Daniel 1

The book of Daniel begins with the historical account of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieging Jerusalem during the 3rd year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. After vanquishing Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar plundered the Temple of Jerusalem, and took the vessels to Shinar.

However, the Babylonian also authorised Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to select healthy, well favoured, and clever Israeli children, with the aim of teaching them the science and language of the Chaldeans. Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego) were four such special Israeli children taken to Babylon. Since they were to be fed with the king’s own food and wine, Daniel requested his guardians to provide them with pulses and water. Obviously, his guardians were reluctant since they did not want the children to look emaciated, but at the end of ten days, they looked much fairer and fatter after their undefiled diet of pulses and water.

God blessed these four children with knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and they were ten times more competent than all the magicians and astrologers. Daniel also had the special gift of understanding visions and dreams.