The Nevada County picayune., 1911-09-08
DANIEL AND HIS
 COMPANIONS
sunday School Lesson for Sept. 10. ls,,
 Specially Arranged for This Paoer
LESSON TEXT.-Daniel 1.S-oo
 MEMORY VERSES 0 a v.

| l4:21 rom.
 TIME.-B. c. eO5-4 The third ve,. :. King Jehoiakim Gesson VII0. The sear or sion year of Nebuchadnezzar ,rhos 1.e arces- % iel was carried captive to BahvIon pah' nu next year is called his first year, ins
 PERIOD.-Three years, B. c. sOs. so, on Nebuchadnezzar's return to Rah,%-- | after defeating the armies of Eg,,rt 'ioh
 PLACE.-Babylon on the Euplra,ses n fore his captivity Daniel lived in Isr,,oe De | lem. s"psa-
 PLACE IN THE HIsToRY.-2 r,. | 4:1-6 Chron. 36.5-S. hings | PROPHETS.-Jer and tyor
 were prophesying at Jerusalem wban bHAuA H,.l Tel was carried away, and Ezekiel ,ra- oan- a, l contemporary in Babylonia. but no. iils IS 1 the city of Babylon. He was on tho u, h Chebar, southeast of the city. "er
 At the time of this lesson tha fun, great world powers were in dasd,u conflict. The Egyptian army nndo, Necho had marched toward Babvlor as far as Carchemish on the Eunbr. tes.
 On the other hand Nabopolass., with the assistance of the scytbiona had conquered the Assyrians, and de stroyed Nineveh, the capital, B, c sos The Babylonians marched up the Fu. pirates and met the Egyptian army at Carchemish, and defeated tham Nabopolassar. king of Babylon. sent his son Nebuchadnezzar on to Jeru,a. lem, who besieged that city. Jeremiah speaks of the seize as in GOA. Jehoia. kim's fourth year. probably In the early past, so that difference in tba period covered by the Babylonisn and the Jewish years would account for the variation. The last part of e0s 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 can. tives including Daniel and his threo companions. from royal or prineely 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; ananiah-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 a change of name. These four were selected from among the captiyes oa 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 cd for their future career, several things were appointed for their train ing, like the training of young men now in professional schools, after col lege graduation. Their names were changed, as noted above, so that, at least officially, they would be in naT' mony with the admini0tration' and not known distinctiyely as Jews. They were to he trained in court customs and ways doubtless with other young men oi heather morals and religion. They were given luxurious foods such as the king ate, and costly wines suca as the king drank.
 Now here was a strenuous test VI the faith, the courage and the seir control of the young men. Tho ealias of the kings food would be breat ing of the Jewish law as to fooa, anu thus be a repudiating of the rAiisloa of the true God. The dietary Wouia almost certainly comprise articles " food, such as the flesh of swine naie'' etc, which the law interdicted T 'u' | Israeiites.
 The young men were greatly iaVose, by having a friend at court. Gou a@. | brought Daniel into favor ana tepu' | love; had made him to find klhun'~ and compassion. God had mace ps1 iel loyable, giving him attraeuVen... of person and wisdom of mind' ipO.s over, the Holy Spirit had doupu'., <. moved directly upon the neat J Ashpenaz, turning him toward paA. !. All true love and friendship ai0 | spired by God. r,
 Said Daniel to Melzar: uife pulse to eat" Rather, vegetable ioss in general; there is no reason ~, ~. i, strleting the Hebrew word use' ,,d leguminous fruits, such as beans % peas, which Is what the term pa n properly denotes. And aae, nsr he drink instead of the wine.' ihs' gan the simple life. ,orst The result of the test WAS ,,l. physical condition. eountenance,, mo CT, fatter in flesh. The sllnpie ,,n,, brought better bodily heai'n' .,,v,tr beauty, greater strength and asS 2. worl all that was needed for the Oes. s. hdy and the highest joy. of which .no