Chapter 25 The Book of Daniel

The Book of Daniel In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnechm, king of Babylon, withdrew his troops and besieged Jerusalem. in the temple. Nebuchadnezzar ordered the chief eunuch to select a few handsome, intelligent and wise young men from the descendants of the nobles of Israel, and teach them the Chaldean script and language, so that they could master all kinds of knowledge and palace rules, so that they could serve the king in the future.The king also issued a decree to let these children eat imperial food and drink imperial wine.But one child refused, and he was Daniel the Jew.Daniel was unwilling to defile himself with the royal food and drink of the king of Babylon, and asked the chief eunuch to allow him to preserve his chastity.God made Daniel favor in front of the chief eunuch. The chief eunuch liked him very much and said to him: "I am afraid of my lord the king. Since he has appointed your diet, if one day he finds that you are thinner than other children , how can I do it? Aren't you putting my life at risk by doing this?"

"Then let's do this: you give us Judah children a ten-day vegetarian diet, drink plain water, and then compare the difference between us and those children who eat imperial food. If we are all yellow and thin, it's up to you; if we It's no different, just depend on me, how about it?" The chief eunuch agreed.Ten days later, the chief inspector found that they were healthier and plumper than those children who ate the imperial meal.So from this day on, they no longer eat imperial meals, and all they provide are vegetarian dishes. When the day when Nebuchadnezzar was appointed to bring them to the king came, the chief eunuch took them to the palace.In order to test whether they had really acquired knowledge, Nebuchadnezzar began to chat with them. He was surprised to find that some of these children were smart and wise, not only inferior to other children, but also warlocks and wizards throughout the country. It was far less than one-tenth of theirs, so he kept Daniel and the other four Judah children by his side.

In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Daniel had a dream one night.He was puzzled, upset, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.At dawn, he sent the priests, wizards, and Chaldeans into the palace.When they were all together, the king said, "Last night I had a dream, and my heart was disturbed, and I wondered what the dream meant." "Long live my king!" the Chaldeans said in Aramaic, "please tell your majesty the dream, and your servant will make it come true for your majesty." "I have forgotten the dream," said Nebuchadnezzar, "if you will tell me what I dreamed and what it means, I will make you rich and rich from now on, or else I will put you all to death at a later date, Turn your houses into dunghills, say it."

The warlocks looked at each other, not daring to vent their anger, for fear that the king would be angry, but the king would still be angry if they kept silent like this. They looked at each other and mustered up their courage: "Please tell your servant the dream, so that the servant can interpret it for your majesty. " "Didn't I tell you that I've already forgotten the dream?" Nebuchadnezzar turned around angrily, "If you can't tell the dream, I have only one way to deal with you." The Chaldeans had no choice but to answer: "No one in the world can tell your majesty's dream. No king or minister has ever asked such a thing to a magician. The question your majesty asks is too difficult. Except for gods, mortals can't answer it." of."

Nebuchadnezzar was furious at the incompetence of the magicians, walked away, and then ordered to kill all the wise men in Babylon.Give an order, and the chief guard will execute it immediately.When Daniel heard the news, he said to the chief guard: "Please tell His Majesty the King, as long as he has two days' grace, I can tell him the dream and the interpretation." Daniel returned to his residence and told his companions about the incident, asking them to pray with him to the God of heaven to save all the wise men of Babylon.The next day, Daniel came to the captain of the guard again and asked him to take him to Nebuchadnezzar.The captain of the guard complied, and said to the king, "I met a man among the captives of Judah. ​​He claimed to be able to interpret your majesty's dreams, so I brought him here."

"Then can you tell me the dream I had and what it means?" Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel who was called Belteshazar. "The mystery that His Majesty asked, none of the philosophers, sorcerers, sorcerers, or astrologers can answer. Only the God of Heaven can reveal the mystery, and he will show His Majesty what will happen in the future. God revealed this mystery to me , not because I am superhuman, but because God wants to let Your Majesty know the interpretation of the dream." Daniel said calmly, "Your Majesty, what you dreamed was an elephant. Very frightening. The head of the elephant is pure gold, the chest and arms are silver, the belly and waist are copper, the legs are iron, and the feet are half iron and half clay. Just as you look, there flies a piece of chiseled stone that was not made by human hands. The stones that come out hit the elephant's feet that are half iron and half clay, smashing the elephant's feet to pieces, and the gold, silver, copper, iron and mud disappear together. It can be found everywhere. The stone that smashed the elephant became a mountain and filled the whole world. Please, Your Majesty, am I right?"

Nebuchadnezzar was hearing this, not knowing whether he was in a dream or in reality, when he suddenly heard Daniel asking him, he said quickly, "Yes, yes, yes, all of them are right! Now tell me, what does this dream mean? ?" "Okay, now I will interpret your majesty's dream." Daniel said confidently, "Your majesty, you are the king of kings. God has given you a country, authority, power, and dignity; all the birds and beasts in the place where people live They are all delivered to you so that you can master them all, and you are the golden head. After you, another kingdom will be established, not as good as you; and then a third kingdom will be established, which will be of copper, and it will rule the world; a fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron, and iron can break and subdue all things. and will be able to suppress the nations.If you see an elephant's foot and toe, half of which is mud and half of iron, that country will be divided in the future; if you see iron and mud mixed together, that country will also be a mixture of various people, but there will be no peace with each other. Getting along is like iron and clay that cannot be mixed together.When the kings reign, the God of heaven will set up another country, which will never perish, and will not be controlled by other countries, and will destroy all other countries.You see that flying out of a stone that was not hewn by human hands, breaking the gold, silver, copper, iron and clay, that is the supreme country.His Majesty's dream must be like this, and so must the interpretation.

"After hearing what Daniel had said, Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, bowed down to Daniel, and ordered the eunuchs to bring offerings and incense to him. The king promoted Daniel and rewarded him with many and appointed him governor of the whole province of Babylon, and made him governor over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel's three companions were also entrusted with important duties. The king of Babylon saw the god Nebuchadnezzar build a golden statue, 60 inches high and 6 inches wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in Babylonia.Judges and officials from various provinces came to the statue to inaugurate the statue.The herald called out loudly: "People of all lands, countries, and tribes, a decree is sent to you: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lute, qin, harp, sheng, and various musical instruments, immediately fall down and worship the king's Whoever dares to resist will be cast into the fiery kiln and burned to death." As soon as these words were uttered, the people in all directions dared not refuse.

But some Chaldeans came to sue Judah.They said to Nebuchadnezzar, "Long live my king! Your majesty has decreed that the golden image must be worshipped when the sound of every musical instrument is heard. Now there are some men of Judah, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego whom Your Majesty sent over Babylon, who do not listen to Your Majesty's words, and do not worship the golden statue which Your Majesty has set up. When Nebuchadnezzar heard this, he ordered Shadrach and others to be brought immediately, and asked them, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, are you deliberately not serving my God and worshiping Do I look like it?If you do this again, I will never break my promise, and I will immediately throw you into the fiery furnace. Do you think that there will be a god to save you? "

"Your Majesty should know that we will never serve your God, nor will we worship the golden statue you set up. Even if we are thrown into the fiery furnace, God will rescue us." The three said in unison . Nebuchadnezzar was so angry that his face turned pale.He ordered his men to heat up the kiln, seven times hotter than usual, and then had some strong men tie them up and throw them into the fire.Because the king's order was too urgent and the kiln fire was too hot, all the men who carried them were swallowed up by the raging fire before they could turn around.Suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar showed surprise on his face, and he asked the counselors beside him, "Are there three people who were tied up and thrown into the fire?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, three." "But I saw four men who were neither bound nor wounded. They walked freely in the fire. The appearance of the fourth man seemed to be the Son of God." Nebuchadnezzar approached the fiery furnace door and said : "The servants of God, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, come here!" The three of them came out of the fire.Those governors, inspectors and counselors immediately came to see them, and saw that they were intact, and the clothes on their bodies had not even changed their color.Nebuchadnezzar said: "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his messengers to rescue his servants who depended on him. Now I decree that no matter where or what country or people, desecrate them His god will be put to death quickly, and his house will become a dunghill." After this, the national workers promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to high officials. Daniel reinterpreted the king's dream, and later Nebuchadnezzar had another dream. He dreamed that there was a tree in the middle of the earth, which was extremely tall, and it grew taller and taller. Rest, the birds sleep on the branches.Suddenly a holy man descended from the sky and shouted loudly: "Cut down this tree! Cut off the branches! Shake off the leaves! Scatter the fruits! Drive away all the animals under the tree, and drive away the birds on the tree. Use an iron ring Enclose the tree with a copper ring." It was as if the sage was saying to someone again: "Put him in the field, let him graze with the beasts of the earth, and let the dew fall on him. He will stay here for 7 year." Nebuchadnezzar woke up suddenly. He was disturbed by the vision in the dream, and he sent an order to summon the philosophers to interpret the dream, so those magicians, wizards, Chaldeans, astrologers, etc. gathered in the palace again.Everyone said they couldn't interpret the dream, so the king summoned Daniel again. After hearing Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel was very surprised, and his expression became very unnatural.Noticing this, the king said to him, "Belteshazzar, don't be afraid to speak just because the dream is bad. Speak." "Your Majesty, I hope this dream belongs to your enemies, and the dream interpretation belongs to your enemies." Daniel said, "Your Majesty, this big tree is you. Your power reaches the sky and your power reaches the earth. Have you not seen a saint?What he's saying means that you're going to be cast out from the world and live with wild beasts and eat grass every day like an ox.Since the Holy One commanded that the trees be left behind, your country shall be yours anyway.Your Majesty, please stop doing evil from now on, and care about the sufferings of the people. In this way, you may have a turning point. " All of this really came true. Twelve months later, Nebuchadnezzar took a walk in the palace of Babylon. Seeing everything in front of him, he was intoxicated with his achievements: "Didn't I build this Babylon with my wisdom? This is not enough to show my majesty and dignity." Will you please?" He hadn't finished speaking when he heard a voice in the air: "Listen, Nebuchadnezzar, your throne ends here. You will be cast out from the world, and from the people of the land. The wild beasts live together, eat grass like cattle, and it will take seven years. Then you will know that whoever God puts in power will give the country to whom." Everything that happened to Nebuchadnezzar proved God's words, and he really lived in the wilderness for 7 years. Seven years later, Nebuchadnezzar was able to return to the throne again.From then on, he praised God in heaven, because everything he had was bestowed by God, and God was extremely fair. The writing on the wall of the palace warns that after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, his son Belshazzar will inherit the throne of Babylon.On this day, Belshazzar held a banquet in the royal palace to entertain his ministers. While offering money and offerings, Belshazzar ordered someone to bring the gold and silver vessels that his father Nebuchadnezzar had looted from Jerusalem, so that everyone could enjoy them to their heart’s content. .While drinking, the monarchs, ministers and concubines admired the statues of gods made of gold, silver, copper, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly, a human hand appeared, writing stroke by stroke on the whitewashed wall opposite the lampstand in the palace.When Belshazzar saw the writing hand, his face turned pale with fright, his waist seemed to be broken, and he couldn't straighten up, his knees kept shaking.After calming down a bit, he ordered the wizards and warlocks to enter the palace: "Who among you can understand these words and tell me the meaning, I will let him wear a purple robe and a gold chain, ranking third in the country." It's a pity that no one knows those words, let alone explain them to the king. In this way, Belshazzar felt that this matter was even more terrifying, and became even more anxious.When the news reached the ears of the Queen Mother, she was very worried about her son, so she hurried over from the harem and said to him, "Don't be in a hurry. You may not know that when your father was alive, he appointed a man as the guardian of warlocks, wizards and astrologers." Leader, he has interpreted your father's dreams many times, and he is right. He is Daniel. Your father called him Belteshazzar. Now you can call him into the palace. I think he will know that this vision means what." So Daniel was brought before the king.Belshazzar said to him, "Are you Daniel the Judah who was taken captive by my father? I have heard that the gods are with you, and that you are very clever. Now let me prove it. Now all the wizards Neither the wizard nor the sorcerer can read these words, if you can, I will let you wear a purple robe and a gold chain, and you will be ranked third in the country." "Your Majesty, keep these things for yourself, or give them to others. I don't want to reward you. I just want to read these words for Your Majesty and explain them clearly." Daniel said neither humble nor overbearing: "God once gave the throne, Greatness, honor, and majesty were given to your father Nebuchadnezzar, but he was haughty and self-willed, stripped of all thrones and all honor, and in the company of wild beasts in the wilderness. You are his son, and you know that Everything, but still not self-respecting, even pretending to read the gods, taking out the utensils in the temple to drink and have fun with your monarchs, ministers and concubines. You also praise the gods who cannot see, cannot hear, are ignorant, and are made of gold, silver, copper, iron, wood and stone , but did not give glory to God who is sovereign over you. Therefore, stretch out your hand from God, and write these words: Meni, Meni, Tekel, Upharsim. Meni--God has counted Your throne is finished; Tikele—you are nothing in the scales; Upharsin—your kingdom will be divided between the Medes and the Persians." Belshazzar understood that Daniel was speaking of the will of God.He had Daniel clothed in purple and chains of gold, and declared him third in the kingdom.That night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed, and Darius, a 62-year-old Mede, came to power. Daniel Lion Den was saved by God and Darius appointed 120 governors throughout the country, and three governors including Daniel were appointed on top of them. Whenever something happened, the governors had to report to the governors first.Daniel's wisdom and ability obviously greatly surpassed that of other chiefs and governors. The king wanted to expand his power and let him rule the country. Daniel's talent was envied by other people, and the king had so much trust in him, those chiefs and governors always wanted to try to find the "evidence" that he had harmed the country and the people, and looked for opportunities to refer to him.But Daniel was loyal to the king, never seeking personal gain, and never giving anyone any excuses, so those people came up with a poisonous plan to harm him.They came to see the king together and said: "The chief, the imperial envoy, the governor-general and the inspectors discussed it and decided to issue a ban: within 30 days, no matter who asks anything from God or other people instead of His Majesty, they will be punished." Throw him in the lion's den. Your Majesty, please agree to this ban, and cover it with a jade cauldron to make it unchangeable." The king agreed.When Daniel learned of this, he returned to his home (his upstairs window opened to Jerusalem) and prayed three times a day before God on his knees.As usual, his behavior was seen by those who plotted against him, and they immediately went to the king to complain: "Your Majesty, within 30 days, no matter who you are, if you ask anything from any god or person other than Your Majesty, you will give it to me." Throwing it in the lion's den, didn't His Majesty stamp the ban?" "Yes," replied Darius, "according to the custom of the Persians and the Medes, this cannot be changed." "But does your Majesty know that Daniel the damned Judah blatantly disobeyed your commands and prayed to his god three times a day. What do you say, Your Majesty?" Darius loved and trusted Daniel very much. Although Daniel disobeyed the king's order, he still didn't want to hurt him.All day long, the king frowned and thought about how to save Daniel, but he couldn't think of a way until sunset. Those who wanted to kill Daniel came again and asked him to deal with Daniel. .Darius had no choice but to have Daniel brought and said to him, "May the God you serve be able to save you." Daniel was thrown into the pit, and the mouth of the pit was blocked with stones, and the mouth was sealed with the king's seal and the seals of the nobles.Those who wanted to harm him thought that they had achieved their goal, that Daniel would surely die, and they all looked happy, but Darius looked sad.Back in the palace, the king couldn't sleep at night, worrying about his beloved minister in the lion's den.As soon as the next day dawned, the king got up and led the people to the lion's den in a hurry.When he reached the edge of the pit, he called out to Daniel loudly: "Daniel, aren't you extremely loyal to God? Can God save you from danger?" "Long live my king!" Daniel's clear voice came from the pit: "Last night, God sent an angel to seal the lion's mouth, telling the lion not to hurt me, because I am innocent, I have never done anything I'm sorry God, I'm sorry about His Majesty's business." When Darius heard Daniel’s voice and knew that his son was safe and sound under God’s protection, Darius was very happy. He immediately ordered people to pull Daniel up from the pit, and then ordered those who accused him to be thrown into the pit together with their wives and children. Because they framed Zhongliang for no reason, they deserve death.Before these people reached the bottom of the pit, the lion pounced on them, and they were all killed. Darius delivered a decree and announced it to the whole country, so that the people would worship and worship God like Daniel.Daniel's position in the kingdom became even more prominent.