !m;y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3.m.s. manah tell, specify + prep. l w/3.m.p.suff. + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king + noun m.s.constr. dabar word, thing; "ration" + noun m.s.abs. yom day + prep. min from w/noun m.s.abs. path-bag portion; also at 11:26; techical + def.art.w.noun m.s.abs. melek king + waw w/prep. min w/noun m.s.constr. yayin wine + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. misheteh celebration, supply; banquet], and appointed that they should be educated three years [vAlv' ~ynIv' ~l'D>g:l.W [waw w/prep. l w/Piel infin.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. gadal grow up; "educated" + noun f.p.abs. shanah year + adj.f.s.abs. shalosh three], at the end of which they were to enter the king's personal service (%l,M,h; ynEp.li Wdm.[;y: ~t'c'q.miW [waw w/prep. min w/noun f.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. qetsath end; "at the end of which" + Qal impf.3.m.p. amadh stand; "they were to enter" + prep. l w/noun both p.constr. paneh face; "personal service" + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 3-5

1. Somewhat like Alexander the Great at a latter time, Nebuchadnezzar adopted an enlightened policy of enlisting the most promising young men of his new empire into government service, whatever their nationality.
2. Rather than reserving leadership for the Chaldeans alone, or even for the ethnic Babylonians whose cultural traditions reached back to the age of Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar resolved to pool the best brains and abilities discoverable in the ranks of the nations he had conquered.
3. Since the hostages from Judah included the finest of the royalty and nobility, it was reasonable to open up special opportunities for gifted young Jews at the royal academy in Babylon.
4. The court official named Ashpenaz was in charge of these students, once they had passed the initial interview.
5. "Ashpenaz" is apparently a Median name (the Pahlevi aspanj means "guest-friend").
6. Nebuchadnezzar, with his concern for enlisting the best talents of his subject peoples, appointed a Mede to this responsible post.
7. At this time the Babylonians and Medes still maintained cordial and respectful relations with each other being allies in the overthrow of Ninevah in 612 BC.
8. It was Ashpenaz’s responsibility to watch over the physical and intellectual wellbeing of the scholarship students of the Royal Academy.
9. He recruited them personally, selecting those with the most outstanding physical appearance and intellectual promise from the ranks of the nobility and royalty of each subject nation.
10. At this point, Ashpenaz’s title, "chief of his court officials" (wys'yrIs' br;), requires comment.
11. Was Ashpenaz a eunuch?
12. The term saris was¾ at least sometimes¾ understood as denoting castration or natural impotence; it is so used in Isa.56:3 ("I am only a dry tree"), in Jer.38:7 (Zedekiah’s Ethiopian eunuch), and in Persia as reflected in Esther 2:3.
13. But etymologically the word saris is derived from the Akkadian sa resi sarri ("he who has the king’s head) and therefore had no original connotation of sexual impotence.
14. In Gen.39:1 the commander of Pharoah’s bodyguard, Potiphar, is described as seris par-oh ("one of Pharoah’s officials"), and it was his wife who vainly enticed Joseph to sin.
15. A castrated or impotent man would hardly have a wife.
16. Nevertheless, eunuch were valued officials in a king’s harem precisely because they were incapable of having sexual relations.
17. We do not know how many other Jewish youths were accepted as students in the Royal Academy besides Daniel and his three friends.
18. No doubt there were others of the Jewish race.
19. Qualifications to enter the three year matriculation in the Royal Academy meant that each candidate must be: (a) without any physical abnormalities; (b) good looking; (c) well schooled; and, (d) inherent intelligence or we would say high IQ.
20. Only these individuals had a chance of "serving in the king’s court.
21. So from the very beginning Daniel was destined to have a career in political service.
22. The period of training for service in the Babylonian court was three years (v.5).
23. The course of study was the language and literature of the Chaldeans (v.4).
24. These privileged candidates were granted special privileges related to living in the royal palace.
25. What is singled out is mention of their food ration, which was the same as that of the monarch.
26. They were to enjoy the same food and wine as was enjoyed by the king.
27. They best was set before them to encourage them to excel.
28. The food itself was first and foremost to promote a vibrant countenance.
29. But with blessing comes testing.

VERSE 6 Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (hy"r>z:[]w: laev'ymi hy"n>n:x] laYEnID' hd'Why> ynEB.mi ~h,b' yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. hayah be; "were" + prep. b w/3.m.p.suff. + prep. min w/noun m.p.constr. ben son + proper name Judah + proper name Daniel: "God is my Judge" + proper name Hananiah: "Yahweh has shown grace" + proper name Mishael: "Who is What God is" + waw w/proper name Azariah: "Yahweh has helped"]).

VERSE 7 Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them (tAmve ~ysiyrIS'h; rf; ~h,l' ~f,Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. shim put, assign + prep. l w/3.m.p.suff.; "to them" + noun m.s.abs. shar prince; "commander" + def.art. w/noun m.p.abs. saris official; eunuch; "officials" + noun m.p.abs. shem name]); and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach and to Azariah Abed-nego (Agn>ƒdbe[] hy"r>z:[]l;w> %v;yme laev'ymil.W %r;d>v; hy"n>n:x]l;w> rC;av;j.l.Be laYEnId'l [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. shim assign + prep. l w/proper name Daniel + proper name Belteshazzar: "Nebo protect his life!" + prep. l w/proper name Hananiah + proper name Shadrach: "The commander of Aku" + prep. l w/proper name Mishael + proper name Meshach: "Who is what Aku is?" + prep. l w/proper name Azariah + proper name Abeg-Nego: "Servant of Nebo"]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 6-7

1. Daniel, from that day forward, was to be addressed by the Chaldean Belteshazzar which was the Akkadian Balat-zu-usur, possibly shortened from Nabu-balatsu-usur ("Nebo, protect his life!" cf. 4:8, where Nebuchadnezzar says, "Belteshazzar, after the name of my god"¾ and presumably "his god" was Nebo).
2. Hananiah’s new name in the Royal Academy was assigned "Shadrach," which is probably Shudur-Aku, "The Command of Aku," a Sumerian or Elamite moon-god.
3. Mishael’s name in the court was to be "Meshach" from Mi-sa-Aku meaning, "Who is what Aku is?"; this carrying an especially contemptuous meaning considering that his Jewish name meant "Who is what God is?"
4. And Azariah’s name for the duration of his life was "Abed-Nego" meaning "Servant of Nego" very close to Nebo in sound, yet for some unknown reason g was substituted for b.
5. Obviously pagan theophoric names these must have been assigned arbitrarily to the Israelite students as well as all the students.
6. Yet note that even later Jewish exiles retained names of false gods.
7. Zerubbabel ("The Seed of Babylon") and Shenazzar (Sin-ab-usur, "Sin [moon-god] protect the father!") were of the royal line of David seemed to have adopted Babylonian names like this quite voluntarily.
8. These four committed youths, then, were committed to a demanding and many-faceted regimen of study (v.4), comprising all the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
9. This must have included not only a mastery of spoken Chaldean (which may have originally have been a northeastern Arabian dialect, perhaps mingled with Aramaic, though we have no written documents in the ancestral language of the Chaldeans and can only conjecture about this) but also Akkadian, the official, literary language of Babylon from the days of Hammurabi and before.
10. In addition to the renewed interest in classical Akkadian, abundantly attested in many documents from Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, there must also have been extensive study in the non-Semitic language of ancient Sumeria, from which Akkadian borrowed its entire writing system and many of its religious terms.
11. Babylonian religion had always required a thorough knowledge of Sumerian literature¾ religious, magical, astrological, and scientific.
12. Daniel and friends were subjected to a very rigorous and demanding curriculum, requiring their total commitment as they mastered the documents written in cuneiform Akkadian and Sumerian and contained in the central imperial library in Babylon.
13. Thus they prepared themselves for the final examinations in "all kinds of literature and learning" (v.7).
14. It is not likely that a Maccabean Jewish writer would so fabricate a legend that has his shining hero receiving a pagan education for service in a pagan caste.
15. The only reasonable explanation is that this is how it really happened.

VERSE 8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself (la;G"t.yI-al{ rv,a] ABli-l[; laYEnID' ~f,Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. shim put; "made up" + proper noun Daniel + prep. al upon + noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. leb heart; "mind" + rel.pro./part. asher "that" + neg. lo + Hithpael impf.3.m.s. ga-al defile] with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank [wyT'v.mi !yyEb.W %l,M,h; gB;t.p;B. [prep. b w/noun m.s.constr. path-bag delicacies; "choice food"; only in Dan. at 1:5,8,15,16; 11:29 + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king + waw w/prep. b w/noun m.s.constr. yayin wine + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. misheteh drink, banquet; here and v.5]; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself [la'G"t.yI al{ rv,a] ~ysiyrIS'h; rF;mi vQeb;y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3.m.s. baqash seek; root denotes earnest seeking + prep. min from + noun m.s.abs. shar, prince; "commander" + noun m.p.abs. saris official; eunuch + part.rel. asher "that" + neg. lo + Hithpael impf.3.m.s. ga-al defile]).

ANALYSIS: VERSE 8

1. Daniel appears as the leader and spokesman for the Hebrew youths.
2. The record implies that Daniel was the first to "resolve" not to violate the dietary code of the Law of Moses.
3. He first made a mental decision not to be in violation of doctrine and then to communicate this desire to his three friends.
4. What he sought to avoid was being "defiled" (lit., "that he might not defile himself") by eating non-kosher meats and wine dedicated to heathen gods.
5. Daniel, rather than break fellowship with God, and violate a known requirement for Jews in the Age of Israel, risked his career and endure the danger that carried with it (quite possibly death for disobedience).
6. People around the king enjoyed very special perks but they all lived on a razor’s edge.
7. Imprisonment and death were the penalties for failure or disobedience.
8. Daniel faced his new niche with a total commitment not to violate the Law of God.

VERSE 9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials (~ysiyrIS'h; rf; ynEp.li ~ymix]r;l.W ds,x,l. laYEnID'-ta, ~yhil{a/h' !TeYIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. nathan give, grant + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. Elohim God + d.o. marker w/proper noun Daniel + prep. l w/noun m.s.abs. chesed lovingkindness; "favor" + waw w/noun m.p.abs. rachamim for tender mercy or affection; the root refers to deep affection usually of a superior for an inferior; this noun shows a link between "raham," "to have compassion (Piel) and rehem, "womb" for the seat of emotions; it is an expression of one’s deep emotion + prep. l w/noun p.constr. paneh face; "in the sight of" + noun m.s.abs. shar prince; "commander" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. saris official; eunuch]).

ANALYSIS: VERSE 9

1. It is quite fortuitous that Daniel found rapport with his immediate melsar ("guardian," "overseer"), according to v.11¾ and even with Ashpenaz himself the "chief official" (sar hassarisim, vv. 7,9,10,11,18), who was in charge of the whole academy (v.9).
2. He had found "favor" (chesed, implies loyalty based on a relationship of mutual commitment) and "sympathy" (rahemim) with Ashpenaz (v.9), and felt he could confide in him.
3. Like Joseph who had commended himself to Potiphar, the head of Pharaoh’s bodyguard and to the warden of the prison, so Daniel was form the outset noticed for his character.
4. The unseen hand was God’s ability to bring Daniel to the attention of his superiors.
5. And, to see to it that these two men were of a certain character that would even entertain such a request.
6. God is indeed looking out for his servants and is at work in the so-called small things.

VERSE 10 and the commander of the officials said to Daniel (laYEnId'l. ~ysiyrIS'h; rf; rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal imperf.3.m.s. amar say + noun m.s.abs. sar prince; "commander" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. saris official + proper noun Daniel], "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink [~k,yTev.mi-ta,w> ~k,l.k;a]m;-ta, hN"mi rv,a] %l,M,h; ynIdoa]-ta, ynIa] arey" [adj.m.s.abs. yare fear + pro.1c.s. ani I + d.o. marker w/noun m.s.w/1c.s.suff. adon lord, master + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king + rel.pro. asher who + Piel perf.3.m.s. manah number, appoint + d.o. marker w/noun m.s.constr.w/2m.p.suff. ma-akal food; from root meaning "to eat" + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/2.m.p.suff. mishteh drink]; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age [~k,l.ygIK. rv,a] ~ydIl'y>h;-!mi ~ypi[]zO ~k,ynEP.-ta, ha,r>yI hM'l' rv,a] [rel.pro. asher who + interrog.part. lammah why + Qal impf.3.m.s. ra-ah see + d.o. marker w/noun m.p.constr.w/2.p.suff. paneh face + Qal part.m.p.abs. za-aph be sad; "more haggard" or "worse" + prep. min "than" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. yeled youth + rel.pro. asher who + prep. k w/noun m.s.constr.w/2.m.p. gil rejoicing; root is related to vigorous enthusiastic expressions of joy; refers to the exuberance of youth; "your own age"]? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king [%l,M,l; yviaro-ta, ~T,b.Y:xiw> [waw w/Piel perf.2.m.p. chawab endanger; constitute guily + d.o. marker w/noun m.s.constr.w/1c.s.suff. rosh head + prep. l w/noun m.s.abs. melek king])."

Plan B (vv.11-13)

VERSE 11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (hy"r>z:[]w: laev'ymi hy"n>n:x] laYEnID'-l[; ~ysiyrIS'h; rf; hN"mi rv,a] rc;l.M,h;-la, laYEnID' rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. amar say + proper noun Daniel + prep. el to + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melsar guardian, overseer + rel.pro. asher which + Piel perf.3.m.s. manah appoint + noun m.s.abs. shar prince; "commander" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. saris official, eunuch + prep. al over + proper noun Daniel + proper noun Hananiah + proper noun Mishael + waw w/proper noun Azariah]),

VERSE 12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink (hT,v.nIw> ~yIm;W hl'k.anOw> ~y[iroZEh;-!mi Wnl'-WnT.yIw> hr'f'[] ~ymiy" ^yd,b'[]-ta, an"-sn: [Piel imper.m.s. nasah test + interj. na please + d.o. marker + noun m.p.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. ebed servant + noun m.p.abs. yom day + adj.f.s.abs. asharah ten + waw w/Qal impf.3.m.p. jussive nathan give + prep. l w/1m.p.suff. "to us + prep. min from + def.art. w/noun m.p.abs. zeruah vegetable; thing planted/sown + waw w/Qal impf.1c.p. cohorative akal eat + waw w/noun m.p.abs. mayim water + waw w/Qal impf.1c.p. cohorative shathah drink]).

VERSE 13 "Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king's choice food (%l,M,h; gB;t.P; tae ~ylik.aoh' ~ydIl'y>h; haer>m;W Wnyaer>m; ^yn<p'l. War'yEw> [waw w/Niphal impf.3.m.p. jussive ra-ah see; "let be observed" + prep. l w/noun both p.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. paneh face; "in your presence" + noun m.p.constr.w/1c.p.suff. mar-eh appearance + waw w/noun m.s.constr. mar-eh appearance + def.art.w.noun m.p.abs. yeled youth + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. yeled youth + def.art.w/Qal part.m.p.abs. akal eat; "eating" + d.o.marker + noun m.s.constr. path-bah potion; "choice food" + def.art.w.noun m.s.abs. melek king]); and deal with your servants according to what you see (^yd,b'[]-~[i hfe[] haer>Ti rv,a]k;w> [waw w/prep. k w/rel.pro. asher "according to what" + Qal impf.2.m.s. ra-ah see + Qal imper.m.s. ashah "deal" + prep. im "with" + noun m.p.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. ebed servant])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 10-13

1. Daniel, who had gained the respect and compassion of the head of the Royal Academy, decided on a plan of action that had him take his special request to Ashpenaz.
2. V.10 records Ashpenaz’s response.
3. He explained the jeopardy that he would place himself under if he honored Daniel’s request, which under the circumstances was reasonable for a man in his position.
4. He knew that the king (Neb.) would appear periodically for inspection of the students and if he found the Hebrew youths appearing less vibrant he would want answers.
5. The king had made his will quite clear and any who set it aside would be in danger of execution.
6. Ashpenaz turned down Daniel’s request not because he was an unreasonable man, but out of self-preservation.
7. Daniel turned to the unnamed individual within the academy who was responsible for the four Hebrew youths (apparently the guardians were assigned according to the racial/national background of the students).
8. Ashpenaz had directly appointed this courageous man as overseer of the Hebrew youths within the chain of command.
9. Daniel’s proposal in vv.12-13 was such that the only risk was to the Hebrews.
10. He proposed to their immediate guardian that a trial period of ten days be allowed in which the youths would have only a vegetarian diet.
11. After that they would be lined up with the other boys in the academy and the results would determine the Hebrews’ fate.
12. Daniel’s courage and faith are quite evident in this proposal.
13. It would take a miracle for the 4 friends to overcome the handicap of their diet.
14. This test was a faith building exercise that would serve them well for the future.
15. Based in principle they were unwilling to violate a commandment of the Law of God just to survive and prosper in an alien environment.
16. In effect, they proved themselves willing to put their future well being on the line, if not their very lives.
17. All this had to have transpired at the earliest possible moment, as they had to eat to live, let alone exhibit good health.
18. Considering the ordeal they had just undergone in the long trip to Babylon and their acceptance into the academy the actions taken by Daniel on behalf of himself and his compatriots was immediately after their selection process had been completed.
19. Here is an example from Scripture where food, of all things, becomes a test.
20. In this case, certainly not the lack of it or the quality of it.

VERSE 14 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days (hr'f'[] ~ymiy" ~Sen:y>w: hZ<h; rb'D'l; ~h,l' [m;v.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. shama hear + prep. l w/3.m.p.suff. + prep. l w/noun m.s.abs. dabar word; "in this matter" + def.art.w.adj.m.s.abs. zeh this + waw w/Piel impf.3.m.s.w/3.m.p.suff. nasah test + noun m.p.abs. yom day + adj.f.s.abs. asharah ten]).

VERSE 15 At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better (bAj ~h,yaer>m; ha'r>nI hr'f'[] ~ymiy" tc'q.miW [waw w/prep. min from w/noun f.s.abs. qetsath end + noun m.p.abs. yom day + adj.f.s.abs. asharah ten + Niphal perf.3.m.s. ra-ah see + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. mare-eth appearance; literally: "seeing their appearance" + adj.m.s.abs. tob good; "better"] and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food [%l,M,h; gB;t.P; tae ~ylik.aoh' ~ydIl'y>h;-lK'-!mi rf'B' yaeyrIb.W [waw w/adj.m.p.constr. bari fatter, firm; cp. "fat sheep" in Ezek.34:3; here as a comparative as with tobh + noun m.s.abs. bashar flesh + prep. min from; "than" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w.noun m.p.abs. yeledh youth + def.art.w/Qal part.m.p.abs. akal eat + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. path-bag "choice food" + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king]).

VERSE 16 So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables (~ynI[or>zE ~h,l' !tenOw> ~h,yTev.mi !yyEw> ~g"B't.P;-ta, afenO rc;l.M,h; yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. hayah be; "continued" or "was" + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. meletsar guardian/overseer; Babylonian title; meaning unknown + Qal part.m.s.abs. nasha lift; "withhold" + d.o. marker w/noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. path-bag "choice food" + waw w/noun m.s.constr. yayin wine + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. misheteh drink; "they were to drink" + waw w/Qal part.m.s.abs. nathan give + prep. l w/3.m.p.suff. + noun m.p.abs. zera-on vegetable]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 14-16

1. One of the questions this episode poses is: Did the unnamed guardian go behind the back of his immediate superior Ashpenaz?
2. Although this is not absolutely clear from the above verses.
3. Perhaps he simply allowed the guardian to handle things using his own discretion (v.10 could be merely a protest that gave way to his letting the overseer handle it or it could mean a "no").
4. Certainly they all violated the strict order of Nebuchadnezzar the king!
5. In any case, Ashpenaz approved of the special dietary regimen of the Hebrew youths when he saw the comparison after the 10 days.
6. All the youths entering the academy were not in the best of physical appearance due to the ordeal of captivity and transport.
7. Perhaps the Hebrew youths had fasted during the ordeal.
8. So when the 10 days were up their appearance was all the more dramatic as compared to the others who had been eating the rich food and drink from the king’s kitchen.
9. The gauntness of the Hebrew youths was significantly more abated than of the other youths.
10. In v.14 the words "So he listened to them" has as its antecedent the overseer.
11. At the end of the 10 days (a relative short time) the Hebrews appeared noticeably better in literally, "the fatness (or firmness) of [their] flesh."
12. What are we to attribute this physical superiority to?
13. Was it their diet or was it the hand of God?
14. If the latter then what we have here is a miracle, and a miracle of some significance considering that there diet lacked meat protein for 3 years!
15. Fruit and vegetables (include bread) for all their meals was blessed of God.

VERSE 17 As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom (hm'k.x'w> rp,se-lk'B. lKef.h;w> [D'm; ~yhil{a/h' ~h,l' !t;n" ~T'[.B;r>a; hL,aeh' ~ydIl'y>h;w> [waw w/def.art.w/noun m.p.ab. yeledh youth + def.art.w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + adj.m.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. arebba-ah four + Qal perf.3.m.s. nathan give + prep. l w/3.m.p.suff. + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. Elohim + noun m.s.abs. madda knowledge + waw w/Hiphil infin.abs. shakal be wise + prep. b w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.s.abs. seper writing; "literature" + waw w/noun f.s.abs. chokemah wisdom]; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams (tAml{x]w: !Azx'-lk'B. !ybihe [ laYEnId'w> [waw w/proper noun Daniel + Hiphil perf.3.m.s. bin understand + prep. b w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.s.abs. chazon vision + waw w/noun m.p.abs. chalom dream]).

VERSE 18 Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them (~a'ybih]l; %l,M,h; rm;a'-rv,a] ~ymiY"h; tc'q.mil.W [waw w/prep. l w/prep. min from; "at" w/noun f.s.abs. qetsath end + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. yom day + rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3.m.s. amar say + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king + prep. l w/Hiphil infin.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. bo bring], the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar [rC;n<d>k;bun> ynEp.li ~ysiyrIS'h; rf; ~aeybiy>w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3.m.s.w/3.m.p.suff. bo bring + noun m.s.abs. shar prince, commander + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. saris official; e.g., Ashpenaz + prep. l w/noun both p.constr. panim face + proper noun Nebuchadnezzar]).

VERSE 19 The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's personal service (%l,M,h; ynEp.li Wdm.[;Y:w: hy"r>z:[]w: laev'ymi hy"n>n:x] laYEnId'K. ~L'Kumi ac'm.nI al{w> %l,M,h; ~T'ai rBed;y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3.m.s. dabar speak + prep. eth with + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king + waw w/neg. lo + Niphal perf.3.m.s. matsa find + prep. min from w/noun m.s.constr.w.3.m.p.suff. kol all + prep. k w/proper noun Daniel + proper noun Hananiah + proper noun Mishael + proper noun Azariah + waw w/qal impf.3.m.p. amad to stand; "served" + prep. l w/noun both p.constr. paneh face + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king]).

VERSE 20 As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them (%l,M,h; ~h,me vQeBi-rv,a] hn"yBi tm;k.x' rb;D> lkow> [waw w/noun m.s.abs. kol all, every + noun m.s.constr. dabar word; "matter" + noun f.s.constr. chakemah wisdom + noun f.s.ab.s binah understanding + rel.pro. asher which + Piel perf.3.m.s. baqash inquire + prep. min from w/3.m.p.suff. + def.art.w.noun m.s.abs. melek king], he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm [AtWkl.m;-lk'B. rv,a] ~ypiV'a;h' ~yMijur>x;h;-lK' l[; tAdy" rf,[, ~aec'm.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s.w/3.m.p.suff. matsa find + adj.f.s.abs. esher ten + noun f.p.abs. yad hand; "better" + prep. al over + noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. charetom magician; some variety of occultist, diviner + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. assap astrologer; all occurences for this noun in Daniel: 1:20; 2:2,20,27; 5:7,11,15; the Assyrian ashipu means the same + rel.pro. asher + prep. b w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + nouun f.s.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. malekuth realm, kingdom]).

VERSE 21 And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king (%l,M,h; vr,Akl. tx;a; tn:v.-d[; laYEnID' yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3.m.s. hayah be; "continued" + proper name Daniel + prep. ad until + noun f.s.constr. shanah year + adj.f.s.abs. echad one + prep. l w/proper noun Cyrus + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. melek king]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 18-21

1. When the time came for the oral examination (v.19) of the graduates from the Royal Academy (v.18), Ashpenaz ("the commander of the officials") presented the students before Nebuchadnezzar himself.
2. Out of this student body the king discovered that he had four students that stood head and shoulders above the rest.
3. So duly impressed was the king with their responses to his questions that he decided to assign them special duty in the royal court (v.19).
4. The king’s objectivity paid off handsomely as they proved themselves to be "ten times" the better of the usual men who served as counselors and prognosticators (v.20).
5. The designation "magicians" (~jor>x; chartom or pl. chartumim) refers to a diviner, one who employed magical arts to arrive at an answer to a question put to them by the royal authority to determine the best course of action for the government.
6. An example is seen in connection with Nebuchadnezzar’s decision to attack Jerusalem or not in Ezek.21:21.
7. The term is also used in connection with this category of court official with respect to the Egyptian throne (Gen.41:24; Ex.8:3,14,15,; 9:11; also at Dan.2:2).
8. The 2^nd term referring to practitioners of the occult arts is "enchanters" (@V'a;) occurring only in Daniel (1:20; 2:2 [Heb]; and 4:4; 5:7,11,15 [Aramaic).
9. This term is the equivalent of the Assyrian ashipu.
10. It refers to someone who engages in astrological sorcery.
11. In other words, someone who studies star charts and prognosticates the future.
12. The Hebrew youths of course did not resort to the magical arts as this was clearly forbidden under their law (cf. Deut.18:10-12).
13. The text simply states that they attained great success before the throne based on their God-given "wisdom and understanding [with respect to every matter] about which the king consulted them."
14. Nebuchadnezzar could have cared less how they arrived at the answer that made him look good.
15. The answers came via prayer and application of the WOG to each situation.
16. They determined that they would act to please God not men.
17. Daniel and his three friends far excelled the professional heathen diviners and conjurers.
18. They had their system and Daniel and friends had theirs.
19. For their superiors it was results that mattered, not the means.
20. Nebuchadnezzar soon learned to rely on the answers supplied by the Hebrew students.
21. Again, God supplies Nebuchadnezzar and his court with a strong witness.
22. The last verse supplies us with an important chronological notation with respect to the public career of Daniel.
23. He continued in the public limelight, more or less, "until the first year of Cyrus" the Great.
24. Babylon fell to the Medo-Persians in 539 BC.
25. Daniel was taken to Babylon at the beginning of the Captivity in 605 BC.
26. The Captivity was to last 70 years (see Jer.25:11-12; 29:10 for the prophecy and com. Dan.9:2), no more, no less; that would make the return year of the 42,000 Jews to be 535 BC.
27. The "first year" of Cyrus the Persian, or the year of his coronation would have been 537 BC.
28. The rule of the province of Babylonia was first entrusted to Darius the Mede by King Cyrus according to Dan.5:31.
29. Daniel 9 is dated in the "first year" of Darius, it is fair to assume that Darius remained as titular king till 538 or 537 BC.
30. So again, the "first year" of Cyrus was 537 BC (or 536 BC).
31. Since Daniel was a student in the Royal Academy for three years which would bring us to the year 602 BC (or 601 BC), the year of his appointment to government service.
32. Thus the whole term of his service would have been 65 years (+ or – one).
33. The time frame would be 602-536 BC.
34. Daniel probably retired shortly before his death as his final revelations took place in "the third year of Cyrus" (10:1), or two years after his retirement.