Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-07
DANIEL. AND HIS
S,,d.y Seheel Lesson for Sept. 10. 1911
spscially Arranged for This Paper
LESSON TExT.-Daniel 1880.

SOlDEN L. oSSe ith w
eat flesh. nor drink wine, nor anything
whereby thy brother atumbleth.
1921.
TIME.-B. c. so5-4. The third year Of
King Jehoiakim (Lesson viz. The Access
sion year of Nebuchadnezzar, when DAN
lei was carried captive to Babylon. The
next year is called his first year.
PERIOD.-Three years, y. Z. 6U5-4-6O3-2,
on Nebuchadnezzar's return to Babylon
after defeating the armies OF Egypt.
PLACE.-Babylon on the Euphrates. Be-
fore his captivity Daniel lived In Jerusa-
lem.
PLACE IN THE HISTORY Kings
24:1-e; 2 Chron. 1868.
PROPHETS.-Jeremiah and Habakkuk
were prophesying at Jerusalem when Dan.
lei was carried away. and Ezekiel was his
| contemporary in Babylonia. but not In
the city of Babylon. He was on the rivsr
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-
ties.
On the other hand Nabopolassar
with the assistance Of the Scythians
had conquered the Assyrians, anC de-
stroyed Nineveh, the capital, b. c. COG.
The Babylonians marched up the Eu.
pirates and met the Egyptian army
at C~archemish, and defeated them.
Nabopolassar, king Of Babylon, sent
his son Nebuchadnezzar on to Jerusa-
lem, who besieged that city. jeremiah
speaks OF the seige as in Goa, Jehoia-
kim's fourth year, probably in the
early past, so that q difference in the
period covered by the Babylonian and
the Jewish years would account for
the variation. The last part of COS
Ia treated as ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS acces.
sion year, and 6O4 his first year as
king.
At this time Nabopolassar died and
Nebuchadnezzar hasted back TO Baby.
lon, taking with him a 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 a 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, OF
the reverse, being accompanying by a
change of name. These four were
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
C%haldeans, to be trusted officers.
When these young men were select
ed for their future career, severa
things were appointed for their train
ing, like the training Of young mer
now In professional schools, after col
: lege graduation. Their names were
, changed, as noted above, so that, a
. least officially, they would be in har
mony with the administration
and not known ~distinctively Al
Jews. They were to be trained
|. In court customs and ways
doubtless with other young men o
heather morals and religion. The.
! were given luxurious foods such a
! the king ate, and costly wines sucl
: as the king drank.
y Now here was a strenuous test o
u the faith, the courage and the sell
= control of the young men. The eatinI
: OF the kings food would be a break
l. ing of the Jewish law as to food. an
thus be q repudiating OF the religion
OF the true God. The dietary woul
almost certainly comprise articles Q
o food, such as the flesh Of swine. hares
l. ETC., which the law interdicted to tn
I~sraelites.
X The young men were greatly favore
u by having a friend at court. God ha
brought Daniel into favor and tende
n love; had made him to find kindnes
. and compassion. God had made DaI
iel lovabie, giving him attractivenes
. of person and wisdom OF mind; NOR
over, the Holy Spirit had doubles
moved directly upon the heart
Ashpenaz, turning him toward DAME
It All true love and friendship are fl
q. spired by God.
Said Daniel to Melzar: "Give i
70 pulse to eat" Rather, vegetable foo
1t in general; there is no reason for r.
i. stricting the Hebrew word used I
leguminous fruits, such as beans an
peas, which Is what the term pulse
properly denotes. "And dater
drink instead of the wine." They b
n. 0an thu aimnla life.