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Daniel 1
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 (1:1) The third year of the reign of Jehoiakim would
be 606 BCE, at which time Nebuchadnezzar was not yet king of Babylon. It was 597
BCE that Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem for the first time (without actually
destroying it). By that time Jehohiakim was dead and his son, Jehoiachin, was
ruling. (See Bad History
in the Book of Daniel by Farrell Till)
"In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it."
 (1:2) "The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his [Nebuchadnezzar's] hand."
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| 1:1 In the third yearof the reign of Jehoiakim
king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and
besieged it.
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| 1:2
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.
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| 1:3
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;
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| 1:4
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. |
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| 1:5
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. |
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| 1:6
Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah: |
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| 1:7
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 Abednego. |
 (1:8) "Daniel ... would not defile himself with ... the
king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank."
OK to drink alcohol?
What kind of animals may we eat?
 (1:9) "God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of
the eunuchs."
(1:11-16) Melzar was worried that he'd get in trouble with the king if Daniel and his companions ate only pulse and water.
So Daniel proposed a test: try it and see how they looked compared to the meat eaters. After only ten days, the vegans were way "fairer and fatter."
(1:11-12) "Then said Daniel to Melzar ... Prove thy servants ... ten days; and let them give us pulse
to eat, and water to drink."
(1:13) "Then let our countenances be looked upon."
(1:14) "So he ... proved them ten days."
(1:15) "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."
(1:16) "Thus Melzar took away ... their meat, and the wine ... and gave them pulse."
(1:17-20) Daniel and his companions were ten times wiser than "all the magicians and
astrologers in the realm."
(1:17) "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge ... and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."
(1:18) "The prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar."
(1:19) "The king ... found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah."
(1:20) "In all matters of wisdom and understanding ... the king ... found them [Daniel and his friends]
ten times wiser than all the magicians and astrologers in his realm."
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| 1:8
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.
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| 1:9
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of
the eunuchs.
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| 1:10
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.
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| 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
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| 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee,
ten days; and let them give us pulse
to eat, and water to drink.
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| 1:13
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.
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| 1:14
So he consented to them in this matter, and
proved them ten days.
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| 1:15
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.
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| 1:16
Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they
should drink; and gave them pulse.
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| 1:17
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.
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| 1:18
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.
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| 1:19
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.
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| 1:20
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.
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| 1:21
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
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