On Daniel, chapter one, fulfilling prophecy

T
his is much longer than I anticipated. Please excuse the abbreviations. I’m not a writer, but I try to get the point across. In so many words! ¹

If you have questions, feel free to ask, I’ll try to answer. Comments always welcome. I know that I make great leaps of logic, that u may not be able to follow. I have always done that, but again, ask if u want. Or, fill in the blanks!

Mary Lou and Stuart hit the nail on the head with their response. In particular, that this is a fulfillment of prophecy given by God, thru Isaiah to Hezekiah. It is an important prophecy.

Many years & a few kings prior to Daniel and his friends being carried away in captivity, King Hezekiah received a visit from Babylonian ambassadors. Hezekiah had shown the Ambassadors all the riches in the kingdom. Isaiah, questioning Hezekiah:

2Kgs 20:15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

Then, GOD’s response, thru Isaiah the prophet:

2Kgs 20:16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
2Kgs 20:17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
2Kgs 20:18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
2Kgs 20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

Note verse 18, above. Daniel 1 is the fulfillment.

A Matter Mentioned Three Times

Something is important in the Word Of God (WOG) when it is repeated. Whether its repeated in the same conversation, or spread out in various books of the Bible, as in this case. Since the entire Bible has One ultimate Author, being GOD Himself, this repetition carries some weight. I’ll leave to you to look up the other references, if you would like to see them:

2 Chronicles 32.24-31; Isaiah 39.3-8  

Note the reference in Chronicles is worded much differently, but it certainly refers to Hezekiah and his visit by the Babylonian ambassadors.

A Further Biblical Connection

The last thing to mention, is that in terms of Hezekiah’s line of descendants, there comes a stopping point of those who actually rule on the throne of Judah.

Here is the connection:

Matthew 1, begins with the descendants, from Adam down through the kings. Hezekiah is mentioned, starting in verse 9. The Jews kept excellent genealogical records and there should be king after king, but instead, you find it becoming, king, king, descendant. Because, they were denied a ruling throne.

Nevertheless, GOD still had planned for the true King, to come thru the line of David. Yet, not thru a man, since the line of descendants ended with curse placed upon Jeconiah, and his seed: that none would sit on the throne over Judah, ever.

Jeremiah 22.24-30, esp verse 30  

In order to keep His promise to Abraham, and especially to his great-great grandson, Judah in Genesis 49.10, God had already implemented His plan. That of the virgin-born Messiah. In the New Testament, Messiah is called, Christ. (John 1.41)

That brings us up to the time of the LORD’s birth. The same prophet, Isaiah, who spoke to Hezekiah with the prophecy of His seed being made eunuchs, also spoke several great prophecies regarding Jesus. These are the first two that spring to mind:

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The entire chapter of Isaiah 53  

In the case of Joseph and Mary, Joseph was in the royal line, but sometime after the birth of Christ, he is no longer mentioned. So, he never became king. Yet, Joseph was not the father of Jesus, anyway. Mary was to be His mother, but as God told Joseph:

Matt 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.


Matt 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,


Matt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Verse 20: Jesus is conceived of the Holy Ghost! There it is, big, plain and straight.

Just for final clarification, Luke 3.33 specifies that Mary also, comes from the tribe of Judah, and therefore, by birth, Jesus is still in the royal family line, yet,  born of the seed of the woman. (Gen 3.15)

So, how do I wrap this up? I don’t know if I can keep all this straight!

• Daniel and his friends were of the royal seed - most likely



• Their serving under the chief eunuch most likely means, they were made eunuchs.



• Their being made eunuchs was a fulfillment of prophecy.



• It also begins to show that the line of kings ruling on the throne was about to end. That end came with the end of Zedekiah, the son or relative of cursed Jeconiah.



• GOD still kept His promise in that He has provided a King through the miraculous birth of Jesus in fulfillment of Gen 3.15, Gen 22.8 and a whole bunch of other Scripture.

Since GOD has kept all those promises and those prophecies have completely fulfilled, there is no doubt that He will ultimately do all other prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled.

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¹ This post was originally written as a Facebook note, November 2014.

Pre-John 3 Notes

I’m reading through the book of John. I’m also reading through a commentary on John’s gospel by Sam Gipp,

Here’s the link: "Practical and Theological Study of the Gospel"

My goal for the next day and possibly again over the next weekend, is to make some notes that are based on his commentary, along with some other items of interest regarding the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus. The first 18 verses of chapter 3 will be the focus of my study.

This study has gone much further than I anticipated, even though I’ve read this passage many times throughout life. I am:

• learning more about Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, and how the Lord mastered the conversation
• making connections to other scriptures that I had not noticed, either.
• I’m making connections of words and phrases within this passage I had not noticed before.

Even in such familiar passages as this, there is often more to be gleaned, each and every time I return to God’s Word. Even though I should not be surprised, I am, anyway. I consider this a good thing.  

This is not going to be a book review. I’m not looking to qualify Mr. Gipp’s writing. I’m not critiquing his work. I’m enjoying this book, and simply using this blog to make notes. No plagiarism will be occurring. I do suggest,  that if you’d like to study from it, order yourself a copy.

Again, this study is going to be my notes based on what Mr. Gipp has written, and more importantly, what God has written. My premise regarding the Bible is that God is right, period. His Word supersedes my own notes, is far superior to commentaries from others (including Mr. Gipp’s). Put another way: In Genesis 3, the serpent (Satan) asked Eve, “Yea, hath God said…?” I say, “YEA!!  God most assuredly hath said!!” So, if something I say is not in line with the Word of God, God always' wins. I plead no contest. His Word is forever settled in Heaven. (now, where have I heard that before?)

Until next time, whether its tomorrow, or next weekend…