Daniel 1:3–5, 8–13, 17–19

Bible Studies for Life
Assistant Professor of Religion, Samford University

Develop Conviction

Daniel 1:3–5, 8–13, 17–19

The great religious significance of figures like David and Solomon and places like Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan tends to mask the fact that the nation of Israel is a tiny country that never became a genuine empire. Indeed one of the main reasons the nation was able to flourish during the time of kings like David and Solomon was simply that the empires to the east (Mesopotamia) and west (Egypt) were in periods of decline. When that decline reversed course in the 8th century B.C. the impact on Israel would be real and immediate.

After a long and brutal siege, armies from the Assyrian empire destroyed the Israelite capital of Samaria in 722 B.C., permanently ending the northern kingdom’s political independence. The southern kingdom of Judah held on somewhat longer but its days too were numbered. In 597 B.C. the Babylonian empire conquered Judah, sending thousands of people into exile. More waves of exiles would follow until Nebuchadnezzar finally destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 587 B.C. A succession of empires — Persia, Greece, Egypt, Syria, Rome and others — would dominate Israel all the way into the 20th century.

The political subjugation of Israel had profound effects on the ability of Jews to live out the precepts of the Torah. After all, foreign kings could demand subservience not only to their state but also to their gods. Empires could regard the particular religious practices of conquered peoples as a threat to the cultural cohesion of their larger realms. Those who, like the Jews, insisted on maintaining their religious identity could face profound persecution.

The book of Daniel was written to give guidance to Jews who faced this kind of situation. It was meant to instruct the people on how to deal with foreign rule and inspire them with examples of figures who had done so themselves.

Culture wants assimilation. (3–5)

In the opening chapter of Daniel, we find ourselves at the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. Having conquered Jerusalem, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that some of the best of the Judean youths should be trained to serve in the royal court. Much of the youths’ training was designed to assimilate them into Babylonian culture. Their names were changed from the Hebrew Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to the Babylonian Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were taught the Babylonians’ language and literature. 

Draw the line. (8–13)

While the youths adopted most customs one thing they could not do was eat the king’s food. To eat the king’s food would have been to violate the Torah’s commands about keeping kosher. The Law specified what animals could be eaten and how those animals must be prepared. The king’s meat would not have followed these regulations and Daniel and his companions knew eating it would have violated God’s command. Here they had to draw a line. 

Serve and stand for the Lord. (17–19)

The youths’ resolve not to be defiled did not mean they had to needlessly provoke the wrath of those left in charge of them. Their task was to find a way to be both faithful and wise at the same time. They did this by securing their supervisor’s permission to eat a diet of only vegetables. When the youths remained healthy and even thrived on their new diet, the crisis was averted. But other challenges would still remain. Very soon the youths would have to decide just how far they would go to remain faithful to their beliefs.