20. ten times—literally, "ten hands." magicians—properly, "sacred scribes, skilled in the sacred writings, a class of Egyptian priests" [GESENIUS]; from a Hebrew root, "a pen." The word in our English Version, "magicians," comes from mag, that is, "a priest." The Magi formed one of the six divisions of the Medes. astrologers—Hebrew, "enchanters," from a root, "to conceal," pactisers of the occult arts. read more
E. God’s blessing of Daniel and his friends 1:17-21 read more
At the end of their three-year curriculum, the four faithful friends received a final examination that included an oral testing by the king himself (cf. Proverbs 22:29). They passed at the head of their class (cf. 1 Samuel 2:30). They were probably close to 20 years old at this time. [Note: See Walvoord, p. 41.] Nebuchadnezzar proceeded to give them positions of significant government responsibility, which their education had equipped them for. In these positions they proved far superior to any... read more
Introductory. The abstinence of Daniel and his Friends from Unclean FoodDaniel is introduced as one of a band of Jews taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim (Daniel 1:1-2). Along with three of his youthful countrymen he is chosen to be trained during three years for personal attendance on the king (Daniel 1:3-7). As the food and drink provided for those in this position are ceremonially unclean Daniel resolves not to partake of them. After an unsuccessful... read more
Daniel 1:2 ; Daniel 1:6 I was taken captive when nearly sixteen years of age. I did not know the true God; and I was taken to Ireland in captivity with so many thousand men, in accordance with our deserts, because we departed from God and kept not His precepts. St. Patrick's Confessions. Daniel 1:8 The strangeness of foreign life threw me back into myself. Newman, Apologia, I. Daniel's Self-denial Daniel 1:8 We are told about a great many good men in the pages of the Bible: some who were... read more
THE PRELUDE"His loyalty he kept, his faith, his love."-MILTONTHE first chapter of the Book of Daniel serves as a beautiful introduction to the whole, and strikes the keynote of faithfulness to the institutions of Judaism which of all others seemed most important to the mind of a pious Hebrew in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes. At a time when many were wavering, and many had lapsed into open apostasy, the writer wished to set before his countrymen in the most winning and vivid manner the... read more
Analysis and Annotations I. DANIEL IN BABYLON, NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM, AND HISTORICAL EVENTS CHAPTER 1 Daniel and His Companions in Babylon 1. The introduction (Daniel 1:1-2 ) 2. The king’s command (Daniel 1:3-5 ) 3. Daniel and his companions (Daniel 1:6-21 ) Daniel 1:1-2 . Divine judgment, which had threatened so long, had finally fallen upon Jerusalem. It was executed by the divinely chosen instrument, Nebuchadnezzar. Three times he came against Jerusalem. In 606 B.C. he appeared the... read more
NEBUCHADNEZZAR ’S DREAM Daniel, like Ezekiel, was an Israelite in Babylonian captivity, but of a little earlier date (Daniel 1:1-4 , compared with Ezekiel 1:1-2 ). Of royal blood, fine physique, strong intellectuality and deep knowledge, he became trained in the language, traditions and astrological science of his captors that, with the other eunuchs, he might serve their king in responsible relations in the palace (Daniel 1:4-7 ). For religious reasons, and out of reverence to the true God,... read more
Reader! when the Church of God; (which Daniel and his companions represented,) is called in to stand before the King; and Jesus himself communes with his redeemed! how fully will it be found, that there can be none like the Church in point of knowledge, skill, and wisdom: because Christ himself is made of God unto all his people: wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Such honour have all his saints! read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Daniel 1:20
Daniel 1:20. Magicians and astrologers— These names may perhaps be taken in a good sense, as the wise men in St. Matthew; and the astrologers perhaps were then in general the same as astronomers with us. However, it cannot be collected from these words, that Daniel applied himself to the study of magic arts; but to the sciences of the Chaldees; in the same manner as Moses, long before, had applied himself to the study of the wisdom of Egypt. See Houbigant. The word אשׁפים ashaphim, rendered... read more