Time: About 605-539/538 BC; he is a contemporary of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, though later. (Critics date is 169 BC--Wikipedia states this date--charging that it was written after the events it predicts.)
What the Lord is Saying:
This is what happened. It was the 3rd year of King (of Judah) Jehoiakim's reign when King Nebuchadnezzar (from Babylon) besieged Jerusalem. He was given victory, by the Lord, and could take sacred temple objects back to Babylon. King Neb. had Ashpenaz from his staff bring young men from Judah's royal family to Babylon. The men were to be strong, healthy, good-looking, knowledgeable. They are to be trained in language and literature of Babylon for 3 years and then they would enter the royal service. Daily, they would receive food and drink (wine).
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were 4 of these young men. They each received Babylonian names:
- Daniel was called Belteshazzar
- Hananiah was called Shadrach
- Mishael was called Meshach
- Azariah was called Abednego
But Daniel felt like the daily food and drink were unacceptable and he would not be defiled by them. Ashpenaz had begun to like Daniel and his friends, but was concerned without food, King Neb would be viewed as evil. Daniel asked if they could receive, starting for 10 days, another diet--that of vegetables and water and see if their disposition was the same as those receiving the king's daily ration of food and drink.
Well, after 10 days, Daniel and his friends looked even better. God granted them an advanced level of understanding of the literature and wisdom, including giving Daniel the ability to interpret visions and dreams.
At the end of the 3 years, they were all brought to the king, but Daniel and his 3 friends were the most impressive to the King of the lot. They entered the royal service and the king found their insight continually helpful.
Daniel remained in this service till the beginning of the reign of King Cyrus (about 538 BC).
Promise: The reason Daniel refused the King's food is not clear. But, what we do know is in this refusal, the Lord was glorified. It could be for dietary restrictions or it could have been that they wanted to eat only vegetables. Though the reason is not clear, the result is clear. God blessed him with knowledge and wisdom which then amplified his social and living condition. Trust the Lord.
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From Tabletalk, "All events great and small are being used of the Lord to advance His glory and our good, and His control over all things is the only way we can be confident of the precious truth."
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