Daniel 1

This chapter begins with giving a short account of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Judea, when Jehoiakim became tributary to him; and consequently the seventy years' captivity and vassalage began, Daniel 1:1 , Daniel 1:2 . On this expedition (taking Egypt in his way) the king of Babylon set out towards the end of the third year of Jehoiakim, but did not take Jerusalem before the ninth month of the year following. Hence the seeming discrepancy between Daniel and Jeremiah, ( Jeremiah 25:1 ;), the one computing from the time of his setting out on the expedition, and the other from the time in which the purpose of it was accomplished. We have next an account of the manner in which Daniel and his companions were brought up at the king's court, Daniel 1:3-7 . They reject the daily provision of meat granted by the king, lest they should be defiled, and are allowed to live on pulse, Daniel 1:8-16 . Their great proficiency in the wisdom of that time, Daniel 1:17-20 . Daniel flourishes till the reign of Cyrus the Persian, Daniel 1:21 .