Daniel 1:9

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. The word here translated "tender love" really means "bowels," and then "mercy" or "compassion." Hence the Apostle Paul ( Philippians 2:1 ) combines the two meanings, "If there be any bowels and mercies." The Revised Version is here to be preferred, "favour and compassion,' as the Authorized exaggerates the affection the prince of the eunuchs had for Daniel. £ The versions in this verse do not afford any marked variations. The Septuagint has κύριος , "Lord," usually employed to translate יהוה , Jehovah, instead of θεός ( אלהים ). It is not impossible that the original reading may have been יהוה , though it is to be admitted not likely. Rahameem is translated χάριν ," favour," in the Septuagint, which is a weak rendering; Theodotion renders οἰκτιρμόν , which may be regarded as practically equivalent to our Revised Version. While the third verse speaks of the "chief" ( רַב ) of the eunuchs, a Babylonian and Assyrian title, the more usual Hebrew שַׂר replaces it in this verse and in that which precedes it. From this root the Assyrian and Babylonian word for "king," sat or sarru , was derived, while tab fell on evil days. Among the later Jews it became equivalent to ,mr doctors of divinity. Before the word for "God" ( Elohim ) there is the article. So far as the form stands, it might be plural, and therefore be capable of being translated "the gods," but the verb being singular renders that translation impossible. The affection with which the chief of the eunuchs regarded Daniel is notified to us as the result of God's goodness, who had thus given him favour in the eyes of him set over him. The Hebrew never failed to recognize, in his devouter moments, that the hearts of all men are in the hands of God; that by him kings reign and princes decree wisdom.