11 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah , Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged e it. 2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand , along with some e of the vessels of the house of God ; and he brought them to the land of Shinar , to the house of his [1]god , and he brought the vessels into the treasury e of his [1] god . 3 Then the king [3]ordered Ashpenaz , the chief of his [4]officials , to bring in some of the sons of Israel , including some of the [5]royal family and of the nobles , 4 youths in whom was no e defect , who were good-looking e , showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom , endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge , and who had ability for [6]serving in the king's [7]court ; and he ordered him to teach them the [8]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 [9]educated three years , at the end of which they were to [10] enter the king's personal service e . 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 .
8 But Daniel [11]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 [12] 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 [13]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 [14]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 ." 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 [15]they were fatter e than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 1:1-15
Commentary on Daniel 1:1-7
(Read Daniel 1:1-7)
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, took Jerusalem, and carried whom and what he pleased away. From this first captivity, most think the seventy years are to be dated. It is the interest of princes to employ wise men; and it is their wisdom to find out and train up such. Nebuchadnezzar ordered that these chosen youths should be taught. All their Hebrew names had something of God in them; but to make them forget the God of their fathers, the Guide of their youth, the heathen gave them names that savoured of idolatry. It is painful to reflect how often public education tends to corrupt the principles and morals.
Commentary on Daniel 1:8-16
(Read Daniel 1:8-16)
The interest we think we make for ourselves, we must acknowledge to be God's gift. Daniel was still firm to his religion. Whatever they called him, he still held fast the spirit of an Israelite. These youths scrupled concerning the meat, lest it should be sinful. When God's people are in Babylon they need take special care that they partake not of her sins. It is much to the praise of young people, not to covet or seek the delights of sense. Those who would excel in wisdom and piety, must learn betimes to keep the body under. Daniel avoided defiling himself with sin; and we should more fear that than any outward trouble. It is easier to keep temptation at a distance, than to resist it when near. And we cannot better improve our interest in any with whom we have found favour, than to use it to keep us from sin. People will not believe the benefit of avoiding excess, and of a spare diet, nor how much they contribute to the health of the body, unless they try. Conscientious temperance will always do more, even for the comfort of this life, than sinful indulgence.