The prophet Ezekiel, who wrote his prophecy in Babylon about the same time, mentioned three Biblical figures in a row as men of righteousness, Noah, Daniel, and Job (Ezekiel 14:14 and 14:20). The Book takes its name from the hero, Daniel - דָּנִיֵּאל - a young Jewish prophet who lived in Babylon, one of the first exiles from Jerusalem during the Babylonian Captivity (Daniel 1:1-7). In addition, the captivating prophecy, imagery, and symbolism make the Book of Daniel one of the most read of Hebrew Scripture, our Old Testament of the Bible. Daniel in the Lions' Den is a favorite Bible story for children. The Book of Daniel is followed by the Prophet Hosea, the first of the Prophets in the Book of the Twelve. 21 ( S)Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.The prophet Daniel is one of four Major Prophets in Hebrew Scripture, along with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. 20 ( R)And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. 19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah therefore ( Q)they served before the king. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.ġ7 As for these four young men, ( N)God gave them ( O)knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom and Daniel had ( P)understanding in all visions and dreams.ġ8 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.ġ5 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”ġ1 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. 9 Now ( M)God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 7 ( J)To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: ( K)he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar to Hananiah, Shadrach to Mishael, Meshach and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.Ĩ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself ( L)with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might ( I)serve before the king. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with ( C)some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried ( D)into the land of Shinar to the house of his god ( E)and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.ģ Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring ( F)some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men ( G)in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and ( H)whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 1 In the third year of the reign of ( B)Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.