# Daniel Chapter 1
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## Context
The events of this particular chapter are significant and require a little context setting. Israel is a divided Kingdom following Rehoboam's appointment as King. Rehoboam was Solomon's son and chose to ignore the counsel of the wise preferring instead to please his friends. Judah and Benjamin split therefore from the rest of Israel in around 931BC and remained divided 322 years later when this narrative takes place.

Jehoiakim becomes the eighteenth King of Judah in 609BC and Jewish tradition maintains that Jehoiakim lived in an incestuous relationship with his mother, daughter-in-law and step mother. He was criticised by Jeremiah who insisted on repentance and adherence to the Jewish law. Jehoiakim ordered Jeremiah's death after he prophesied that Jerusalem would be handed over to Bablyon. Generally not a nice dude.

Nebuchadnezzar II was the longest reigning king of the Chaldean dynasty. His name literally means *"Nebu[^1] watch over my heir"*. He besieges Jerusalem and ultimately conquers Israel leading to the exile. In three places within the book of Jeremiah Nebuchadnezzar is reffered to as *"my servant"* indicating God's sovereignty and superiority over who was the most powerful man in the world.

## Summary
Nebuchadnezzar besieges and captures Jerusalem and Judah and carries of many of the learned young men including Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. He appoints his chief Eunuch to oversee their education in the wisdom of the Chaldeans. Daniel chooses not to defile himself with the Kings food and asks the chief Eunuch to permit them to eat only vegetables and drink water, which after testing them he consents to. God grants wisdom and learning and Daniel the understanding in all visions and dreams. Nebuchadnezzar finds these four greater than all the magicians and enchanters in his Kingdom.

## Imagery and Themes

There is great significance in the actions of Nebuchadnezzar who demonstrates he understands how to empire build. He proceeds to conduct a *brain drain* on Judah removing young impressionable, intelligent young men to serve him directly. Furthermore for the four captured he attempts to bestow upon them new identities. The meaning of their Hebrew names spoke of the one true God. Daniel meant *God is my judge*; Hananiah *Yah has been gracious*; Mishael *who is what God is*; Azariah *Yah has helped*. By contrast their “new” names centered on several Babylonian gods: Beltashazzar *Bel[^2] will protect*; Shadrach; Meshach; Abednego *servant of Nebu or Nergal[^3]*. The entymology of two of the names here is unclear and sources differ in interpretation but evidently there is a clear attempt here to assimilate these young men into Babylonian culture.

The consistent reference to learning, understanding, literacy and wisdom both explicitly and symbolically is also of interest. Portraying Daniel as a simple man with a simple faith does him a disservice. Daniel was a learned man clearly exceeding his own wisdom in years with a clear and passionate commitment to God. His proficiency was evidently recognised by the King and his appointment to the court was something that demonstrates his value as an advisor. We can only imagine how conflicted Daniel and his friends must have been.

[^1]: Nebu was the God of literacy and wisdom.
[^2]: Bel became thought of as the god of order and destiny
[^3]: Nergal was the God of Agriculture