December
3rd Daniel
1
A.
The Personal History of Daniel (Written in Hebrew)
Daniel
in Nebuchadnezzar’s court.
1:
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 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. 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. 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. 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 Abed-nego. 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. 9:
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the
prince of the eunuchs. 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. 11:
Then said Daniel to Melzar, 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 eat, 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 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. 17:
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all
learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding 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: therefore stood they
before the king. 20:
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king
inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the
magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 21:
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Daniel
2
B
The Prophetic History of Daniel Relating to the Gentile world
(Written in Aramaic)
Nebuchadnezzar’s
dream
1:
And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar
dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep
brake from him. 2:
Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers,
and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his
dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3:
And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit
was troubled to know the dream. 4:
Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for
ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the
interpretation. 5:
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from
me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the
interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses
shall be made a dunghill. 6:
But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall
receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me
the dream, and the interpretation thereof. 7:
They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the
dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. 8:
The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain
the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 9:
But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one
decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak
before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and
I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. 10:
The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man
upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no
king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or
astrologer, or Chaldean. 11:
And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none
other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose
dwelling is not with flesh. 12:
For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to
destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13:
And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they
sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 14:
Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of
the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of
Babylon: 15:
He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree
so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16:
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him
time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. 17:
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18:
That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this
secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest
of the wise men of Babylon. 19:
Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then
Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20:
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and
ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21:
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and
setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to
them that know understanding: 22:
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the
darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 23:
I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast
given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we
desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's
matter. 24:
Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to
destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him;
Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and
I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 25:
Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus
unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make
known unto the king the interpretation. 26:
The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar,
Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and
the interpretation thereof? 27:
Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret
which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers,
the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 28:
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known
to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy
dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; 29:
As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed,
what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets
maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 30:
But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that
I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make
known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the
thoughts of thy heart. 31:
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image,
whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form
thereof was terrible. 32:
This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of
silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33:
His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34:
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote
the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to
pieces. 35:
Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold,
broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer
threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was
found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great
mountain, and filled the whole earth. 36:
This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before
the king. 37:
Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given
thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38:
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field
and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath
made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39:
And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and
another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the
earth. 40:
And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron
breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh
all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41:
And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and
part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it
of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed
with miry clay. 42:
And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so
the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43:
And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle
themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to
another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44:
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be
left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45:
Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain
without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the
clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the
king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and
the interpretation thereof sure.
Daniel
is rewarded
46:
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped
Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet
odours unto him. 47:
The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your
God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets,
seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 48:
Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts,
and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of
the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49:
Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel
sat in the gate of the king.
Daniel
3 The fiery furnace
1:
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was
threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up
in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2:
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the
governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the
counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to
come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had
set up. 3:
Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the
treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the
provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the
image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4:
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people,
nations, and languages, 5:
That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down
and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set
up: 6:
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be
cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7:
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the
cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all
the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped
the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 8:
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the
Jews. 9:
They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for
ever. 10:
Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the
sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer,
and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden
image: 11:
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast
into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12:
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the
province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O
king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship
the golden image which thou hast set up. 13:
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14:
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the
golden image which I have set up? 15:
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of
musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:
but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver
you out of my hands? 16:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17:
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O
king. 18:
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy
gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Three
brave men
19:
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was
changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake,
and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more
than it was wont to be heated. 20:
And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning
fiery furnace. 21:
Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their
hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the
burning fiery furnace. 22:
Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace
exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23:
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down
bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24:
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and
spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound
into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king,
True, O king. 25:
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst
of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is
like the Son of God. 26:
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery
furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye
servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the
fire. 27:
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellers,
being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire
had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were
their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28:
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his
servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and
yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god,
except their own God. 29:
Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language,
which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a
dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this
sort. 30:
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the
province of Babylon.
In this wonderful
prophetic book Daniel begins by recounting the story of his capture
and transportation to the city of Babylon. This occurred in the third
year of the reign of Jehoiakim – king of Judah. It was the Lord who
delivered him into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar also took the holy vessels of the temple and he put
them in the house of his god in the land of Shinar. Then the king
ordered that Ashpenaz who was master of the eunuchs to select some of
the children of the king and of the princes. He was specifically to
look for children that were perfect specimens of health, children who
were well liked, skilled in solving problems, very bright in all
areas of knowledge, having some understanding of the sciences and
able t have the confidence to hold their own in the company of the
king. These were selected to be taught the language and education of
the Chaldeans. The king also appointed them a daily provision of the
kings meat and the wine and they were to study for three years and
afterward they were to come into the kings court. (At this stage he
would probably place them in positions of authority over the Jews and
possibly over his own people) Among the children that were selected
was Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The king gave them new
names. Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach;
Mishael was called Meshach and Azariah was called Abed-nego. Daniel
had been forced from his home, they had changed in language and
changed his name. They had set him on an educational programme. All
these things he could not change but he was not going to allow
himself to change his diet. There were two things here, first the
possibility of food offered to idols and secondly the eating of non
Kosher food. Daniel decided he would not defile himself by eating the
food and drinking the wine from the king. So Daniel requested of the
master of the eunuchs that he might be allowed to pass on this diet.
Daniel was very much liked and loved by the master of the eunuchs so
he said to Daniel, l am afraid of the king and he might hurt me if
you refuse the kings food. This was difficult for Daniel. Its one
thing making a decision that affects himself but this affects someone
that he cares for. Daniel answered Melzar (who had been appointed
over him) Prove us to yourself. Give us just ten days grace and let
us eat pulse and water then after ten days come and look at us and if
we are not more healthy then we will eat the kings meat. Daniel knew
diet and he knew the affects of a diet of pulse and water. After the
ten days Daniel was vindicated. As a result of the determination of
these four young men to keep themselves faithful to the dietary
requirements of the Mosaic law God blessed them giving them knowledge
skill and wisdom and to Daniel God gave him understanding in all
visions and dreams. (Visions are waking dreams) After the three years
Nebuchadnezzar found these four young men to be outstanding in all
matters of wisdom and understanding. In fact he found then ten times
better than all the magicians and astrologers in his kingdom. In the
second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (with Daniel at his side)
he dreamed a dream in which he was deeply troubled. Dreams in
scripture are Gods ways of getting the attention of men in the
absence of scripture, therefore they often come to Gentiles.
Nebuchadnezzar called his wise men and told them that he had had a
dream and they were to tell him of its meaning. But he was not going
to tell them of the dream. None of them could tell the meaning of the
dream because none of them knew what it was. He also said if you do
not tell me the dream then l will destroy you and your houses. The
wise men criticised the king for his harshness and this made him
furious so he issued a decree to kill all the wise men - including
Daniel. When Arioch came to kill Daniel he asked why it was so urgent
and then Daniel requested an audience with the king. Daniel asked for
time to enquire of the Lord. Daniel and his three friends prayed to
God to make this known. In the night Daniel had a vision of the kings
dream and Daniel blessed God for it. His prayer is a model of Daniels
understanding. Daniel comes before the King and not only gives the
interpretation but also its meaning. It’s interesting that Daniel
refers to God as ‘The God of heaven’. This is consistently the
name used to describe God to Gentiles. Daniel explains that the dream
is a picture of the latter days. (i.e. the days preceding the
Messianic kingdom) Daniel also disclaims any personal wisdom in
knowing these things. All glory goes to the Lord the revealer of
secrets. The dream was of a great statue who was made of various
types of metal. A head of gold, breasts of silver, belly and thigh of
brass and legs of iron and feet of iron and clay. Then Daniel told of
the stone that came and hit the feet of clay and iron causing the
whole image to fall. Then Daniel explains that Nebuchadnezzar is the
head of gold and that there will be four other empires that will
arise after him. he also says that the God of heaven has set him up
and that others will follow. Then Daniel went on to say that God will
establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar
honoured Daniel and made him governor of Babylon and head of the wise
men. Daniel requested that his three friends might take this post and
that he would attend on the king (Sitting in the gate of the king).
The next thing that happened in this long and detailed story is that
Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image nearly 76 feet high and made of
gold. Then it was commanded that whenever anyone heard any music they
were to turn and bow to the image. Those who did not bow were to be
thrown into the furnace. The three friends of Daniel, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego, who were set over the affairs of Babylon
refused to bow down. They are brought before the king and they give
their answer to the charge against them. They say they are very
careful to answer, They say Our God who we serve is able to deliver
us but even if he does not then we will not bow down to this image.
The furnace is heated up seven times hotter and they are thrown into
it bound hand and foot. The fire killed the men who threw them in!
Then the king is astonished because in the fire he can see four men
walking – and the forth is like the son of God. Then the king
called on them to come out of the fire and they came out completely
unharmed and even without the small of the fire on their clothes.
Then the King worshipped the God of heaven and he made a decree that
all the earth was to worship the God of heaven.
- What sort of young man was Daniel?
- What was Daniels great moral challenge?
- What brought Daniel to the attention of the king?
- What did the dream of mean?
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