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Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah.
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The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
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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.
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Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion from the palace master.
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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 age, you would endanger my head with the king.”
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Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
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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.
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and the king spoke with them. Among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court.
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And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.
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The decree was issued, and the wise men were about to be executed, and they looked for Daniel and his companions, to execute them.
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Then Daniel responded with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the king’s chief executioner, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon;
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he asked Arioch, the royal official, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
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So Daniel went in and requested that the king give him time and he would tell the king the interpretation.
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God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Then Daniel went to his home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, of the matter
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and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
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Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
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Daniel said: “Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are his.
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Daniel Interprets the Dream
Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will give the king the interpretation.”
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Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who can tell the king the interpretation.”
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The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?”
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Daniel answered the king, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking,
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Daniel and His Friends Promoted
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that a grain offering and incense be offered to him.
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The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!”
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Then the king promoted Daniel, gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
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Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.