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Daniel’s Training in Babylon
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
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Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
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The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
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But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
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Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,
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but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
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Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
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To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
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The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.
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And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
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So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
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When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.
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He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
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At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
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Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
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During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
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Daniel Interprets the Dream
Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
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Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”
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The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”
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Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,
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Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him.
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The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
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Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.
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Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
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Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
