I Love Thy Law: An Expository Study of the Book of Daniel

By Christopher Bickish

The book of Daniel is filled with both mind-boggling prophecies and childishly simple truths. Unlike many of the other prophets, it does not contain scathing rebukes. Its pages are conspicuously occupied with prophecies concerning the future of kingdoms and end-time events. The Lord used Daniel not only to give guiding prophecies to the Jew but also to be a righteous witness to numerous Gentile kings and peoples. As I have studied the book of Daniel, I have been consistently reminded that the God-fearing man may walk in the peace of God's Spirit regardless of the circumstance. It is my prayer that every person who studies the book of Daniel will also see this theme.

In writing this commentary, I have carefully examined the Masoretic Hebrew and Aramaic texts behind the English translation. With that said, I value the accuracy of the King James translation; therefore, apart from my own rendering of the Hebrew and Aramaic texts, it is the only translation used in this commentary.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781312965829

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I Love Thy Law: An Expository Study of the Book of Daniel

I Love Thy Law:

An Expository Study of the Book of Daniel

By Christopher Bickish

Ebook Edition/Copyright © 2015 by Christopher Bickish

All rights reserved. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.  This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people.  If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.  If you are reading this book and did not purchase it or it was not purchased for your own use, please purchase your own copy.  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.  This book may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.  The study questions in the appendix may be copied for educational purposes.

ISBN 978-1-312-96581-2

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www.ilovethylaw.blogspot.com

Preface

The book of Daniel is filled with both mind-boggling prophecies and childishly simple truths.  Unlike many of the other prophets, it does not contain scathing rebukes.  Its pages are conspicuously occupied with prophecies concerning the future of kingdoms and end-time events.  The Lord used Daniel not only to give guiding prophecies to the Jew but also to be a righteous witness to numerous Gentile kings and peoples.  As I have studied the book of Daniel, I have been consistently reminded that the God-fearing man may walk in the peace of God's Spirit regardless of the circumstance.  It is my prayer that every person who studies the book of Daniel will also see this theme.  Daniel reminds us that the fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).  Ultimately, the book of Daniel boasts its greatest blessing in the presence of Christ within its prophecies and principles.  His Spirit may be seen with Daniel's three companions as they walk in the midst of the fiery furnace.  His protection is evident as Daniel abides a night in the lion's den.  His majesty dominates His meeting with Daniel beside the great river of Hiddekel; and lastly, His victory and peace may be seen in the glories of His coming kingdom.

Faithfulness to the text should be every believer's primary concern; therefore, in writing this commentary, I have carefully examined the Masoretic Hebrew and Aramaic texts behind the English translation thus allowing them to guide my thinking.  With that said, I value the accuracy of the King James translation; therefore, apart from my own rendering of the Hebrew and Aramaic texts, it is the only translation used in this commentary.

Introduction

Josiah came to the throne of Judah in approximately 640 BC.  He was the last righteous king to reign in Judah before Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC.  Josiah initiated one of the largest national revivals known in Jewish history.  In the twelfth year of his reign, he began purging Judah of its idolatry.  In the eighteenth year of his reign, a copy of God's law was discovered in the temple and read before Josiah.  The king's response to the judgments pronounced in the law was one of humility and godly fear.  In accordance with God's commandment, the king ordered that all Judah keep the Lord's passover which, for years, had been neglected.  This event was so magnificent that Scripture says, Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah...(II Kings 23:22).  Yet, for all this, the Bible declares that the revival was not one of true inward change but rather one of outward conformity.  Josiah's zeal was legitimate, but most of the people simply did what they were commanded while their hearts remained unchanged.  God said in Jeremiah 3:10, ...Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.  Inwardly, the people were still serving their idols.  Judgment was about to fall, and God was preparing the nation of the Chaldees to bring about the punishment of Judah.

In 626 BC, Babylon came on the scene of world history as a true threat to the surrounding nations.  Although the city had seen kings previous to Nabopolassar, these kings had not been successful in casting off the heavy yoke of the Assyrians.  However, the tenacity of the Assyrian forces had begun to wane and Nabopolassar, allied with the forces of Media, began pushing them back.  In 614 BC, Assur fell to Cyaxares the king of Media, and in 612 BC, Nineveh fell to the Babylonian and Median forces.  The fall of Nineveh, which had been prophesied years before by Nahum, marked the end of Assyria.  Although the kingdom would continue for a few more years, its days were numbered and its authority crippled.  God had used Assyria as the rod of His anger (Isaiah 10:5) to punish Israel, but its time was rapidly coming to a close.  Having lost their capital city of Nineveh, the Assyrians retreated west, and Ashur-uballit II took the throne in Haran on the Euphrates.  The king of Babylon gave him no reprieve however but pursued hard after him; and in 610 BC, the city of Haran fell to Nabopolassar.  The king of Babylon then left it in the hands of a Babylonian garrison and returned home.

In 609 BC, Pharaoh-Necho of Egypt responded to a plea of the Assyrian remnant and made his way north in an attempt to halt the progression of the Babylonian army.  Josiah attempted to stop him from aiding the remainder of the Assyrians and intercepted him at Megiddo in northern Israel.  Josiah's reasons for resisting the Egyptian army are not given, but his attempts were not successful.  The decision to fight against Egypt cost him his life.  He was severely wounded in battle, and his servants carried him back to Jerusalem where he died and was buried.  As God had predicted, Josiah went to the grave without seeing the judgment that would eventually come upon Judah (II Chronicles 34:28).  At this point in time, Pharaoh-Necho did not retake Haran from the Babylonians, but Egypt did manage to halt any further advances of the Babylonian army.  Pharaoh-Necho then sent a portion of his army back to Jerusalem to depose Jehoahaz whom Judah had made king, and they brought him back to Riblah on the Orontes River in Syria.  Pharaoh-Necho then made Eliakim king and changed his name to Jehoiakim.  Jehoahaz was then sent to Egypt where he died in captivity as predicted by Jeremiah (22:11-12). 

By 605 BC, Babylon was ready to make another push westward.  At this point, Nabopolassar lay sick in Babylon, and his son Nebuchadnezzar led the army against Egypt and what remained of Assyria.  The two armies clashed at Carchemish near the Euphrates.  By God's divine pleasure, Nebuchadnezzar led a decisive victory against Egypt, and the Egyptians fell back to Hamath on the Orontes.  Nebuchadnezzar followed hard after them and wiped out what remained of the Egyptian army.  Thus came to pass the prophecy of Jeremiah 46:1-10. 

The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles; Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah. Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines. Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD. Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates. Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers? Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof. Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow. For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

All the land from Syria to the border of Egypt now lay open to Nebuchadnezzar.  He immediately began moving through the countryside, conquering major cities and establishing his authority.  This work was briefly interrupted when he was forced to return home in order to secure the throne upon his father's death; however, it was not long before he returned to resume his work in Palestine.  The conquered cities were required to give him their finest young men for deportation back to Babylon where they would be employed in places of government.  At this turbulent time in history, Daniel and his three companions came upon the scene of Scripture.

PART I: The Prophet Selected to Foretell the Future (1:1-21)

Chapter 1: Selected During Turbulent Times (1:1-2)

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. (1:1-2)

Because of rebellion against God, severe judgment was being sent against Judah.  A direct transliteration of the Hebrew word behind Babylon would render Babel.  It means confusion.  The same name is used of the tower of Babel mentioned in Genesis 11:9.  Babylon had its roots in the tower of Babel, the place where man exalted himself against God.  Jerusalem means teaching of peace or city of peace.  The names of these two cities are directly opposed to one another.  One represents sin and the other represents holiness.  God never intended for the wicked to rule over the righteous, and He certainly never intended for Israel to be ruled by the heathen.  In fact, He promised victory over the enemy if Israel would walk before Him in obedience. 

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth … The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.  (Deuteronomy 28:1, 7)

However, He also promised defeat should Israel rebel.

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee … The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.  (Deuteronomy 28:15, 25)

Continuous rebellion has severe consequences.  This principle is alive and well today.  That which should never have befallen God's people is often allowed to come because of a refusal to repent.  When a believer courts Babylon's ways from afar, it will not be long before Babylon moves into his very home.  When Babylon's doctrine is permitted to enter the home by means of media, entertainment, attitude, actions and associations, it should be of no surprise to the believer when God finally allows Babylon's doctrine to control that home.  Too many Christians are willing to dabble in the world's ways while believing that they will never be enslaved by the world.  Such thinking is flawed.  In His longsuffering, God often holds back the full effect of toying with sin; but there comes a time when that which a man has entertained will be that which rules over his life.  ...For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage (II Peter 2:19).  Undoubtedly, while Israel enjoyed its fornication, adultery, drunkenness, thievery and all forms of vice, very little thought was given to the possibility that God's protective hand would be removed, and they would find themselves defeated with the heathen standing in the gates.  Babylon should never have been in Jerusalem, but they were there because God's people refused to shun Babylon's ways. 

Even though the Lord allowed the heathen to enter His city and molest His people, He remained jealous over His inheritance.  Through all of this, He was preparing Daniel to minister for the welfare of Israel, and His eyes were ever upon the holy things which Nebuchadnezzar mishandled.  It was common practice for the conqueror to translate the conquered people's religious artifacts from their temples into his own, but as will be seen much later in the text, such acts of victory against the King of heaven cannot be carried out with success.  Although God's holy things appeared to be lost, the Lord was well aware of their location.  Around 539 BC, by the decree of Cyrus the Persian, He would allow them to be returned to their rightful place in Jerusalem.  God's people often fail and mishandle that which should be highly honored; yet, it is comforting to know that even when the enemy is permitted to come as judgment, the Lord's eye watches over His holy things.  Even though apostasy abounds and professing Christians are continuously compromising, the true Church cannot be destroyed.  It is most holy before God; and He is jealous over it.  Man may mishandle it, Christians may misappropriate it, but Christ has promised ...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).  God will vindicate His holiness, and He does not need man's help, cooperation or permission.

The name Shinar means two rivers.  It refers to the land of Babylon because Babylon was situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

This passage states that Nebuchadnezzar came in Jehoiakim's third year while Jeremiah 46:1-2 proclaims that it was his fourth year.  The difference has to do with methods of dating and whether or not the penman of the text viewed the new year as beginning in the Hebrew month Nisan (spring) or Tishri (fall).  The difference may also be due to the fact that some cultures did not view the first year of a king's reign as a full year if he was not crowned on the first day of the year.  As is always the case, the Bible is not contradicting itself.  Reasons for apparent inconsistencies may be found if one is willing to study them out.

Chapter 2: Selected by a Heathen King (1:3-7)

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; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. (1:3-4)

Although the text does not specifically say that Daniel was a eunuch, it seems safe to assume that he was since he was committed to the keeping of a man whose primary occupation was that of supervising this group of people.  The employment of eunuchs in the ancient Middle East was a common practice.  Often times, they were used to guard and wait upon the king's harem.  In this case, Nebuchadnezzar wanted such for employment in his government.  As eunuchs, these boys would not be distracted in any way by marital relationships, and they could be given over entirely to the things of Babylonian business.  After having undergone such ordeals, Daniel's consistently gracious spirit is truly a memorial to the grace of God.  In studying this book, it is easy to overlook the fact that these young men were forever deprived of the privileges of natural human relationships; yet, God used all of these circumstances for their ultimate good.  Nebuchadnezzar intended to create servants for his benefit, but ultimately, God used Daniel's physical circumstance to enable him to focus on matters of prophecy and interpretation which have forever impacted all of humanity.  Nebuchadnezzar intended to create a puppet; but God used it all to create a prophet.

The phrase well favored literally means good of appearance.  The word skilful has the idea of being able to use wisdom in a way that is prosperous.  Some people know what wisdom looks like, but they are unable to apply it.  Such was not the case with these young men.  They were able to take wisdom and use it in a way that was prosperous.  The Hebrew word yeled is used here for children.  It indicates that these boys were likely quite young.  Daniel and his friends were probably not much older than thirteen, if that; yet, they had the ability and social graces necessary to stand in a king's palace. 

A child's ability is often severely underestimated.  Children ought to be raised in a way that prepares them for what lies ahead.  If parents would put forth as much effort in requiring something of their children as they do in making excuses for them, they too might have offspring with such character.  God allowed Daniel and his friends to have these abilities, and He used them in a magnificent way. 

A person is not required to have amazing talent or great intellect in order to be right with God, but this does not mean that a lack of these abilities equates to spirituality.  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (I Corinthians 1:27) is often taken out of context and used as a proof text by the unlearned man for the purposes of putting down those who wish to excel in wisdom and understanding.  This is just as wrong as believing that a man needs intellect in order to be right with God.  Pride works both ways.  Paul was learned and Peter was not; yet, God greatly used both men.  Daniel served in the king's palace and Elijah spent most of his ministry outdoors, but both men were empowered by God's Spirit.  Let each man strive to go as far as he can for God's glory.  God is the one who sets the limits.  Neither ability nor inability guarantee spiritual success.  Such is determined by one's pursuit of humility and the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 57:15).

"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. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: