Who Was Daniel?

Daniel was a prophet living in captivity in Babylon from 605 to between 535 and 530 AD. He was born in 620 AD. Through multiple rules/regimes, Daniel rose to 2nd in command. He was by far the wisest of the “wise men”, mainly because he consulted God, not false teachings or dark spirits. God saw him fit for the interpretation of dreams and visions.

Daniel 1:1 During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The first thing we learn is that Judah, Daniel’s home, was besieged.

Daniel was a young man, in his teens, when these events took place. When the king besieged them, he also helped himself to some of their items in the temple, and enslaved a group of their people.

Daniel 1:3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.

Daniel fits this category. He was taken and made to be a Eunuch. We know that Daniel was taken. We know that he was put through “Babylon University”, but it isn’t written specifically that he was a Eunuch. How do we know he was?

First, it should be noted that he was under the handling of the Master Eunuch. If this alone isn’t enough to convince you, there is also evidence in 2 Kings.

2 Kings 20:18 Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king. Is it really important that we know Daniel is a Eunuch? I believe it is. Daniel had unwavering faith while living in Judah. He was then kidnapped and made into a Eunuch. What if he was engaged to be married? What if he wanted to have kids? We don’t know what future plans he had. This was all out the window now. Daniel had every reason to be bitter and angry. But what was he? No. Daniel remained steadfast in his faith.

Daniel showed his unwavering faith several times throughout the book of Daniel. In chapter 1, Daniel refused to eat the king’s food or drink the king’s wine, and instead challenged it against his diet. He didn’t seem to care what the repercussions were. He trusted his faith and didn’t want to compromise his relationship with God.

We see in chapter 2 that Daniel turned immediately to God for answers to the king’s dream. He didn’t second guess it. He told the soldiers that he would deliver the meaning of the dream, then went to prayer with his friends.

In chapter 4 he didn’t hold back telling the king about his painful 7 years coming. In chapter 5 he didn’t fluff the writing on the wall that the king was going to die. In chapter 6 he didn’t stop praying to God and faced a den of lions. In Daniel 7-12 he saw some amazing visions about the end times. His faith was steadfast. His faith was unwavering. His faith was contagious.

He was mentioned by Jesus himself.

Matthew 24:15 "The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about —the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) 16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills."

Ezekiel 14:14,20 also mentions Daniel.

There are other places where “Daniel” is written, but it is not him.

Daniel could have been bitter, eaten at the king’s table, and coasted his bitter life out very easily. Instead, he chose to stick with God, and God blessed him, even while living under evil rulers. There are many life applications we can pull from the book of Daniel. I would encourage you to read it. Read it slowly and carefully, paying attention to how Daniel and his friends carried themselves.

-Dan Joseph, Executive Pastor