Daniel 1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
I. Daniel and the Kings of Babylon
Chapter 1
The Food Test. 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim,[a] king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem.(A) 2 (B)The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God, which he carried off to the land of Shinar[b] and placed in the temple treasury of his god.
3 The king told Ashpenaz,[c] his chief chamberlain, to bring in some of the Israelites, some of the royal line and of the nobility. 4 They should be young men without any defect, handsome, proficient in wisdom, well informed, and insightful, such as could take their place in the king’s palace; he was to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table. After three years’ training they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among these were Judeans, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 [d]The chief chamberlain changed their names: Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego.
8 But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.[e] 9 Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain, 10 he said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look thinner in comparison to the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the guardian whom the chief chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your servants according to what you see.” 14 He agreed to this request, and tested them for ten days; 15 after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table. 16 So the steward continued to take away the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency in all literature and wisdom, and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation, the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 When the king had spoken with all of them, none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and so they entered the king’s service. 20 In any question of wisdom or understanding which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than any of the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom. 21 (C)Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.[f]
Footnotes
- 1:1 According to 2 Kgs 24, the siege of Jerusalem took place after the death of Jehoiakim, but 2 Chr 36:5–8 says that Jehoiakim was taken to Babylon.
- 1:2 Shinar: ancient name for Babylonia, a deliberate archaism in this text; cf. Gn 10:10; 11:2.
- 1:3 The proper name Ashpenaz is sometimes taken as a title, major-domo.
- 1:7 Other prominent Jews with Babylonian names include Sheshbazzar and Zerubabbel, who were leaders of the postexilic community.
- 1:8 This defilement: the bread, meat, and wine of the Gentiles were unclean (Hos 9:3; Tb 1:12; Jdt 10:5; 12:1–2) because they might have been offered to idols; and the meat may not have been drained of blood, as Jewish dietary law requires. This test relates to the attempt of Antiochus to force Jews to eat forbidden foods in contempt of their religion (1 Mc 1:62–63; 2 Mc 6:18; 7:1).
- 1:21 The first year of King Cyrus: the year of this Persian king’s conquest of Babylon, 539/538 B.C.
Daniel 1
King James Version
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
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.
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.
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 Abednego.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Daniel 1
Hoffnung für Alle
Daniel und seine Freunde am babylonischen Königshof (Kapitel 1–6)
Daniel und seine Freunde treten in den Dienst von König Nebukadnezar
1 Im 3. Regierungsjahr Jojakims, des Königs von Juda, zog der babylonische König Nebukadnezar mit seinem Heer nach Jerusalem und belagerte die Stadt. 2 Der Herr ließ König Jojakim in seine Hände fallen, ebenso einen Teil der wertvollen Tempelgegenstände. Nebukadnezar brachte sie in sein Land[a] und bewahrte sie in der Schatzkammer im Tempel seines Gottes auf.
3 Dann befahl er seinem obersten Hofbeamten Aschpenas: »Wähle einige junge Israeliten aus dem judäischen Königshaus und den vornehmen Familien aus! 4 Sie sollen gut aussehen und gesund sein. Außerdem müssen sie Weisheit und Bildung mitbringen und eine rasche Auffassungsgabe besitzen; dann sind sie zum Dienst an meinem Hof geeignet. Sie sollen unsere Sprache lernen und in den babylonischen Schriften unterrichtet werden! 5 Gib ihnen jeden Tag Speise und Wein von der königlichen Tafel, sie sollen das Gleiche essen und trinken wie ich. Nach dreijähriger Ausbildung können sie in meinen Dienst treten.«
6 Unter den Judäern, die ausgesucht wurden, waren Daniel, Hananja, Mischaël und Asarja. 7 Der oberste Hofbeamte gab ihnen babylonische Namen: Daniel nannte er Beltschazar, Hananja Schadrach, Mischaël Meschach und Asarja Abed-Nego.
8 Daniel nahm sich fest vor, niemals von der Speise des Königs zu essen und von seinem Wein zu trinken; denn sonst hätte er das Gesetz Gottes missachtet, das bestimmte Speisen für unrein erklärt. Darum bat er Aschpenas, auf die königlichen Speisen und den Wein verzichten zu dürfen. 9 Gott sorgte dafür, dass Aschpenas Daniel wohlgesinnt war und Verständnis für ihn zeigte. 10 Trotzdem hatte der Mann Bedenken: »Ich habe Angst vor meinem Herrn, dem König. Er hat festgelegt, was ihr essen und trinken sollt. Wenn er merkt, dass ihr nicht so gesund ausseht wie die anderen jungen Männer, lässt er mich köpfen!« 11 Da wandte sich Daniel an den Aufseher, den der oberste Hofbeamte über ihn und seine drei Freunde eingesetzt hatte: 12 »Versuch es doch zehn Tage lang, uns nur Gemüse und Wasser zu geben. 13 Danach vergleiche unser Aussehen mit dem der anderen jungen Männer, die von der Tafel des Königs essen. Und dann entscheide, was du in Zukunft mit uns tun willst.«
14 Der Aufseher willigte ein und erfüllte ihren Wunsch. 15 Nach zehn Tagen sahen Daniel und seine Freunde sogar gesünder und kräftiger aus als alle anderen, die von den königlichen Speisen bekamen. 16 Darum gab der Aufseher ihnen von nun an immer Gemüse, von der Tafel des Königs brauchten sie nichts zu nehmen. 17 Gott schenkte den vier jungen Männern außergewöhnliche Weisheit und Erkenntnis; schon bald waren sie mit dem gesamten Wissen und den Schriften Babyloniens vertraut. Daniel konnte außerdem Visionen und Träume jeder Art deuten.
18 Nach Ablauf der drei Jahre befahl König Nebukadnezar, ihm alle jungen Israeliten vorzustellen. Der oberste Hofbeamte brachte sie zum König, 19 und dieser sprach mit ihnen. Schnell wurde ihm klar, dass Daniel, Hananja, Mischaël und Asarja alle anderen in den Schatten stellten. So wurden sie in den königlichen Dienst aufgenommen. 20 Immer wenn der König vor schwierigen Entscheidungen stand und auf ein sicheres Urteil angewiesen war, fragte er diese vier Männer um Rat. Dabei zeigte sich, dass sie allen Wahrsagern und Geisterbeschwörern seines Landes weit überlegen waren.
21 Daniel diente am Königshof bis zum 1. Regierungsjahr von König Kyrus.
Footnotes
- 1,2 Wörtlich: ins Land Schinar. – Schinar ist ein alter Name für Babylonien, die Ebene zwischen Euphrat und Tigris.
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