Book of Daniel, Part 10 - a podcast by Evg. K V Thomas

(Daniel 1:3-7, ESV) 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. ///Dan. 1:4 Qualifications for Jews to be trained in affairs of state included being: 1) physically free from bodily defects or handicap and handsome, i.e., a pleasing appearance in the public eye; 2) mentally sharp; and 3) socially poised and polished for representing the leadership. The ages of the trainees was most likely 14–17.

Dan. 1:5 educated for three years. Cf. 2:1 and see note there.

Dan. 1:7 names. A key factor in the “brainwashing” process of the Babylonian training was a name switch. This was to link the inductees to local gods rather than to support their former religious loyalty. Daniel means “God is my judge,” but became Belteshazzar, or “Bel protect the king.” Hananiah, “the Lord is gracious,” was changed to Shadrach, “command of Aku,” another Babylonian god. Mishael, meaning “who is like the Lord?” was given the name Meshach, “who is what Aku is?” Finally, Azariah, “the Lord is my helper,” became Abed-nego, “servant of Nego,” also called Nebo, a god of vegetation (cf. Isa. 46:1).

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