Bible Commentaries
Daniel 1

Introduction

Overview

Daniel 1:1, Jehoiakim’s captivity; Daniel 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.

Verse 1

2 Kings 24:1, 2 Kings 24:2, 2 Kings 24:13, 2 Chronicles 36:5-7

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 24:10 - At that time 2 Chronicles 36:6 - came up 2 Chronicles 36:10 - goodly vessels Ezra 5:12 - into the hand Jeremiah 25:1 - in the Jeremiah 35:1 - in the Jeremiah 35:11 - when Jeremiah 52:28 - in the Ezekiel 14:20 - Daniel Daniel 2:1 - in

Verse 2

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the Lord: Daniel 2:37, Daniel 2:38, Daniel 5:18, Deuteronomy 28:49-52, Deuteronomy 32:30, Judges 2:14, Judges 3:8, Judges 4:2, Psalms 106:41, Psalms 106:42, Isaiah 42:24

with part: Daniel 5:2, 2 Chronicles 36:7, Jeremiah 27:19, Jeremiah 27:20

Shinar: Genesis 10:10, Genesis 11:2, Isaiah 11:11, Zechariah 5:11

and he: Daniel 5:2, Daniel 5:3, Judges 16:23, Judges 16:24, 1 Samuel 5:2, 1 Samuel 31:9, 1 Samuel 31:10, Ezra 1:7, Jeremiah 51:44, Habakkuk 1:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:1 - Shinar Exodus 20:5 - for I 2 Kings 24:10 - At that time 1 Chronicles 9:1 - carried 2 Chronicles 36:6 - came up 2 Chronicles 36:10 - goodly vessels Ezra 5:12 - into the hand Ezra 6:5 - the golden Isaiah 39:6 - that all Isaiah 39:7 - they shall be Jeremiah 20:5 - I will deliver Jeremiah 27:16 - Behold Jeremiah 28:3 - that Jeremiah 35:11 - when Jeremiah 50:2 - her idols Jeremiah 52:17 - pillars Daniel 11:8 - their precious vessels Matthew 1:11 - about

Verse 3

Foretold, 2 Kings 20:17, 2 Kings 20:18, Isaiah 39:7, Jeremiah 41:1

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:15 - officers 2 Chronicles 18:8 - officers Esther 1:10 - chamberlains Isaiah 56:3 - neither Jeremiah 29:2 - eunuchs Daniel 1:7 - the prince Daniel 11:8 - their precious vessels

Verse 4

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

in whom: Leviticus 21:18-21, Leviticus 24:19, Leviticus 24:20, Judges 8:18, 2 Samuel 14:25, Acts 7:20, Ephesians 5:27

and skillful: 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. Daniel 2:20, Daniel 2:21, Daniel 5:11, Ecclesiastes 7:19, Acts 7:22

ability: Daniel 1:17-20, Proverbs 22:29

Verse 5

a daily: Atheneus says the kings of Persia were accustomed to order for their courtiers the food left at their tables. 1 Kings 4:22, 1 Kings 4:23, 2 Kings 25:30, Matthew 6:11, Luke 11:3

which he drank: Heb. of his drink

stand: Daniel 1:19, Genesis 41:46, 1 Samuel 16:22, 1 Kings 10:8, 2 Chronicles 9:7, Jeremiah 15:19, Luke 1:19, Luke 21:36

Reciprocal: Psalms 141:4 - and let me

Verse 6

Daniel: Daniel 2:17, Ezekiel 14:14, Ezekiel 14:20, Ezekiel 28:3, Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14

Reciprocal: Esther 2:7 - Hadassah Daniel 2:25 - captives of Judah Daniel 6:13 - That Daniel

Verse 7

the prince: Daniel 1:3, Daniel 1:10, Daniel 1:11

gave names: Daniel 4:8, Daniel 5:12, Genesis 41:45, 2 Kings 23:34, 2 Kings 24:17

Hananiah: Daniel 2:49, Daniel 3:12-30

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:15 - officers 2 Chronicles 18:8 - officers Esther 2:7 - Hadassah Daniel 2:17 - Hananiah Daniel 2:26 - Daniel Daniel 4:19 - Daniel Daniel 10:1 - whose

Verse 8

purposed: Ruth 1:17, Ruth 1:18, 1 Kings 5:5, Psalms 119:106, Psalms 119:115, Acts 11:23, 1 Corinthians 7:37, 2 Corinthians 9:7

defile: 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, יוסיב, 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. Leviticus 11:45-47, Deuteronomy 32:38, Psalms 106:28, Psalms 141:4, Ezekiel 4:13, Ezekiel 4:14, Hosea 9:3, Hosea 9:4, Acts 10:14-16, Romans 14:15-17, 1 Corinthians 8:7-10, 1 Corinthians 10:18-21, 1 Corinthians 10:28-31

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:2 - General 2 Chronicles 18:8 - officers Proverbs 23:3 - General Proverbs 23:6 - desire Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember 2 Timothy 3:10 - purpose

Verse 9

Genesis 32:28, Genesis 39:21, 1 Kings 8:50, Ezra 7:27, Ezra 7:28, Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah 2:4, Psalms 4:3, Psalms 106:46, Proverbs 16:7, Acts 7:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:27 - favour Exodus 12:36 - the Lord Nehemiah 2:8 - the king Esther 2:9 - she obtained Proverbs 3:4 - shalt Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember

Verse 10

I fear: Proverbs 29:25, John 12:42, John 12:43

worse liking: Heb. sadder, Matthew 6:16-18

sort: or, term, or continuance

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 8:50 - and give them Daniel 1:7 - the prince

Verse 11

Melzar: or, the steward, Daniel 1:16

Reciprocal: Daniel 1:7 - the prince Daniel 2:17 - Hananiah

Verse 12

pulse to eat: 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. Daniel 1:16, Genesis 1:29, Genesis 1:30, Deuteronomy 8:3, Romans 14:2

Reciprocal: Daniel 12:11 - a thousand

Verse 15

their: Exodus 23:25, Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 2 Kings 4:42-44, Psalms 37:16, Proverbs 10:22, Haggai 1:6, Haggai 1:9, Malachi 2:2, Matthew 4:4, Mark 6:41, Mark 6:42

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 19:8 - in the strength Lamentations 4:7 - purer

Verse 16

Daniel 1:11

Reciprocal: Daniel 1:12 - pulse to eat Romans 14:2 - eateth

Verse 17

God: Daniel 2:21, Daniel 2:23, 1 Kings 3:12, 1 Kings 3:28, 1 Kings 4:29-31, 2 Chronicles 1:10, 2 Chronicles 1:12, Job 32:8, Psalms 119:98-100, Proverbs 2:6, Ecclesiastes 2:26, Isaiah 28:26, Luke 21:15, Acts 6:10, Acts 7:10, Colossians 1:9, James 1:5, James 1:17

knowledge: Acts 7:22

Daniel had understanding: or, he made Daniel understand, Daniel 4:9, Daniel 4:10, Daniel 5:11, Daniel 5:12, Daniel 5:14, Daniel 10:1, Genesis 41:8-15, Numbers 12:6, 2 Chronicles 26:5, Ezekiel 28:3, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 10:24 - which God 2 Chronicles 9:23 - God Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Daniel 1:4 - ability Daniel 2:49 - he set Zechariah 2:4 - young 2 Timothy 2:7 - and James 3:17 - the wisdom

Verse 18

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:15 - officers 1 Kings 22:9 - officer Esther 1:10 - chamberlains Daniel 2:16 - and desired

Verse 19

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therefore: Daniel 1:5, Genesis 41:46, 1 Kings 17:1, Proverbs 22:29, Jeremiah 15:19

Reciprocal: Esther 1:10 - chamberlains Proverbs 16:20 - handleth Daniel 2:13 - and they Daniel 2:16 - and desired

Verse 20

in all: 1 Kings 4:29-34, 1 Kings 10:1-3, 1 Kings 10:23, 1 Kings 10:24, Psalms 119:99

wisdom and understanding: Heb. wisdom of understanding

ten: Genesis 31:7, Numbers 14:22, Nehemiah 4:12, Job 19:3

the magicians: Daniel 2:2-11, Daniel 2:21-23, Daniel 4:7, Daniel 4:8-18, Daniel 5:7, Daniel 5:8, Daniel 5:17, Genesis 41:8, Exodus 7:11, Exodus 7:12, Exodus 7:22, Exodus 8:7, Exodus 8:19, Isaiah 19:3, Isaiah 47:12-14, 2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:9

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:6 - Surely 1 Samuel 18:30 - behaved himself 1 Kings 4:30 - the children Ezra 8:18 - a man of understanding Isaiah 44:25 - maketh Ezekiel 28:3 - thou art Daniel 2:13 - and they Daniel 4:9 - master

Verse 21

Daniel 6:28, Daniel 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 Psalms 110:1, Psalms 112:8.

Reciprocal: Daniel 5:13 - Art thou Daniel 9:1 - Darius