And Daniel continued— He was known, employed, and continued under Nebuchadnezzar and his successors, till the monarchy passed from the Chaldeans to the Persians, in the person of Cyrus; under which prince also he maintained his authority.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, God had threatened Hezekiah, to punish him for his pride, that the treasures in which he gloried should be plundered by the king to whose ambassadors he had vainly shewed them, and his children led into captivity. The fulfilment of that prophesy is here recorded. In the third of Jehoiakim, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, that conqueror invaded Judaea, and besieged and took Jerusalem; yet, not designing intirely to subvert the government, he left the king in possession of his royal dignity, though a tributary, and contented himself with the plunder of a part of the vessels of the sanctuary, as a trophy of his victory, and to be placed in the temple of his god, as a tribute of thankfulness for his success. So much more devotion and gratitude do idolaters often shew to their false gods, than the professors of the Christian religion pay to the only living and true Jehovah. He chose also the most promising and ingenious youths, that were of royal or noble extraction, to be trained up in his court, and qualified for offices of trust and government under him. Thus while he rendered them useful ministers of state, they served also as hostages for the fidelity of their parents. We may observe,
1. The directions given for the choice of these youths, which shewed the consummate wisdom and policy of the monarch. They must be without deformity, well-favoured, the lovely countenance bespeaking often the sweet disposition of the mind. They must be young, that they might more readily incorporate with the people among whom they were captives, and learn their manners and language: and persons of genius and learning, well skilled in all the knowledge that was proper for their years and station, and likely to improve under the tuition of their Chaldean masters.
2. The care taken of their maintenance and education. Three years they were liberally maintained at the king's expence, and under the most accomplished masters, that they might become acquainted with the language, laws, arts, and learning of the Chaldeans; and, at the expiration of this time, be qualified to appear before the king, and fill that department most suited to their genius and capacity. Note; (1.) The good education of youth is a public concern. (2.) They who wish to serve their generation, must spend their earlier days not in idleness or pleasure, but study: if that season be lost, it is afterwards scarcely to be redeemed.
3. Among these youths four are particularly mentioned, as rendering themselves most remarkable in the succeeding history. Their names were, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (See the annotations.) These the prince of the eunuchs changed into other names; either to shew his authority over them; or to intimate that they were now naturalized, and become Chaldeans; or in honour of the gods of Babylon, instead of the God of Israel, whose name they bore; and hoping perhaps the more easily to seduce them to the worship of the idols after whom they were now called. But though their names were changed, their hearts were the same; and, far from serving these idols, they approved themselves the servants of the true God.
2nd, We have,
1. Daniel a favourite with the prince of the eunuchs. His own amiable qualities, no doubt, deserved regard; but the singular affection that he found in this heathen master was from God, who hath in his hand the hearts of all men. If we find favour, therefore, with those from whom perhaps we least expected it, let us acknowledge this to be the gift of God.
2. He is scrupulously careful to maintain a conscience void of offence. The king had allowed him and his companions a liberal maintenance; but they feared to defile themselves with the meat and wine of the king; either as being such food as was forbidden by their law, or as having been offered in sacrifice to idols, or blessed in their name: they rather therefore chose to live upon the plainest and coarsest diet, than on these delicacies; and Daniel, as their spokesman, intercedes for them with the prince of the eunuchs, that they might be excused from using the king's provision, and be permitted to live on pulse and water; hard fare for the sons of princes! Note; (1.) They who would preserve their souls from sin, must keep a strict guard over their sensual appetites. (2.) The poorest repast eaten with a good conscience, is a more delicious morsel than all the dainties of the luxurious. (3.) They who have a sense of the evil of sin, will think no suffering or self-denial hard, in order to escape from it. (4.) Humble entreaty will prevail on those, whom obstinate refusal would but have exasperated; as was the case here; for,
3. The prince of the eunuchs, after some objections, consents. He was fearful, lest such spare diet should make these young princes look worse than their fellows; the consequence of which would perhaps be the anger of the king, and might cost him his head. But as Daniel and his companions desire only ten days trial by way of experiment, he is satisfied to wait that time, and compare them with the others: or else Melzar, the officer to whose care they were intrusted, and to whom Daniel addressed anew his request, grants them this liberty, perhaps with the connivance of his superior; and the event justified the experiment; for at the expiration of the ten days, these were fairer and fatter than the others who had feasted on the king's delicacies. Note; (1.) An abstemious diet is the best friend to health. (2.) Let the poor, who are reduced to pulse and water, remember, that God's blessing can make these preferable to a stalled ox. (3.) Whatever we deny ourselves for God's glory, shall, in the issue, prove our greatest gain.
3rdly, We have,
1. The great progress in learning which these gracious youths made under the divine blessing. They minded their business, and God eminently blessed them, giving them singular skill and knowledge; and Daniel in particular was endued with understanding in all visions and dreams, which he was enabled to interpret, not by any pretended rules of art, but by divine inspiration; and in these also God was pleased to make known unto him future events.
2. The king highly honoured them at the expiration of the three years. When he came to examine into the proficiency of these students, he found none to be compared with these four: he therefore took them into his service, and dignified them with a seat at his council-board. And he had abundant reason to approve the choice that he had made of them; for in all matters of wisdom and understanding, respecting the conduct of affairs private or public, they were ten times better than the wisest and most experienced of his counsellors, and the most celebrated of the magicians. From this time till the first year of Cyrus, Daniel continued at court and in favour, and lived to see that happy event, the restoration of his people to their own land. Note; (1.) They who singly make God's glory their aim, most effectually consult their own honour and happiness. (2.) Wisdom is not always confined to age: when God teaches, he can give to youth more understanding than the ancients.