The Red Cloud chief., 1911-09-07
DANIEL AND HIS
COMPANIONS
Sunday School Lesson fos Sept. 10. 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper
LESSON TEXT.--Danlcl 1880.

. IIsSSoN lEsN --i'HfllFl lso-sU.
MEMORY VERSES. 8. o.
GOLDEN TENT.--'it is good neither 10
cat flesh. nor drink wine, nor anything
whereby thy brother stumbleth."-Rom
1t:2i
TIME.-B. G.. sO5-t The third year Of
King Jchoiakim U.csson NI1). The acccs.
sion year OF Nebuchadnczzar. when Dan.
Tel was carried captive to Babylon. The
next year IL called his first year
PERIOD.--Thrce years, II. &. 605.4-G03-2,
on Ncbuchadnez2ar's return to Babylon
after defeating the armies OF Egypt.
PLACE, Babylon on the Euphrates. Be-
fore his captivity Daniel lived In Jerusa-
lem. ...f
PLACE IN THE uIsToRY.-2 Kings
.t:l-6; 9 Chron. 3G:5-S.
PROPHETS.--Jcrcm and Habakkuk
We're prophcsying at Jerusalem when Dan
lei was carried away. and Ezekiel was his
contemporary in Babylonia. but not IN
the city Of Babylon. lIo was on tho river
Chebar. southeast OF the city.
At the time Of this lesson the two
great world powers were In deadly
conflict. The Egyptian army under
Necho had marched toward Babylon
as far as Carchemish on the Euphra-
tcs.
On the other hand Nabopolassar
with the assistance OF the Scythians
had conquered the Assyrians. and de.
stroycd Nineveh. the capital. Il. C. COG.
The Babylonians marched up the Eu.
pirates and met the Egyptian army
mt Carchemish, and defeated them.
Nabopolassar. king Of Babylon, sent
his son Nebuchadnezzar on to Jerusa.
lem. who besieged that city. jeremiah
/ ~ hn i,, Iak ak.~t
kim's fourth year. probably I'm the
early past so that difference In tho
period covered by the BabylOnian and
the Jewish years would account for
the variation. The last part Of COS
Is treated as Nebuchadnezzar's acces.
sion year. and Goa his first year as
king.
At this time Nabopolassar died and
Nebuchadnezzar hasted back to Baby.
lon, taking with him number of cap
tives including Daniel and his three
companions, from royal or princely
families, either as hostages or persons
whom he could train for his official
service.
The names OF the four young princes
were all compounded with the name
OF God. Daniel--God is my judge
Hananiah--Jehovah Is gracious:
Mishael-This Is as God; Azariah---
Jehovah is helper. Their new names
were compounded with those of royal
ty or OF idols. Daniel was named Bel
teshazzar. favored of Bel or Belts.
the great Babylonian god and goddess.
The custom Of changing names con-
tinues up to this day; any change
from Mohammedan to Christian, or
the reverse, being accompanying by q
change OF name. These four were
I selected from among the captives on
account OF their noble descent. talent
and promise Of ability. to be trained
In the language and literature OF the
Chaldeans, to be trusted officers.
When these young men were select.
ed for their future career, several
things were appointed for their train.
ing. like the training OF young men
now In professional schools. after col.
changed, as noted above. SO that, at
least officially. they would be in har.
mony with the administration.
and not known distinctively as
Jews. They were to be trained
in court customs and ways.
doubtless with other young men of
heather morals and religion. They
were given luxurious foods such as
the king ate. and costly wines such
as the king drank. 49,
Now here was strenuous test OF
the faith. the courage and the self.
control OF the young men. Tho eating
OF the kings food would be break.
ing OF the Jewish law as to food, and
thus be a repudiating of the religion
OF the true God. The dietary would
almost certainly comprise articles oi
food. such as the flesh of swine. hares
ETC., which the law interdicted to the
Israelites.
The young men were greatly favored
by having q friend at court. God had
brought Daniel into favor and tender
love; had made him to find kindnes.
and compassion. God had made Dan
iel lovable. giving him attractivenesi
OF person and wisdom OF mind; more
over. the Holy Spirit had doubtless
| uOVcu uITcCtiy upNu tuc ucdII "
Ashpenax. turning b;m toward Daniel
} All true love and friendship are In
spired by God
Said Daniel to Melzar: Give vi
pulse to eat" Rather. vegetable foot
in general: there Is no reason for re
stricting the Hebrew word used Il
leguminous fruits. such as beans ant
peas, which IL what the term pulse
properly denotes. 'And dater Il
drink instead of the wine." They be
gan the simple life.
The result OF the test was bettel
physical condition. countenances fair
!. er. fatter In flesh. The simple LII,
' brought better bodily health. NOR
. beauty, greater strength and activity
!. sjl that was needed for the best worl
! and the highest Joy. OF which the bod!
is capable. ~.
|. Every trainer In athletics in all ou