| Douay RheimsDouay-Rheims Bible -- The New Testament was published at Rheims (1582), the Old Testament at Douay (1609). The Douay Rheims served as the main English bible for the Catholic world for centuries. Bishop Challoner updated it extensively mid-18th century. Biblical scholar Rev. George Haydock compiled a Catholic commentary mid-19th century. This text set is from an approved 1914 U.S. printing. | Haydock CommentaryHaydock Catholic Bible Commentary - based on the Douay-Rheims Bible; originally compiled by Catholic priest and biblical scholar Rev. George Leo Haydock (1774-1849). |
| 1 In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it. | Third, at the conclusion, so that it is called the fourth. Jer. xxv. 1. A. Lap. M. --- Nabuchodonosor began his expedition into Syria a year before he was king; (Salien, A. 3428. Jos. &c.) or he had the title before his father Nabopolassar's death. Usher, A. 3397. --- The following year he took Joakim, with a design to convey him to Babylon; but left him on hard terms, and seized many of the sacred vessels, Daniel, &c. C. --- Joakim reigned other eight years. 2 Par. xxxvi. 5. W.
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| 2 And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god. | His god; Bel, or Belas, the principal idol of the Chaldeans. Ch. --- The king pretended to derive his pedigree from Belus, (Abyd. Eus. præp. 1.) and greatly enriched his temple, (C.) which Xerxes demolished. Arrian. --- God. Some part might be kept in the palace. C. v. 10. and 2 Par. xxxvi. 7.
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| 3 And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed and of the princes, | Eunuchs, or chief officers. The Jews assert that Daniel was made an eunuch. Is. xxxix. 7. But he might be so styled on account of his dignity. C. --- Princes. Lit. "tyrants." H. --- This name was afterwards only rendered odious by the misconduct of several kings. C. --- Heb. parthemim, (H.) seems to be of Greek derivation, alluding to προτιμοι, or προτοι, "the first or most honoured." Drus. --- We find here other Greek words. C.
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| 4 Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans. | Blemish. Deformed people were excluded the throne, or the king's presence. Procop. 1. --- Science; well educated, or apt to learn. They were first to be taught the Chaldee letters, which then differed from the Hebrew. C.
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| 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king. | Meat: more exquisite. De Dieu. --- All was first served on the king's table. Athen. vi. 14.
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| 6 Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. | Juda. It is thought all four were of royal blood. C. --- Others were also kept at court. M.
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| 7 And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago. | Baltassar, or as Chaldees (C. or Masorets. H.) pronounce, Beltesasar, "the treasurer of Baal." The names were changed to testify their subjection, (C.) and that they might embrace the manners of the Chaldees. M. --- The new names alluded to the sun. C.
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| 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled. | Daniel, as head and nearer the throne, gave good example to the rest. W. --- Defiled, either by eating meat forbidden by the law, or which had before been offered to idols. Ch. --- It was customary among the pagans to make an offering of some parts to their gods, or throw it into the fire. Theod. C. --- These reasons determined the pious youths, (H.) who desired also to keep free from gluttony and other vices. Theod. W.
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| 9 And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. | |
| 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king. | |
| 11 And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: | Malassar, another inferior officer. It means also one appointed over the mouth or provisions, (C.) and might be Asphenez. v. 3, 9. H.
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| 12 Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink: | Pulse. That is, pease, beans, and such like. Ch. --- S. Basil hence shews the advantages of fasting; and Catholics, who imitate Daniel, may expect the like reward in heaven: and the hope that such a pattern would not displease their dissenting brethren, but rather screen them from their profane sarcasms. H.
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| 13 And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king's meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants. | |
| 14 And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days. | |
| 15 And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king's meat. | |
| 16 So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse. | |
| 17 And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams. | Dreams. He was learned in all the sciences of the country, like Moses. Acts vii. 22. C. --- They studies these things, in order to refute what was erroneous: discunt...ut judicent. S. Jer. --- The Chaldeans paid great attention to dreams. Daniel acquired the knowledge of such as were sent from heaven by the gift of God, as Joseph had done. To pay any regard to common dreams would be childish (C.) and sinful, if the person depend on them for the knowledge of futurity. H.
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| 18 And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nabuchodonosor. | |
| 19 And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in the king's presence. | |
| 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom. | Diviners, or fortune-tellers. --- Wise men. Sept. "philosophers." C. --- Heb. Ashaphim, may come from the Gr. sophoi. Grot. --- They had been educated three years. v. 5. H.
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| 21 And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus. |
Cyrus;
and also to the third, (C. x) and of course during the whole of the captivity. W. --- He was maintained in power by the conqueror of Babylon. C. vi. 18. and xiv. 1. He first displayed his sagacity in the cause of Susanna, (C. xiii. C.) whose history was placed at the head of the book, in Theodotion, (S. Jer. in Isai. iii. 1.) as in its natural order. C.
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