Daniel and Friends = Part of the First Deportation to Babylon in 605BC

Daniel 1

Daniel and friends = part of the first deportation to Babylon in 605BC.

They continue to worship YHWH , and clearly an understanding of the covenant relationship lies at the heart of their religious understanding (see esp. Daniel’s covenant prayer (9.14-19).

The OT redemptive revelation is:

Progressive. God gave his disclosures to man over a long period of time.
Prospective. In each stage of OT revelation contains indications that God is going to disclose more of his purposes and display his saving power to an even greater extent.
Preparatory. It looks forward and finds its completion in the NT.

‘Kingdom’ is a major issue in Daniel. This is Babylon v’s Jerusalem!

Is Israel’s God truly God (as compared with the Babylonian ones, esp. Bel and Nebo, see Isa 46.1)? Ans: see 2.44.
Will God forgive the sin of his people and resume fellowship with them? Ans: see Daniel’s prayer in ch.9; 11.28, 30, 32. The exile did not mark a permanent separation between God and Israel, but a temporary estrangement (cf. Isa 54.4-8). The prophecies of Daniel are likewise a sign of the continued election of Israel… their fundamental idea is the final victory of the kingdom of God, predicted with absolute confidence.

Expectant waiting for the end is encouraged in both Daniel (12.13) and Revelation (22.1-7).

Date. 6th C date entirely plausible, down to 2nd C.

Scepticism about early date motivated primarily by presupposition that Daniel 11 is vaticinium ex eventu.

2nd C unlikely given that Daniel clearly had canonical status at Qumran (by 100BC) and regarded as a prophet.

Must have been after 3rd year of Cyrus though (539BC), see 1.21; 10.1.

Authorship: in first 6 chapters Daniel spoken of in 3rd person. 7-12 are in first person.

Language:

Hebrew 1.1-2.3.

Aramaic 2.4 – 7.28

Hebrew 8.1 – 12.13

Structure

Chs 1-6, historical narratives. The sovereigns are earthly rulers.

Chs 7-12, visions and interpretations. In 7.9-10, 13-14, 26-27 the Sovereign is divine.

Chapter 1

Not the normal opening of prophetical books, with some identification of authorship.

605BC- Nebuchadnezzar actually ascended to throne upon death of father in 604BC, so not actually king at this stage, or dating a year out. Had just crushed Egypt at Carcemish (605BC) and now turns his attention to Judah. No major devastation of Jerusalem, just taking of some temple vessels and some of aristocracy into exile.

Jehoiakim = Josiah’s son, and ungodly (2 Kgs 23.37)

Burned Jeremiah’s scroll (Jer 36.20-26)

Jeremiah 22.18-23 records a prophecy depicting his ignominious death and burial. So too Jer 36.30. In 597 Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezar and Babylon; his son Jehoiachin in fact reigned a brief 3 months after his father rebelled and was taken into exile.

Nebuchadnezzar placed Zedekiah on throne as a puppet king and took most of the leaders and professional classes to Babylon, including Ezekiel.

Zedekiah also rebelled, late 588, leading to the sack of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Exile proper.

Taking of temple vessels and removal to house of Nebuchednezzar’s gods = hugely symbolic: a way of saying my gods greater than yours.

Cf. Philistines’ taking of ark and placing it in temple of Dagon (1 Sam 4-5).

Land of Shinar = Babylonia = land of Babel. Goldingay argues the term “suggests a place of false religion, self-will, and self-aggrandizement.”

YET Jehoiakim’s defeat, and deportation of household = not just militarily determined, but God’s hand in judgment too (v. 2), as was the earlier deportation from northern kingdom in 722 (see 2 Kgs 17.18-20).

Daniel affirms this in his prayer in ch. 9

Nebuchadnezzar is entirely under God’s hand, and will give him dreams and visions, make him mad when he will not co-operate, and restore him to sanity when he repents.

This is covenant history, showing how God fulfilled the curse pronounced long before of exile for a disobedient people (Lev 26.27-45; Deut 28.38-68).

Prophecy in 2 Kgs 20.18 to Hezekiah now being fulfilled: “And some of your sons, who shall be born to you, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” . See too 2 Kgs 24.1; 2 Chr 36.6.

Vulnerability of Temple also prophesied – Jer 7.

AND Daniel and his friends also under God’s hand. Judah may have come under God’s judgment, and will even ore so, but God has not abandoned her or his purpose for her.

Babylonia = Shinar (see Gn 11.2). Many temples excavated in Babylon. Place of tower of Babel.

Selection criteria for those deported to king’s palace = very specific:

Young men (15-20 yrs old indicated)
Good looking
Without blemish (as for priests in Lev 21.17-23, and sacrificial animals in Lev 22.18-25)
Good mental capacity/aptitude

Given Chaldean names, associating them with Babylonian gods, though Daniel’s original name persisted – see 5.12.

Belteshazzar = Belet, protect the king.

Shadrach = I am very fearful (of God)

Meshach = I am of little account

Abed-Nego = slave of Nego

Daniel and companions didn’t refuse to learn the language and literature of the Chaldeans, just to eat their food.

Culture v’s food?

Consistent with Jer 29

The Jews’ abstention from the King’s food except vegetables = reason/logic uncertain:

King’s food not contrary to Mosaic diet laws, for certainly wine was permitted.

Concern food had been sacrificed to idols? Prohibitions on eating of fat and blood – Lev 3.17; 17.10-14, and certain other foods, but grain and veges almost certainly offered also, so not convincing.
Eating king’s food may have been seen as a sign of subjection to the Babylonian king, and Judahites acknowledged no king but YHWH. So most plausible, but point is specifically made that didn’t want to defile themselves, so more than this.

Defiling = the reason, just don’t know how would have defiled themselves.

Point = that asserting their identity as YHWH’s people, and keeping themselves distinct.

Not a public protest but a private stand.

But took great courage.

Not impulsive but carefully thought and prayed through – “Daniel set in his heart…”

NB. Wasn’t a permanent stand they made, as 10.3 indicates. Presumably just for the 3 years of study.

BUT important to make a statement at the outset.

Still true today. How start/begin = vitally important. If begin with compromise hard to then firm up later. Better make a statement at outset, establishing position, and can then moderate later if necessary.

Daniel may well have been concerned that if Jews were going to compromise with food laws this would then open the door to mixed marriages and other more significant religious compromise (Wallace).

Daniel and friends will be put to tougher tests in following chapters (fire and lions); imp. that they show discipline now and lay foundation of radical obedience. If they can’t resist the king’s food, how will they resist his blasphemous demands to worship other gods? Cf. Jer 12.5

Wallace: The OT time and again, by appeal and example, calls on the individual to stand firm where others are compromising and drifting.

But what about Jesus’ teaching about unclean food? Point is not the issue of food, but the principle behind it. Daniel did not eat food because in his context it made an imp. statement and was an important symbol/identity marker. Modern day parallels = things like wearing a cross, celebrating Christmas and Easter as Christian festivals… conforming to political correctness…

Longman: Daniel’s actions are not intended to be normative for our actions (i.e. not a call for us to all go vegetarian), but neither are they irrelevant.

Cf. 1 Cor 10.6 –“these things took place as examples for us…”

Made the request humbly and courteously, not wanting to cause trouble for Babylonian overseer

Wallace: “The book of Daniel gives us the impression that what mattered most in the religious life of the exiles at this time was the discipline of the devotional and moral life around the law of God… Daniel’s personal religion gains its stability and strength from strict habits of devotion.”

Message = imp. of covenant distinctiveness. In spite of being in exile in a foreign land, having their names changed, being surrounded by idols and idolatory, and having to speak another language, Daniel and co. are determined to retain their identity as God’s covenant people. Cf. Phil 3.20 – resident aliens.

Cf. 11.32

He (Antiochus Epiphanes) shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”

They make a stand as a matter of principle.

NB. They are lay men, not priests/religious leaders. V.important today as laity = key to church, their witness.

No contradiction of Jer 29.1ff. – they serve the king, bit don’t forget who they are or get assimilated into Babylonian culture.

Co-operation but not compromise … they remain inner strangers to the life and culture in which they are outwardly and fully involved. (Wallace).

God had given special gifts to these young men, Daniel being singled out in particular. His interpretative powers will play a central role in the book. Would enhance him in his official role, but also make him a means of divine revelation.

Their superiority is noted by the king of Babylon.

Fyall:

Since Daniel and his friends have stood in the court of heaven they are not going to be overawed by the court of Babylon. The chapter, which began with the humiliation of Judah and its royal house, ends with some of that house in a leadership role in Babylon. This had not happened by force or intrigue but by the overruling hand of God.

v. 21 “is a historical note which points to the end of the Exile and shows that Daniel was significant in that entire period.” Fyall

Jeremiah had prophesied 70 years and Daniel would live through those years.

Daniel outlasts Babylonian empire.

Echoes of Joseph (Gen 41.33; 45.4-11). These men have been placed in Babylon to further the purposes of YHWH’s kingdom. God sovereignly disposes his servants, often placing them in strategic positions of responsibility. See too Rom 13.4. Pray for them – 1 Tim 2.1-7.

Message:

God is in control, it is he who “gives” (vv. 2, 9, 17). The book of Daniel is primarily about God’s plans and purposes and actions, not Daniel’s. Daniel is YHWH’s instrument.
“revelation and insight are needed to discern what God’s will is in these confusing circumstances… By openness to God and an acknowledgement of his gifts. Vision and revelation are at the heart of the book of Daniel because simply looking at world events without a key to interpret them will lead to despair rather than hope. That key is the nature of God revealed in his living word.
To be effective for God we also need to know our own context and discover where the points of crisis will come (in people’s lives, making them moreopen to faith).
Fyall: We (too) need to be familiar with the cultural and intellectual attitudes of our world. This will mean study and familiarity with many attitudes and view points which are alien to the gospel. It is not only possible but necessary if we are to be effective witnesses in our culture.”
God’s people need to adopt the kind of attitudes and lifestyle appropriate for those living in an alien environment. Need to be as shrewd as serpents, as gentle as doves.
Abraham’s descendants were always intended to be a blessing to the nations… Daniel, like Joseph, plays a particularrole. We too have that call.