Dan 1:1-7 | MHM | STEP | The Siege of Jerusalem In these verses, we see the beginning of Daniel's story, as he and other young Israelites are taken captive by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and carried off to Babylon. This marks the start of the 70-year Babylonian captivity prophesied by Jeremiah. Daniel and his companions are selected for special training to serve in the Babylonian court, as the king seeks to incorporate the brightest young Israelites into his administration. v. 1 : In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. This was the first of several Babylonian invasions that eventually led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

‏ Daniel 1:1-7

The Siege of Jerusalem

In these verses, we see the beginning of Daniel's story, as he and other young Israelites are taken captive by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and carried off to Babylon. This marks the start of the 70-year Babylonian captivity prophesied by Jeremiah. Daniel and his companions are selected for special training to serve in the Babylonian court, as the king seeks to incorporate the brightest young Israelites into his administration.

v. 1: In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. This was the first of several Babylonian invasions that eventually led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

v. 2: The Lord allowed Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, to be captured by Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonians also took some of the vessels from the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to the temple of their god in Babylon.

v. 3: Nebuchadnezzar ordered his chief official to bring some of the Israelite youth of noble descent to Babylon for training.

v. 4: The young Israelites selected were to be without physical defect, good-looking, intelligent, and educated. They were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans (Babylonians).

v. 5: The king provided these young men with a daily portion of the king's food and wine, intending to train them for three years so they could serve in the king's court.

v. 6: Among those selected were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah.

v. 7: The chief official gave these four young men new Babylonian names: Daniel became Belteshazzar, Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah became Abednego.