Lesson 302: DANIEL IN BABYLON

Dan. 1:1

Full Lesson HERE

INTRODUCTION. In 605 B. C. during the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came against Jerusalem for the first time and

besieged the city. Nebuchadnezzar took young princes and nobles captive, carrying

them back to Babylon along with temple treasures. One of the young Jewish men

taken captive was Daniel. As a result, Daniel, a prophet of God, lived his entire adult

life as a captive in a foreign country. He was courageous, deeply devoted to God, and a

man of conviction and faith (Heb. 11:32-33).

Daniel's first test of courage occurred early in his captivity when he was very young,

probably in his teens. The young captives were taken to Babylon for instruction in

the Chaldean (another name for Babylonian) language and customs. They were

trained for three years in preparation for service in the king's court. Daniel and three

of his Jewish friends courageously, but courteously, refused to eat the king's food

and drink his wine which possibly were foods offered to Babylonian idols or those

which were a violation of the dietary laws in Leviticus.

The servant in charge of the young men was fearful his own life would be in danger

if the Jewish boys' health suffered as a result of their refusal to partake of the king's

food. Daniel suggested a ten-day trial, and the servant agreed to serve them

vegetables and water during that period. At the end of the ten days, the countenance

(features) of Daniel and his three friends surpassed those who had eaten the king's

food.