Daniel 1:1-21
In the
third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of
Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah
fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These
he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.
Then the
king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of
the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and
handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight,
and competent to serve in the king's palace; they were to be taught the
literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily
portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for
three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the
king's court. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the
tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called
Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and
Azariah he called Abednego.
But Daniel
resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and
wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself.
Now God
allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master. The
palace master said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; he has
appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition
than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the
king." Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed
over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: "Please test your servants
for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can
then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the
royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe."
So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At
the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than
all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. So the guard continued
to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them
vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every
aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and
dreams.
`At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be
brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar,
and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare
with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in
the king's court. 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 in his whole kingdom. And Daniel continued
there until the first year of King Cyrus. (NRSV)
This reading is taken from 30 Scripture Readings on Character
& Integrity. The complete book can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KYN53A
NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION BIBLE, copyright 1989, Division
of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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