Daniel 5:30-31 - That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
I confess that I don't know the historical record of this time and place very well, but wouldn't a king normally have some knowledge - an inkling, even - that an enemy army was about to invade and overthrow him? How do you (seemingly) matter-of-factly walk into the center of the kingdom, assassinate the leader, and take over the joint? Maybe it's just the way it's told here with the lack of details. Or maybe it tells us more about what kind of king Belshazzar was.
7/31/2007
The hand, writing on the wall
Daniel 5:1-16 - King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
I wonder how many people realize that the phrase, "the handwriting on the wall," comes from this account of Belshazzar and Daniel.
Why wasn't Daniel brought in with the first batch of enchanters, astrologers, and diviners? Daniel was their chief. How is it that Belshazzar didn't even know who he was? Apparently they had never met in person. Seems strange that the king wouldn't take time to get acquainted with his head wise man (and possibly still "ruler over the entire province of Babylon"). Does that tell us something about what kind of a king Belshazzar was?
Third highest? Belshazzar was first. Was the queen (possibly, queen mother) second? Wasn't Daniel almost third already -- being ruler over Babylon?
Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
I wonder how many people realize that the phrase, "the handwriting on the wall," comes from this account of Belshazzar and Daniel.
Why wasn't Daniel brought in with the first batch of enchanters, astrologers, and diviners? Daniel was their chief. How is it that Belshazzar didn't even know who he was? Apparently they had never met in person. Seems strange that the king wouldn't take time to get acquainted with his head wise man (and possibly still "ruler over the entire province of Babylon"). Does that tell us something about what kind of a king Belshazzar was?
Third highest? Belshazzar was first. Was the queen (possibly, queen mother) second? Wasn't Daniel almost third already -- being ruler over Babylon?
7/29/2007
Who's running the show?
Daniel 4:33 - Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
I wonder who ran the empire while Nebuchadnezzar was away. No mention is made, but I wonder if whoever was temporarily in charge put up a fuss about relinquishing authority when Nebuchadnezzar returned.
Did anyone keep tabs on him while he was gone?
"Oh, he's not so good today. Tried to fly by jumping off a pile of rocks. Low pile. Maybe if it was higher...."
"Bogus. Wasn't too bad last time I saw him...just munching on a bit of grass and picking the fleas off himself."
"Pssh! That's nothing! My neighbor was doing the same thing last week."
I wonder who ran the empire while Nebuchadnezzar was away. No mention is made, but I wonder if whoever was temporarily in charge put up a fuss about relinquishing authority when Nebuchadnezzar returned.
Did anyone keep tabs on him while he was gone?
"Oh, he's not so good today. Tried to fly by jumping off a pile of rocks. Low pile. Maybe if it was higher...."
"Bogus. Wasn't too bad last time I saw him...just munching on a bit of grass and picking the fleas off himself."
"Pssh! That's nothing! My neighbor was doing the same thing last week."
7/28/2007
Hot, hot, hot
Daniel 3:19-20 - Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
Why stop at 7 times? Did they have any idea how to make it 7 times hotter? Had anyone ever asked for the temperature to be increased (by any amount) before? Did they make any attempt at measuring the temperature before throwing the men in?
Was this a common method of execution? Or was it unique to this special occasion? Interesting that, from the start, the threat of death was considered necessary to encourage everyone to worship the image of gold.
What was the furnace normally used for? Glass making? Smelting? Refining (the gold used for the image)? Was it part of a larger building or a standalone?
Why stop at 7 times? Did they have any idea how to make it 7 times hotter? Had anyone ever asked for the temperature to be increased (by any amount) before? Did they make any attempt at measuring the temperature before throwing the men in?
Was this a common method of execution? Or was it unique to this special occasion? Interesting that, from the start, the threat of death was considered necessary to encourage everyone to worship the image of gold.
What was the furnace normally used for? Glass making? Smelting? Refining (the gold used for the image)? Was it part of a larger building or a standalone?
7/27/2007
Can't we all just get along?
Daniel 3:13-18 - Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Even though furious at being disobeyed, I can still imagine Nebuchadnezzar calmly saying, "C'mon, guys, you're some of the best I've got around here. Won't you do this for me just this once so I can let you off the hook?"
I wonder if he realized he was making himself a god -- greater than all gods -- when he asked, "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" If his hand was more powerful than any (other) god, that makes him top dog (er, god). Yeah, he probably knew what he was saying.
The young men's reply is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. Not to question the accuracy of the text, but I doubt they all recited the reply in unison. I hear it going something like this...
Shadrach, stepping forward: O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
Meshach, stepping up next to Shadrach: Yeah, but even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
Abednego, nodding almost constantly till now, joins his friends: What they said!
One final nod in unison from all three.
Okay, too cliche, but I hope that's how it really happened.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Even though furious at being disobeyed, I can still imagine Nebuchadnezzar calmly saying, "C'mon, guys, you're some of the best I've got around here. Won't you do this for me just this once so I can let you off the hook?"
I wonder if he realized he was making himself a god -- greater than all gods -- when he asked, "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" If his hand was more powerful than any (other) god, that makes him top dog (er, god). Yeah, he probably knew what he was saying.
The young men's reply is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. Not to question the accuracy of the text, but I doubt they all recited the reply in unison. I hear it going something like this...
Shadrach, stepping forward: O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
Meshach, stepping up next to Shadrach: Yeah, but even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
Abednego, nodding almost constantly till now, joins his friends: What they said!
One final nod in unison from all three.
Okay, too cliche, but I hope that's how it really happened.
Ain't gonna do it
Daniel 3:1-12 - King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
The obvious question here is: Where was Daniel? He was the "ruler over the entire province of Babylon" and so should have been included in the invitation given to the "satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all other provincial officials." I wonder if he simply(?) refused the invitation and if the refusal was accepted by Nebuchadnezzar. Perhaps he was held in such high esteem that he could get away with rebuffing the king.
That would also help explain why the astrologers who complained about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't have anything to say about Daniel. If he was already out of the picture with the approval of the king, they would have realized it was pointless to mention his name later.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
The obvious question here is: Where was Daniel? He was the "ruler over the entire province of Babylon" and so should have been included in the invitation given to the "satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all other provincial officials." I wonder if he simply(?) refused the invitation and if the refusal was accepted by Nebuchadnezzar. Perhaps he was held in such high esteem that he could get away with rebuffing the king.
That would also help explain why the astrologers who complained about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't have anything to say about Daniel. If he was already out of the picture with the approval of the king, they would have realized it was pointless to mention his name later.
7/25/2007
An image of gold
Daniel 3:1 - King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
It was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide, or so. That is, about 10 stories tall and the width of a smallish room across. I wonder what it was an image of. I think we sometimes assume it was a likeness of Nebuchadnezzar himself -- perhaps a bust of him or a smaller statue on top of a pillar. And that could make sense, considering that kings sometimes thought of themselves as gods worthy of worship. Was Nebuchadnezzar thinking of literally putting his dream into practice? But it doesn't say that's what the image was. You'd think it would say so if it were something as basic as that.
So what was it? Something too complex to warrant description? Something too simple to warrant description? It does say image, which conjures up a picture of something -- a face, a body, even a scenic view, as opposed to just a plain pillar or obelisk (like the Washington Monument).
The there's also the question of how they got it to stay standing. Did it also go 10 stories underground? Were there guy-wires holding it in place like those around a TV, radio, or cell phone tower? Was it 9 feet square from bottom to top? Did it narrow (to a point) as it went up? From a distance it might easily have looked like a big, shiny pencil sticking out of the ground.
It was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide, or so. That is, about 10 stories tall and the width of a smallish room across. I wonder what it was an image of. I think we sometimes assume it was a likeness of Nebuchadnezzar himself -- perhaps a bust of him or a smaller statue on top of a pillar. And that could make sense, considering that kings sometimes thought of themselves as gods worthy of worship. Was Nebuchadnezzar thinking of literally putting his dream into practice? But it doesn't say that's what the image was. You'd think it would say so if it were something as basic as that.
So what was it? Something too complex to warrant description? Something too simple to warrant description? It does say image, which conjures up a picture of something -- a face, a body, even a scenic view, as opposed to just a plain pillar or obelisk (like the Washington Monument).
The there's also the question of how they got it to stay standing. Did it also go 10 stories underground? Were there guy-wires holding it in place like those around a TV, radio, or cell phone tower? Was it 9 feet square from bottom to top? Did it narrow (to a point) as it went up? From a distance it might easily have looked like a big, shiny pencil sticking out of the ground.
7/24/2007
Daniel promoted
Daniel 2:47-49 - 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."
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. 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.
I wonder if Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten his dream or if he had just refused to tell it as a test of his wise men. In any case, he seems to have recognized Daniel's retelling of the dream as the same one that he had had a few nights before.
I wonder what kinds of gifts the king gave Daniel.
I wonder if Daniel still went through the rest of his training on schedule over the next one to two years. He probably still had a lot to learn if he was going to complete his duties satisfactorily.
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. 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.
I wonder if Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten his dream or if he had just refused to tell it as a test of his wise men. In any case, he seems to have recognized Daniel's retelling of the dream as the same one that he had had a few nights before.
I wonder what kinds of gifts the king gave Daniel.
I wonder if Daniel still went through the rest of his training on schedule over the next one to two years. He probably still had a lot to learn if he was going to complete his duties satisfactorily.
7/23/2007
I had a dream
Daniel 2:1-15 - In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."
Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."
This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 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.
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. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
I wonder why the astrologers replied in Aramaic. Could Nebuchadnezzar understand Aramaic? If not, were the astrologers trying to show off their knowledge of languages before the king? Or was that the only language they knew? Assuming an interpreter was used, was this the only pair of languages -- Aramaic and whatever Nebuchadnezzar was speaking -- that the interpreter(s) at hand could understand and translate?
I wonder why Daniel and his 3 friends were not summoned with the others. Perhaps it was because they were still only sophomore "wise men." This was only the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign (over Israel, at least). The trainees were to be schooled for 3 years and then enter the king's service. Still, the king knew how good these men were. So why didn't he think to call them? Was he just testing the others? And yet they were included in the count when it came time to destroy all the wise men. It doesn't seem very fair of Nebuchadnezzar.
Notice how young Daniel reacts to the news of the decree. Instead of ranting or whining about how unfair it was, he used wisdom and tact. Word to those who would be wise.
Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."
This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 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.
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. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
I wonder why the astrologers replied in Aramaic. Could Nebuchadnezzar understand Aramaic? If not, were the astrologers trying to show off their knowledge of languages before the king? Or was that the only language they knew? Assuming an interpreter was used, was this the only pair of languages -- Aramaic and whatever Nebuchadnezzar was speaking -- that the interpreter(s) at hand could understand and translate?
I wonder why Daniel and his 3 friends were not summoned with the others. Perhaps it was because they were still only sophomore "wise men." This was only the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign (over Israel, at least). The trainees were to be schooled for 3 years and then enter the king's service. Still, the king knew how good these men were. So why didn't he think to call them? Was he just testing the others? And yet they were included in the count when it came time to destroy all the wise men. It doesn't seem very fair of Nebuchadnezzar.
Notice how young Daniel reacts to the news of the decree. Instead of ranting or whining about how unfair it was, he used wisdom and tact. Word to those who would be wise.
7/22/2007
Veggie tale
Daniel 1:8-15 - 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. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 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."
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
I wonder why Danial suggested a vegetarian diet. The Israelites were permitted to eat many meats under God's laws -- just not those that were categorized as unclean. We think of pork in particular, but there were some others too. Maybe there was something Daniel had found out about the king's meat that made him decide it would be defiling himself to eat any of it. Maybe it had been sacrificed to an idol or used in some other religious ceremony.
I have always found it interesting that those in charge of Daniel and the other trainees could see a difference in the looks and health of these young men after just 10 days on their respective diets. I wonder if the king himself ever heard about the menu change that was later made for all the trainees.
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
I wonder why Danial suggested a vegetarian diet. The Israelites were permitted to eat many meats under God's laws -- just not those that were categorized as unclean. We think of pork in particular, but there were some others too. Maybe there was something Daniel had found out about the king's meat that made him decide it would be defiling himself to eat any of it. Maybe it had been sacrificed to an idol or used in some other religious ceremony.
I have always found it interesting that those in charge of Daniel and the other trainees could see a difference in the looks and health of these young men after just 10 days on their respective diets. I wonder if the king himself ever heard about the menu change that was later made for all the trainees.
7/21/2007
Qualified to serve
Daniel 1:3-4 - Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility - young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace.
I wonder how many men fit this job description. How many young, upper class, smart, quick-learning, hunks do you know?
Now further restrict that list to humble Christians. Pretty short list, eh? That's the "A" list that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were on.
I wonder why we almost always use Daniel's Hebrew name, but we refer to his 3 friends by the new (Babylonian?) names given to them by the chief official who was first in charge of them during their captivity. I wonder if the official gave all his trainees new names.
I wonder how many men fit this job description. How many young, upper class, smart, quick-learning, hunks do you know?
Now further restrict that list to humble Christians. Pretty short list, eh? That's the "A" list that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were on.
I wonder why we almost always use Daniel's Hebrew name, but we refer to his 3 friends by the new (Babylonian?) names given to them by the chief official who was first in charge of them during their captivity. I wonder if the official gave all his trainees new names.
7/14/2007
Two sticks in one
Ezekiel 37:15-28 - The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.' Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.
"When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?' say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim's hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah's stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.' Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
" 'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.' "
I wonder how many people actually asked Ezekiel what the meaning of the sticks was.
I wonder what the sticks looked like. Were they long and flat like cricket bats? Were they short and round, just fallen from a tree? What did Ezekiel use to write on them?
With prophecies like these, I don't wonder that some (many?) Israelis expected to someday live in a great and powerful kingdom again -- like that of David and Solomon. No wonder people asked Jesus if he would restore the kingdom. But I believe that both these prophecies and Jesus own words pointed to a heavenly kingdom. Jesus himself is really the "David" mentioned here in Ezekiel's prophecy. He's the only "servant" and "prince" who could rule "forever."
"When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?' say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim's hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah's stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.' Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
" 'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.' "
I wonder how many people actually asked Ezekiel what the meaning of the sticks was.
I wonder what the sticks looked like. Were they long and flat like cricket bats? Were they short and round, just fallen from a tree? What did Ezekiel use to write on them?
With prophecies like these, I don't wonder that some (many?) Israelis expected to someday live in a great and powerful kingdom again -- like that of David and Solomon. No wonder people asked Jesus if he would restore the kingdom. But I believe that both these prophecies and Jesus own words pointed to a heavenly kingdom. Jesus himself is really the "David" mentioned here in Ezekiel's prophecy. He's the only "servant" and "prince" who could rule "forever."
7/08/2007
Egypt as pay
Ezekiel 29:17-20 - In the 27th year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army. I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign LORD."
I wonder why Nebuchadnezzar got no plunder from Tyre. Maybe it was because his army so completely destroyed it that there was nothing worthwhile left to take! After all, God had said that no one would ever find Tyre again. (See previous blog post.)
Notice how Nebuchadnezzar was being used as God's tool to carry out judgment on Egypt. That's quite a reward for doing what God wanted -- the wealth of a whole country. Consider what wealth can be yours if you do what God says too. Your reward will be great in heaven, yes, but (not that this is the motivation for obedience) it could be great here on earth too.
I wonder why Nebuchadnezzar got no plunder from Tyre. Maybe it was because his army so completely destroyed it that there was nothing worthwhile left to take! After all, God had said that no one would ever find Tyre again. (See previous blog post.)
Notice how Nebuchadnezzar was being used as God's tool to carry out judgment on Egypt. That's quite a reward for doing what God wanted -- the wealth of a whole country. Consider what wealth can be yours if you do what God says too. Your reward will be great in heaven, yes, but (not that this is the motivation for obedience) it could be great here on earth too.
Merchandise from Tyre
Ezekiel 26:19-27:23 - This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place in the land of the living. I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign LORD.
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
You say, O Tyre,
"I am perfect in beauty."
Your domain was on the high seas;
your builders brought your beauty to perfection.
They made all your timbers
of pine trees from Senir;
they took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.
Of oaks from Bashan
they made your oars;
of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus
they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.
Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail
and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple
from the coasts of Elishah.
Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;
your skilled men, O Tyre, were aboard as your seamen.
Veteran craftsmen of Gebal were on board
as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came alongside to trade for your wares.
Men of Persia, Lydia and Put
served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls,
bringing you splendor.
Men of Arvad and Helech
manned your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
they brought your beauty to perfection.
Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.
Greece, Tubal and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged slaves and articles of bronze for your wares.
Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged work horses, war horses and mules for your merchandise.
The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.
Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.
Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm for your wares.
Damascus, because of your many products and great wealth of goods, did business with you in wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar.
Danites and Greeks from Uzal bought your merchandise; they exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your wares.
Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.
The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.
Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you.' "
I wonder what it was that everyone wanted from Tyre. Since Tyre "will never again be found," we may never know the full scope of their wares. Perhaps the ships themselves were purchased in some cases, but it says there were "many products."
I wonder how many (if any) people have tried (unsuccessfully?) to find the ruins of Tyre.
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
You say, O Tyre,
"I am perfect in beauty."
Your domain was on the high seas;
your builders brought your beauty to perfection.
They made all your timbers
of pine trees from Senir;
they took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.
Of oaks from Bashan
they made your oars;
of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus
they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.
Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail
and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple
from the coasts of Elishah.
Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;
your skilled men, O Tyre, were aboard as your seamen.
Veteran craftsmen of Gebal were on board
as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came alongside to trade for your wares.
Men of Persia, Lydia and Put
served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls,
bringing you splendor.
Men of Arvad and Helech
manned your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
they brought your beauty to perfection.
Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.
Greece, Tubal and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged slaves and articles of bronze for your wares.
Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged work horses, war horses and mules for your merchandise.
The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.
Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.
Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm for your wares.
Damascus, because of your many products and great wealth of goods, did business with you in wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar.
Danites and Greeks from Uzal bought your merchandise; they exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your wares.
Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.
The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.
Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you.' "
I wonder what it was that everyone wanted from Tyre. Since Tyre "will never again be found," we may never know the full scope of their wares. Perhaps the ships themselves were purchased in some cases, but it says there were "many products."
I wonder how many (if any) people have tried (unsuccessfully?) to find the ruins of Tyre.
7/04/2007
The delight of his eyes
Ezekiel 24:15-18 - The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners ."
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
I wonder if he told her ahead of time. I hope not. I think.
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
I wonder if he told her ahead of time. I hope not. I think.
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