Daniel Taken to Babylon
Taken from Jerusalem as a young man, Daniel began a lifetime of faithfulness in the court of Babylon.
In the third year of King Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against Jerusalem, and the Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand along with part of the vessels of the house of God, which were carried into the land of Shinar. Nebuchadnezzar also took young men of the king's seed and of the princes, without blemish and skilful in wisdom, to be taught the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans for three years. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who were given the names Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This first deportation, usually dated to 605 BC, the year Babylon defeated Egypt at Carchemish, began the long captivity the prophets had foretold. Far from home, 'Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat,' and God gave him favor, knowledge, and understanding.
Did You Know?
Daniel's new name, Belteshazzar, was given 'according to the name' of Nebuchadnezzar's god.
The temple vessels taken in this deportation reappear decades later at Belshazzar's feast.
'Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus,' living through the whole Babylonian exile.
Key Passage
Daniel Taken to Babylon
Daniel 1:1-7
1n the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Meanwhile in the World
Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar conquers the known world, then falls to Persia under Cyrus the Great (539 BC). Greece enters its Classical period - Socrates, Plato, the Parthenon. Rome becomes a republic. The Persian Empire creates the Royal Road and standardized coinage.
