Читать книгу The Book of Daniel Unlocked - Auchincloss William Stuart - Страница 2

B.C. 606

1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

This siege took place in B.C. 606. Verse 5 says that Daniel and the royal captives received 3 years’ training and verse 18 shows that at the end of 3 years they graduated. This brings us to the year B.C. 603 which chapter 2 verse 1 says was the 2nd of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, consequently Nebuchadnezzar began to reign in B.C. 605. This date agrees with the figures given in the Almagesta of Ptolemy, also with the statements of Berosus. Besides it harmonizes perfectly the Bible account of the first 5 years in Jehoiakim’s reign, as set forth in Jeremiah XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXXV, XXXVI, XLV, XLVI , and II Kings XXIV. Still further a draughtsman can plot it on a chart, with the same accuracy that a surveyor can map a piece of land, provided he governs his work by that remarkable group of locking-dates set forth in Jeremiah XXV. 1. 2. 3. and Ezekiel XL. 1. also takes full account of the historic events which happened in the 1st, 7th, 8th, 18th, and 19th years of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. It thus will become manifest that Daniel and his companions were taken captive in the Summer of B.C. 606.

2. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

As foretold in Jeremiah XXIX. 10. the captivity of Judah lasted 70 years, B.C. 606 to B.C. 536, when the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim freedom to the captives. Ezra 1st. chap. Isaiah XLIV. 28.

3. And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

4. Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Precisely as foretold by the prophet Isaiah, more than a century prior to the event. Isaiah XXXIX. 7.

5. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

6. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

8. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

“Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness.” Ezekiel XIV. 14. Note in passing, that by order of birth these names should be read Noah, Job and Daniel. However, according to a custom common among the writers of Scripture, the line of Divine favor was followed in preference to the order of birth. For example, Japheth, Ham, Shem was the order of birth; but the records stands: “These are the generations of the sons of Noah; Shem, Ham and Japheth.” So too we read of “Abram, Nahor, and Haran” when the order of birth was Haran, Nahor and Abram. Also of “Aaron and Moses and Miriam,” when the true order was Miriam, Aaron and Moses.

9. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

10. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

11. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12. Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

The Scriptures everywhere associate a sense of completeness and perfection with the numeral 7, also with the numeral 10. The Mosaic Law teems with instances of this sort. A Sabbatic period covered 7 years. Sprinklings were administered 7 times, feasts lasted 7 days, priests carried 7 trumpets, Jericho was compassed 7 times, Naaman bathed 7 times in the Jordan, a servant bowed 7 times to his lord and so on. As to the numeral 10, the Law had 10 commandments, the tabernacle had 10 curtains, 10 pillars, 10 sockets. After the Israelites had tempted the Lord 10 times, they were condemned to die in the wilderness. Ten plagues were inflicted on the Egyptians. In the matter of taxation, the herd was divided into 10 parts and one part set aside for the Lord.

When Nebuchadnezzar tested Daniel and his companions, “he found them 10 times better than all the magicians and astrologers.” Thus we see plainly that the numerals 7 and 10 conveyed the idea of completeness and perfection to the Hebrew mind.

B.C. 603

13. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

16. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

17. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

“Behold art thou wiser than Daniel.” Ezekiel XXVIII. 3.

18. Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

At the end of the 3 years spoken of in verse 5.

19. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

20. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

21. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Cyrus began to reign, as king of Persia in B.C. 558, just twenty years prior to his conquest of Babylon in B.C. 538. The verse of course refers to the first year of his reign as king of Babylon. In the following chapter the narrative goes back to B.C. 603 which as already explained was the 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar’s individual reign. His father Nabopolassar was still on the throne in B.C. 606, but on his death in B.C. 605 Nebuchadnezzar returned at once to Babylon and was made king, with full authority.