The Prophet Daniel

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- Kapitel 1 -

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia came to Jerusalem and surrounded the city to cut off all supplies to it.

The Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar victory over Jehoiakim king of Judah, and he gave him some of the sacred objects from the house of God. He brought them into the land of Babylonia, to the house of his god, and he placed the sacred objects in his god’s treasury.

The king spoke to Ashpenaz, his chief official, to bring in some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility-

young men without blemish, attractive in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, filled with knowledge and understanding, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the Babylonians’ literature and language.

The king counted out for them a daily portion of his delicacies and some of the wine that he drank. These young men were to be trained for three years, and after that, they would serve the king.

Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, some of the people of Judah.

The chief official gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Daniel’s Faithfulness

But Daniel intended in his mind that he would not pollute himself with the king’s delicacies or with the wine that he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official that he might not pollute himself.

Now God gave Daniel favor and compassion through the respect that the chief official had for him.

The chief official said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my master the king. He has commanded what food and drink you should have. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men of your own age? The king might have my head because of you.”

Then Daniel spoke to the steward whom the chief official had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

He said, “Please test us, your servants, for ten days. Give us only some vegetables to eat and water to drink.

Then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the king’s delicacies, and treat us, your servants, based on what you see.”

So the steward agreed with him to do this, and he tested them for ten days.

At the end of ten days their appearance was more healthy, and they were better nourished, than all the young men who ate the king’s delicacies.

So the steward took away their delicacies and their wine and gave them only vegetables.

Daniel’s Wisdom

As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and insight in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel could understand all kinds of visions and dreams.

At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

The king spoke with them, and among the whole group there were none to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They stood before the king, ready to serve him.

In every question of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and those who claimed to speak with the dead, who were in his entire kingdom.

Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

The Lord(a) gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God;(b) and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring

(c)

and of the nobles:

youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding science, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.

The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years, that at its end they should stand before the king.

Now among these of the children of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

Daniel’s Faithfulness

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.

The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”

Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

“Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.

Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king’s delicacies; and as you see, deal with your servants.”

So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.

At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer and they were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s delicacies.

So the steward took away their delicacies and the wine that they were given to drink, and gave them vegetables.

Daniel’s Wisdom

Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

The king talked with them; and among them all was found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore stood they before the king.

In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.

Daniel continued even to the first year of King Cyrus.

Fußnoten

(a)1:2 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

(b)1:2 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).