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The Sabbath-School

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 3, 1885

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 34

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The Sabbath-School.

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—SEPT. 26.

The Prophet Daniel.

1. To what nation did Daniel belong?
“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes.” “Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.” Dan. 1: 3, 6.
2. In what condition was the Jewish nation at this time?
At the time when the book of Daniel opens, the Jewish nation was subject to the Babylonians, and part of the people were in Babylon. The king of Egypt had deposed Jehoahaz, and placed Eliakim, whom he named Jehoiakim, on the throne of Israel. 2 Chron. 36: 2-4. This was about 610 B. C. In the third year of his reign (Dan. 1: 1) Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The city was taken, Jehoiakim was bound with fetters, and part of the vessels of the house of God (2 Chron. 36: 7; Dan. 1: 2) were carried to Babylon. Some of the people were also carried to Babylon, among whom were Daniel and his fellows. Dan. 1: 3-7. Jehoiakim, however, was allowed to remain in Jerusalem, where he reigned eight years longer. 2 Chron. 36: 5. He was then succeeded by Jehoiachin, his son, who, after a reign of three months, was taken by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. 2 Chron. 36: 9, 10. With him were also taken all the royal family, the wealthy people and the artisans, so that only the poorest people of the land were left in Judah. 2 Kings 24: 8-16. This was about B. C. 599. Mattaniah was then placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar, who changed his name to Zedekiah. After a few years’ reign he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who again came to Jerusalem, and in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign (about B. C. 588) succeeded in capturing the city. Zedekiah was carried to Babylon, and with him all the people who had before been left, and the walls and palaces of Jerusalem were burned to the ground. 2 Chron. 36: 11-21. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah (chap. 17: 27), and completed the overthrow of the Jewish nation.
3. Whom did the king of Babylon set apart for a special purpose?
“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes.” Dan. 1: 3.
4. What were to be their qualifications? “Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace.” Verse 4.
5. What were they to be taught?
“Children . . . whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” Verse 4.
6. What provision did he make for them?
“And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank; so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.” Verse 5.
7. What ones of this company were mentioned in verse 6?
“Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.”
8. Would they partake of the unlawful food that the king had provided?
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Verse 8.
9. What request did they make?
“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.” Verse 12.
10. What was the result of their strict integrity in this matter?
“And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.” Verse 15.
11. When brought before the king, what were their attainments?
“And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” Verse 20.
12. What special gift did God bestow upon Daniel?
“As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” Verse 17.
13. Who was king of Babylon at this time?
“Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.” Verse 18.
14. What occurred to the king in the second year of his reign?
“And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.” Dan. 2: 1.
15. On whom did he call for an explanation of his dream?
“Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.” Verse 2.
16. What were these people mentioned in this verse?
The magicians were such as practiced magic, using the term in its bad sense; that is, practiced all the superstitious rites and ceremonies of fortune tellers, casters of nativities, etc. Astrologers were men who pretended to foretell future events by the study of the stars. The science, or the superstition, of astrology, was extensively cultivated by the Eastern nations of antiquity. Sorcerers were such as pretended to hold communication with the dead. In this sense we believe it is always used in the Scriptures. Modern Spiritualism is simply ancient heathen sorcery revived. The Chaldeans here mentioned were a sect of philosophers similar to the magicians and astrologers who made physic, divinations, etc., their study. All these sects or professions abounded in Babylon. The end aimed at by each was the same; namely, the explaining of mysteries, and the foretelling of future events, the principal difference between them being the means by which they sought to accomplish their object.—Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.
17. What did the king require them to do?
“The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me; if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.” Verse 5.
18. Could they do this?
“The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king’s matter; therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.” Verse 10.
19. What decree did the king send forth?
“And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.” Verse 13.
20. What remonstrance did Daniel make when the king’s captain came to slay him and his fellows?
“Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon. He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.” Verses 14, 15.
21. What request did Daniel make of the king?
“Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.” Verse 16.
22. How did he seek help, and from what source?
“Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions; that they would desire mercies of the God of Heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” Verses 17, 18.
23. In what way was the secret revealed unto Daniel?
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of Heaven.” Verse 19.