Daniel 1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:3

Master of his eunuchs - This word eunuchs signifies officers about or in the palace whether literally eunuchs or not. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:4

Children - ילדים yeladim , youths, young men; and so the word should be rendered throughout this book. Skilled in all wisdom - Rather, persons capable of every kind of literary accomplishment, that they might be put under proper instruction. And as children of the blood and of the nobles mere most likely, from the care usually taken of their initiatory education, to profit most by the elaborate instruction here designed, the master of the eunuchs, the king's chamberlain, was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:5

A daily provision - Athenaeus, lib. iv., c. 10, says: The kings of Persia, (who succeeded the kings of Babylon, on whose empire they had seized), were accustomed to order the food left at their own tables to be delivered to their courtiers. So nourishing them three years - This was deemed a sufficient time to acquire the Chaldee language, and the sciences peculiar to that people. I suppose they had good introductory books, able teachers, and a proper method; else they would have been... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:6

Now among these - There were no doubt several noble youths from other provinces: but the four mentioned here were Jews, and are supposed to have all been of royal extraction. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:7

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names - This change of names, Calmet properly remarks, was a mark of dominion and authority. It was customary for masters to impose new names upon their slaves; and rulers often, on their ascending the throne, assumed a name different from that which they had before. דניאל Daniel signifies "God is my Judge." This name they changed into בלטשאצר Belteshatstsar ; in Chaldee, "The treasure of Bel," or "The despository of the secrets (or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:8

But Daniel - would not defile himself - I have spoken of this resolution in the introduction. The chief reasons why Daniel would not eat meat from the royal table were probably these three: - Because they ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by the Jewish law. Because they ate, as did the heathens in general, beasts which had been strangled, or not properly blooded. 3. Because the animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods. It is on this account that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:11

Then said Daniel to Melzar - Melzar was an officer under Ashpenaz, whose office it was to attend to the food, clothing, etc., of these royal captives. Others think מלצר meltsar , master of the inn or hotel, the name of an office. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:12

Give us pulse to eat - הזרעים hazzeraim , seeds or grain, such as barley, wheat, rye, and peas, etc. Though a vegetable diet might have produced that healthiness of the system in general, and of the countenance particularly, as mentioned here; yet we are to understand that there was an especial blessing of God in this, because this spare diet was taken on a religious account. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:17

As for these four children - Young men or youths. Our translation gives a false idea. In all visions and dreams - That is, such as are Divine; for as to dreams in general, they have as much signification as they have connection, being the effects of the state of the body, of the mind, or of the circumstances of the dreamer. A dream may be considered supernatural, if it have nothing preposterous, nothing monstrous, and nothing irregular. If the whole order and consequences of the things... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:18

Now at the end of the days - That is, at the end of three years, Daniel 1:5 . read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:18

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