DANIEL 1:1-2:23 (ESV)

Daniel 1

Daniel Taken to Babylon

[1] In the third year of [a]the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. [2] And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of [b]the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to [c]the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, [d]and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. [3] Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, [e]his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family(1) and of [f]the nobility, [4] youths without [g]blemish, of good appearance and [h]skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to [i]teach them the literature and language of the [j]Chaldeans. [5] The king assigned them a daily portion of [k]the food that the king ate, and of [l]the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for [m]three years, and at the end of that time they were to [n]stand before the king. [6] Among these were [o]Daniel, [p]Hananiah, [p]Mishael, and [p]Azariah of the tribe of Judah. [7] And [e]the chief of the eunuchs [q]gave them names: [r]Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Daniel’s Faithfulness

[8] But Daniel [s]resolved that he would not [t]defile himself with [k]the king’s food, or with [l]the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to [t]defile himself. [9] [u]And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, [10] and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” [11] Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, [12] “Test your servants for [v]ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. [13] Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat [k]the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” [14] So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. [15] At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate [k]the king’s food. [16] [w]So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them [x]vegetables.

[17] As for these four youths, [y]God gave them learning and [z]skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had [a]understanding in all visions and dreams. [18] At the end of [b]the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. [19] And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore [c]they stood before the king. [20] And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all [d]the magicians and [e]enchanters that were in all his kingdom. [21] And Daniel [f]was there until the first year of [g]King Cyrus.

Daniel 2:1–23

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

[1] In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; [h]his spirit was troubled, and [i]his sleep left him. [2] Then the king commanded that [d]the magicians, [e]the enchanters, the [j]sorcerers, and [k]the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and [l]stood before the king. [3] And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and [h]my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” [4] Then [k]the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic,(1) [m]“O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” [5] The king answered and said to [k]the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be [n]torn limb from limb, [n]and your [o]houses shall be laid in ruins. [6] But if you show the dream and its interpretation, [p]you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. [q]Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” [7] They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” [8] The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to [r]gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm—[9] if you do not make the dream known to me, [s]there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till [t]the times change. [u]Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” [10] [v]The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or [v]Chaldean. [11] The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except [w]the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

[12] Because of this the king was angry and [x]very furious, and [y]commanded that all [z]the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. [13] So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought [a]Daniel and his companions, to kill them. [14] Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to [b]Arioch, the [c]captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. [15] He declared(2) to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king [d]so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. [16] And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

[17] Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to [e]Hananiah, [e]Mishael, and [e]Azariah, his companions, [18] [f]and told them to seek mercy from the [g]God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not [h]be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. [19] Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in [i]a vision of the night. Then Daniel [j]blessed the [g]God of heaven. [20] Daniel answered and said:

[k]“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

[l]to whom belong wisdom and might.

[21] [m]He changes times and seasons;

[n]he removes kings and sets up kings;

[o]he gives wisdom to the wise

[o]and knowledge to those who have understanding;

[22] [p]he reveals deep and hidden things;

[p]he knows what is in the darkness,

[q]and the light dwells with him.

[23] To you, O [r]God of my fathers,

[s]I give thanks and praise,

for [t]you have given me wisdom and might,

and have now made known to me what [u]we asked of you,

for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Observation: How do Daniel and his friends maintain their identity and faith in the Babylonian court?

Application: In what ways can you maintain your faith and integrity in environments that challenge your beliefs?