Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Daniel
Book: Daniel
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The
Captivity of
Daniel and his companions.
(1-7) Their
refusal to eat the
King's meat.
(8-16) Their improvement in
Wisdom.
(17-21)
1-7 Nebuchadnezzar,
King of
Babylon, in the first
Year of his
reign, took
Jerusalem, and carried whom and what he pleased
away. From this first
Captivity, most think the seventy years
are to be dated. It is the interest of princes to employ
Wise
men; and it is their
Wisdom to find out and train up such.
Nebuchadnezzar ordered that these
Chosen youths should be
taught. All their
Hebrew names had something of
God in them; but
to make them forget the
God of their fathers, the Guide of their
youth, the
Heathen gave them names that savoured of
Idolatry. It
is painful to reflect how often public education tends to
corrupt the principles and morals.
8-16 The interest we think we make for ourselves, we must
acknowledge to be
God's
Gift.
Daniel was still firm to his
religion. Whatever they called him, he still held
Fast the
Spirit of an Israelite. These youths scrupled concerning the
meat, lest it should be sinful. When
God's people are in
Babylon
they need take special care that they partake not of her sins.
It is much to the praise of young people, not to covet or seek
the delights of sense. Those who would excel in
Wisdom and
Piety, must learn betimes to keep the body under.
Daniel avoided
defiling himself with
Sin; and we should more fear that than any
outward trouble. It is easier to keep
Temptation at a distance,
than to resist it when near. And we cannot better improve our
interest in any with whom we have found favour, than to use it
to keep us from
Sin. People will not believe the benefit of
avoiding excess, and of a spare diet, nor how much they
contribute to the health of the body, unless they try.
Conscientious temperance will always do more, even for the
comfort of this
Life, than sinful indulgence.
17-21 Daniel and his fellows kept to their religion; and
God
rewarded them with eminence in learning. Pious young persons
should endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful
things; not for the praise of
Man, but for the honour of the
Gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is
Well for a country, and for the honour of a
Prince, when he is
able to
Judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them
On that account. Let young men steadily attend to this
Chapter;
and let all remember that
God will honour those who honour him,
but those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.