Daniel 1: 1 – 21
In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.
Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king’s court. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favour and compassion from the palace master. The palace master said to Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king.’ Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: ‘Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.’ So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court. In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Reflection
Daniel begins with Nebuchadnezzar creating a talent scheme for Jewish administrators – the selection criteria might not seem obvious to us, as not only should they be wise and knowledgeable, they should also come from noble families and be handsome. In the light of the ‘Me too’ movement we might wonder quite why the King wanted such ornamental young men around his court – but on this occasion it doesn’t seem that Nebuchadnezzar’s sins have a sexual element. Rather, he is using the colonist’s playbook, seeking to mould the leaders of a conquered people to his ends, and corrupting them with rich palace food (that would not meet Jewish dietary laws). Daniel’s having none of it though – asking for vegetables and water, which meet the young men’s religious obligations – and emerging from the process fatter and fitter than those who have enjoyed the rich food. That might not seem surprising to us, as we reflect on obesity and over-indulgence, but I suspect the writer is expecting us to be surprised that such an ascetic diet could leave the young men looking healthier than those who have had the pick of the kitchens – and not only healthier in body, but at the height of their mental and spiritual powers.
The writer is thus making it clear that Daniel should be seen as a role model, eschewing the temptations of a royal court, and remaining faithful to his God – but he is still in a conflicted position, as a high-ranking official for an unjust king. While he continues to obey the dietary laws, and to worship God in the way he was taught, we don’t get any sense that he does anything to challenge Nebuchadnezzar’s conduct, or to relieve the suffering of the Jewish people.
Prayer
Lord, sometimes we feel there are no good choices
or no good choices we are strong enough to make.
Forgive us when we are flattered by luxury
and when we turn a blind eye to injustice
because speaking feels unsafe.
Help us remember that we can be prophets
even if we aren’t noble or handsome.
Help us live a faith that is more than ritual
and be part of reshaping the world in your image.
Amen.
