Daniel 1:1-7
The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, ordered Ahpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelite men from the royal family and the nobility - young men without any physical defect, handsome showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand and qualified to serve in the king's palace.
The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years.
Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
Israelite peoples were besieged by Babylon, they carried off the temple of God in Jerusalem and carried some people from Judah.
The main trust of the book is clear: God, the God of Israel, is sovereign ruler of the world, at all times and in all places. For his people this means one thing: total loyalty to him. No matter how powerful the opposing forces, God will in due time defeat them all.
Why?
Babylon king knew wise men in his court may help him to manage his country.
He chose not only wise but also not defect and handsome show aptitude for every kind of learning.
Daniel was a Judean exile at the court of Babylon, taken there as a boy a few years earlier than Ezekiel and the first main batch of exiles. He belonged to a noble family and was exceptionally able and intelligent. Daniel'a role in the stories which make up the first part of the book is a much that of statesman as prophet.
The literature of Babylon was one in which 'magic, sorcery charms and astrology payed prominent part'. Daniel and co. would need the determined hold on their own faith already shown, if they were not to be caught up in things their law forbade.
The endings of the Hebrew names(-el,-iah) like them with the name of Israel's God. At least one of the new names is liked to that of a Babylonian god.
Babylonia chose servant form they outside looking and ability of learning. God chooses servant with love, no like man, God looks man's heart.
How?
How do I look a man, first might from the appearing from outside, more important is to know his heart and mind. So as me, how people look at me? Is a Christ-like life in me?
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