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Verse Takeaways
1
A Battle Over Identity
All commentators agree that the name change was a deliberate strategy of assimilation. The young men's Hebrew names (Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah) all incorporated a reference to God (El or Yah). The new Babylonian names (Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego) were linked to pagan gods like Bel and Nebo. Scholars state this was an attempt to make them forget their God, their people, and their identity.
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Book Overview
Daniel
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Commentaries
5
Albert Barnes
On Daniel 1:7
18th Century
Theologian
To whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names - This practice is common in Oriental courts. “The captive youths referred to in the notes on (…
Charles Spurgeon
On Daniel 1:7
19th Century
Preacher
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names:
This was to Chaldeanize them, to take away from them everything Jewish.
F…
John Calvin
On Daniel 1:6–7
16th Century
Theologian
The Prophet now comes to what properly belongs to his purpose. He did not propose to write a full narrative, but he touched briefly on what was nec…
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John Gill
On Daniel 1:7
17th Century
Pastor
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names
Other names, Chaldee names, according to the names of the gods of t…
Matthew Henry
On Daniel 1:1–7
17th Century
Minister
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, took Jerusalem and carried away whomever and whatever he pleased. From this first …