Historical Background: 2 Kings 24:10-17
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it, and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign and carried off all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the LORD, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the LORD had foretold. He carried away all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained, except the poorest people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. The king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, 7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war. And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Jerusalem is beseiged by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. In the city's surrender, many youths of the royal family and the Israelite nobility are carried away into Babylon. These youths were without blemish; had a good appearance; skillful in wisdom; endowed with knowledge, understanding and learning; and competent to stand in Nebuchadnezzar's court.
That's where we come in as we read Daniel 1:1-7.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
- Nebuchadnezzar - King of Babylon
- Jehoiakim - King of Judah
- Ashpenaz - Nebuchadnezzar's chief eunuch
- Daniel (Belteshazzar) - Israelite royal family or nobility
- Hananiah (Shadrach) - Israelite royal family or nobility
- Mishael (Meshach) - Israelite royal family or nobility
- Azariah (Abednego) - Israelite royal family or nobility
Many of these will play prominently in the next few chapters of the Book of Daniel. The youths were taught Chaldean language and literature for three years to prepare them for their service in Nebuchadnezzar's court. What will happen to the four Israelite youths? Come back next month and find out!
NOTE: All Scriptures come from the English Standard Version (C) 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
