Daniel Study: Daniel 1 – Introduction

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CLICK HERE to watch an introduction to the book of Daniel 

and a discussion of Daniel 1: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUAc_cB46e0&t=1754s

NOTES

Daniel 1: 

The Introduction

Chapter 1 introduces the historical context of Daniel’s deportation to Babylon following Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem in 605 BC. Daniel was among the royal Jewish captives first extradited to Babylon.

Upon Daniel’s arrival, he and three companions were confronted with a difficult choice between defiling themselves with the king’s appointed ration of choice food and wine or risking their lives by abstaining from the food for the sake of remaining undefiled in the sight of God. God rewards Daniel’s righteous decision to abstain by granting him favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. God also endows Daniel and his three companions with exceptional knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence that results in the honor of entering into the king’s personal service.

STUDY QUESTIONS FOR DANIEL 1

1.   Who is the king of Judah? Who is the king of Babylon? What does Nebuchadnezzar do to Jerusalem? Who gives Jehoiakim (Judah) into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar? Where are Jehoiakim and vessels from the house of God taken? (1:1-2)

2.   (C)  What additional information do these verses provide concerning Jehoiakim?
2Kings 23:34-36

2Kings 24:1
1Chron 3:15

2Chron 36:5

Jer 22:18, 24

Jer 36:28-30

3.   List the attributes of the royal youths of Israel whom the king ordered the chief of his officials to bring. What are the royal youths of Israel to be taught? (1:3-4)

Attributes:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

f.

g.
Taught:

4.   What does the king appoint for the royal youths? How long are they to be educated? What are they to do after the three years of education? List 4 names of the royal youths. What new names were assigned to each of them? (1:5-7)

5.   What does Daniel make up his mind to do? Why does Daniel seek permission from the commander of the officials? (1:8) (O) Do you think Daniel was wise to seek permission from the commander of the officials? Why or why not?

6.   What does God grant Daniel in the sight of the commander of the officials? (1:9) Of what was the commander frightened? (1:10) What test does Daniel propose to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel/Belteshazzar, Hananiah/Shadrach, Mishael/Meshach, and Azariah/Abed-nego? (1:11-13)

7.   What does the overseer observe after testing them for ten days? What is the result? (1:14-16)

8.   (A) What do you learn from Daniel about remaining faithful to God while living in submission to ungodly governing authority? How could you advise: (a) a woman married to an unbelieving spouse who compels her to participate in ungodly behavior; (b) persecuted believers living in anti-Christian countries; (c) Christian children of unbelieving parents; (d) nations living under ungodly leadership? How does this apply to you?

9.   What does God give to the four youths? What additional ability does Daniel receive? (1:17)

10.   Before whom does the commander of the officials present them at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them? (1:18)

11.   Who was found exceptional among all the youths? (1:19)

12.   In what matters does the king find Daniel and his companions ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm? (1:20)

13.   Until whose reign does Daniel continue in the king’s personal service? (1:21)

14.   (A) From whom does exceptional wisdom and understanding come? From whom or what do most people seek wisdom and understanding? How do you seek to grow in wisdom and understanding?

15.  Write a brief principle regarding wisdom and understanding from the following verses:
2Chr 1:10-12
Ps 37:30
Ps 90:12
Ps 104:24
Ps 111:10
Prov 1:7
Prov 2:6-7
Prov 4:7
Prov 9:10

Prov 11:2
Prov 19:8
1Cor 1:30
1Cor 2:4-6
Eph 1:17
Col 1:9

Col 2:1-3
James 1:5
James 3:13-17

16.  How could you apply what the Bible teaches about wisdom to your life?

17.  What do you learn about God from Daniel 1?

18.  How could you apply what you have learned about God this week?

Write a prayer response to Daniel 1.

BIBLE TEXT: DANIEL 1

Dan. 1:1    In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah,  Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² The  Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along 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 he brought the vessels into the treasury of his   god.

Dan. 1:3   Then the king  ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his  officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the  royal  family and of the nobles, ⁴ youths in whom was  no defect, who were good-looking, showing  intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for  serving in the king’s  court; and he ordered him to teach them the  literature and  language of the  Chaldeans. ⁵ The king appointed for them a daily ration from the  king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be  educated three years, at the end of which they were to   enter the king’s personal service. ⁶ Now among them from the sons of Judah were  Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ⁷ Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name  Belteshazzar, to Hananiah  Shadrach, to Mishael  Meshach and to Azariah  Abed-nego.

Dan. 1:8   But Daniel  made up his mind that he would not  defile himself with the  king’s choice food or with the  wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. ⁹ Now God granted Daniel   favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, ¹⁰ and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would  make me forfeit my head to the king.” ¹¹ But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be  given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ “Then let our appearance be  observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

Dan. 1:14   So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of ten days their appearance seemed  better and  they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. ¹⁶ So the overseer continued to  withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept  giving them vegetables.

Dan. 1:17   As for these four youths,  God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of  literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of  visions and dreams.

Dan. 1:18   Then at the end of the days which the king had  specified  for presenting them, the commander of the officials  presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like  Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they   entered the king’s personal service. ²⁰ As for every matter of  wisdom  and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them  ten times  better than all the   magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. ²¹ And Daniel  continued until the  first year of Cyrus the king.

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