Paragraph # 4 Study # 1
February 20, 2018
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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1769 Translation:
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom [
and] understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [
and] astrologers that [
were] in all his realm.
21 And Daniel continued [
even] unto the first year of king Cyrus.
1901 ASV Translation:
17 Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 And at the end of the days which the king had
appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
- I. "These four youths...".
- A. The word translated "youths" is used in Genesis 21:8 to refer to Isaac before he was weaned. Then it is used in Genesis 21:14-16 to refer to Ishmael when he and his mother were banished from Abraham's household.
- 1. Since "weaning" occurred sometime between Isaac's second through seventh birthday, and Ishmael was between 16 and 21 years of age at the time of his banishment, this indicates that the word's focus was upon something other than age.
- 2. A hint is given in Daniel 1:10 where Ashpenaz refers to "the children which are of your sort". This is the only time in the Authorized Version that the word used is translated "sort"; every other time it is translated with some variation of "great rejoicing". The implication is that Ashpenaz mentions the "youths" that were the cause of "great rejoicing" when they were born to the "sons of Israel" and to the "king's seed" and to the "princes" (of Judah). Thus, the "youths" were boys who had been (probably) their parent's "favorites" (perhaps the firstborn sons); ideal "hostages" in the hands of the Babylonians. This makes Lamech's murder of a "youth" the more heinous (Genesis 4:23), and gives us a greater insight into Abraham's emotional attachment to both Ishmael and Isaac.
- 3. We could, then, translate the word with a phrase: "the favorite sons". And this translation underscores the losses suffered in Judah because of the careless evil of the people in ignoring the sabbaths of the land for which cause the Babylonian captivity came upon them (2 Chronicles 36:21). But it also underscores God's particular "exceptional rejoicing" over these four who had set their hearts to observe God's dietary instructions (a relatively minor set of "laws" when compared to the issues of The Ten Commandments), putting their lives on the line in order to serve Yahweh in spite of their severe treatment by Nebuchadnezzar.
- B. These "four" are included primarily because of chapters 3 and 6 where God's special favor upon them because of their faithfulness is highlighted in graphic fashion.
- II. "Elohim Gave Them...".
- A. The implication is that God "empowered" their abilities.
- B. The empowerment
- 1. Was in "knowledge"; a word that is used in only six texts of the Old Testament and was especially the request of Solomon (three of the six references) so that he could rule Israel well (2 Chronicles 1:10-12).
- 2. Was in "skill" in all "learning"; a word that refers to what is stored up in "writings" (i.e., scrolls or books).
- 3. Was in "wisdom"; a term that indicates the ability to use knowledge to produce good outcomes.
- 4. Was in Daniel's case also an ability to understand the significance of visions and dreams.
- III. Nebuchadnezzar's Evaluation.
- A. The prince of the eunuchs produced the "favorite sons of Judah" for the king's evaluation after the time allotted.
- B. Nebuchadnezzar spoke to each of the captives subjected to his plan to "babylonize" them.
- 1. His evaluation was that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were superior to all of the rest.
- 2. He elevated them into his service.
- 3. In all matters of wisdom and understanding, they proved to be "ten times better" than all of those upon whom Nebuchadnezzar depended for guidance "in all his realm" (shades of Joseph, a favorite of his father who was also shipped off to captivity in an earlier time).
- IV. Daniel's Conclusion.
- A. "Daniel continued..."; a possible indication that the other three did not live so long.
- B. The first year of Cyrus (approximately 538 B.C.).
