Daniel 1

IN the third year of the reign of Jehojakim King of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem, and besieged it Comparing this with 2 Kings 24.1. and with 2 Chron. 36.6. the meaning is, after the Lord had taken away that good King Iosiah for the sins of Iudah and Manasseh, which were very great, by Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt, the People of the Land took Iehoahaz the Son of Iosiah, and made him King, he Reigned but three months, wherein he did so evil in the sight of the Lord, that the said Pharaoh Necho put him in bands at Riblah, and after carried him to Egypt where he dyed, and made Eliakim his Brother King in his stead, and turned his name to Iehojakim; he became Nebuchadnezzars Servant three years, for that King of Babylon had overthrown Pharoahs Army at Carchemish by the River Euphrates, and Iehojakim rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar which made him come up from Babylon and took Iehojakim, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon; of whom, and his death, and burial you have a sad account, Ier. 22.17, 18, 19..

And the LORD gave Jehojakim king of Judah into his hand, with part In this expedition Nebuchadnezzar carried away some of the vessels of the Temple, and some Captives, among whom was Daniel and his Friends. These Vessels he carried into the house of his God. of the vessels of the house of God Which God was Baal or Bel, and Nebo, Isa. 46.1. which words they put into the names of their Kings, and Favourites, of which more afterward., which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god These Vessels as spoils he put in the house of his God for his Honour, because he thought, he had gotten his victory by the help of his Idol God, 1 Sam. 31.9, 10. as the Philistins did, Iudg. 16.23, 24. when as the Text says the Lord gave all into his hand, ver. 2. The executioners of Gods wrath upon Gods sinful people have other thoughts then God has about that, Isa. 10.5. to ver. 16., and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god.

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs These here called Eunuchs were chief among the Kings Servants; and they are called Eunuchs because many of them were such as at this day and of old among all the Princes of the East, but they were not all such, Ier. 52.25. The word translated Eunuch signifies also Chamberlain, such was Hatach, Esther, 4.5. such were Bigthan and Ie sh, Esther, 6.2. and Harbonah, Esther 7.9. Ashpenaz in the Text, the master of the Kings Eunuchs, who had set Melzar over Daniel and his companions, ver. 11., that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the kings seed, and of the princes Here was fulfilled what the Prophet Isaiah had foretold King Hezekiah, Isa. 39.7. Some think Daniel and his Companions were made Eunuchs in a strict sense, which does not appear to be probable; but rather to be bred up in the Court for Officers, and thereby to alienate their minds from the Religion of their Countrey, and from seeking the welfare and return of their people, but God had otherwise appointed by this Education of them, as appears in many signal testimonies of the presence, and power of God with them, for the conviction of Idolaters that God was above all gods..

Children in whom was no blemish, but well-favoured and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science If Princes are so curious in their choice, no marvel that God was cautious in his, Lev. 21.17. to ver. 21. and 22.20. to ver. 25. The reason why they were so delicately trained up, was that they being in the flower of their Age should be allured with the delights of the Court, and should thereby be brought to forget their Fathers house, and their Religion; this has been the artifice of the Turk in taking Christians Children, and making them Mamal cks and Ianizaries, that thereby they may be come as Renegadoes, the greatest Champions for Mahomet, and Enemies to the Christians., and such as had ability in them to stand in the kings palace This notes men fit by their parts to give advice in arduous matters, 2 Chron. 10.6. which shows that men only of promising abilities, and not incompetent should be admitted to the presence of Kings., and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans For this cause Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians Acts 7.22. yet it must be supposed that neither Moses nor Daniel learned any thing that was ungodly, but only to search nature, and that which was only moral; wherein both the Chaldeans and Egyptians were skil'd above any other nations of the Heathens. And although their Magi or Wisemen did at last degenerate into curious and vain Arts, yet Daniel had no further design to know their Wisdom then to choose the good of it, and to shun, and reject that which was unlawful. The Chaldean Tongue differed from the Hebrew in dialect, and in pronuntiation, which they learned in the right tone and accent, that they might be the more acceptable to the King, and Court by their conformity in Garb, Language and Manners; for which they had the space of three years allotted them..

And the king appointed them a daily povision of the kings meat Such as he had at his own Table, wherein his bounty and humanity appeared towards them, the more conspicuous, they being Captives by this preparation they were judged fit to stand before the King, Prov. 22.29. men of ingenuity and proficiency are fit to stand before Kings., and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah Doubtless most of them of the Royal Lineage of Iudah to which Tribe God had a special respect upon the account of David, and this Tribe of Iudah had the preheminence in many things.:

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names That is other Names, this was done by the subtle instigation of Satan, that they might renounce their names received in circumcision, by assuming names imposed relating to the Idol gods, being a profanation, and a further degree of their apostasie, for Daniel had the name of Belt hassar or Baltasar, from the great Babylonian Idol Baal or Bel, &c. This was by the Kings Command, and herein he put forth an act of his soveraignty: Thus Adam, Gen. 2.19, 20. Thus Pharaoh did, Gen. 41.45. he gave Ioseph the name of Zaphnath-paaneah. And Pharaoh Necho changed the name of Eliakim (Iosiahs Son) to Iehojakim, 2 King. 23.34. And the King of Babylon turned the name of Mattaniah to Zedekiah, 2 King. 24.17. The Lord changed the name of Sarai to Sarah, of Abram to Abraham. Of Iacob to Israel. Thus the Lord changed Simons name to Cephas or Peter, Mark 3.16.: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar n, and to Hananiah of Shadrach, and to Mishael of Meshach, and to Azariah of Abednego.

¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart, that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings meat, nor with the wine which he drank There may be several weighty reasons assigned why Daniel did this. 1. Because many of those meats provided for the Kings Table, were such as were forbidden by the Jews Law, whereof Daniel made Conscience. 2. Daniel knew these delicates would too much gratifie and pamper the flesh, and therefore would prevent the defilements which too often do arise from delicious fate, Deut. 32.14, 15. Ezek. 16.49. Hos. 13.6. Rom. 13.13. so that those who fare deliciously would practice this. 3. Daniel knew he should by this bait be taken with the hook which lay hid under it, and insensibly be drawn from the true Religion to a false by eating, and drinking things consecrated to Idols. 4. Daniel saw his people lye under Gods displeasure, by their Captivity, and therefore could not but be sensible how unsuitable a courtly Lise would be in him to the afflicted state of Gods people, Heb. 11.24, 25, 26. Therefore Daniel was herein a rare pattern of avoiding all the occasions of evil, which he did with purpose of heart, says the Text, Act. 11.23. he purposed in his heart to abstain.: therefore he requested of the prince of of the eunuchs, that he might not defile himself.

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs This is a special act of Gods favour to his afflicted people, to give them any favour in the eyes of them that do afflict them, Psal. 106.46. he made them to be pittied of them that carried them Captive. This is the effect of sincere Holiness and Innocence, Prov. 16.7. This is the effect of Prayer, 1 King. 8.50. This is the effect of the special presence of God, Gen. 39.3, 4, 21..

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my LORD the king, who has appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking then the children which are of your sort 1. Because he believed their countenances would bewray them.? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king 2. Because the king having appointed it, he dares not disobey for his Life lay at stake..

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

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

Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the kings meat: and as thou seest deal with thy servants By these words Daniel secures Melzar against fear, and danger only by ten days tryal, which was a fair and reasonable proffer which the servants of God must carefully do when they have good offices done them by the Servants of Princes, as Elijah was careful of good Obadiah, 1 Kings 18.11, 12. to secure him from death..

So he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days.

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and fatter in flesh, then all the children which did eat the portion of the kings meat There be three things here to be observed. 1. The hand of God in persuading Melzar to encline to Daniels request. 2. The goodness of God, to make good Daniels words. 3. That the blessing of God upon homely fare, affords often times more healthful nourishment and strength, then more costly fare to them that eat the fat and drink the sweet..

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse Which he could not but take well, for hereby he gained the costly provision of 4 men for the space of three years to his own use, and profit. Hence observe that Courtiers are no losers by the favours they procure for Gods Servants. 2. They are most willing to serve Gods Servants, when they can therein also serve themselves by it..

¶ As for these four children God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom We must own this to come from God, Iam. 1.5. These are beams of light shining in us from the Father of lights, and a man can receive nothing of this unless it be given him from above, Ioh. 3.27. Object. But was not this Magick, and was not this learning forbidden as abomination to the Lord, Deut. 18.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14? Resp. The Chaldeans used lawful Arts and Sciences, and unlawful, these four young men, Daniel and his Companions used only those that were lawful; rejecting all that wisdom which is sensual, carnal, and devilish, Iam. 3.15., and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams Not in idle vain, and lying, but in such as were sent of God, and Predictions of things to come as Numb. 12.6. such as the Prophets had, such was that of Nebuchadnezzar..

Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in At the three years end according to the Kings Command which Melzar punctually observed, and brought them in before the King., then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar

And the king communed with them i. e. To try their proficiency this argues the Kings ability and judgment, how else could he discern their fitness, and their excellency above others, he examined all Candidates, he preferred those that outstripped others.: and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

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 This is a further confirmation of the Kings noble endowments of mind, and of his great care whom he chose to be in offices of trust, namely persons excellently qualified to serve him in the great affairs of the Kingdom, not to serve his lusts of them for base jobs for which men of no abilities or honour are usually chosen..

And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus i. e. In the Court of Babylon until Cyrus, and then he was in the Persian Court, and he lived in Honour and high employment all that time, yea after Cyrus began to Reign, for chap. 10.1. he had Visions and Revelations, in the third year of Cyrus, he might live longer, for the word until does not exclude things that follow after, Psal. 110.1. and 112.8..