Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah - Daniel 1:6

In the book of Daniel, Daniel said King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the master of the eunuchs, Ashpenaz, to bring children from the people of Israel who were good looking, well-skilled, intelligent and able to learn, 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”, and in chapter one and verse six of Daniel, Daniel mentioned, “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” where we read,

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

The verse reads, “Now among these were of the children of Judah, ...” Daniel began with the words, “now among these”which means “now in the midst and middle of the chosen children” “were of the children” or “existed the offspring and progeny” “of Judah” which means “belonging to Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon”. Daniel shared how the offspring of “Judah” were among the ones chosen by Ashpenaz for King Nebuchadnezzar.

The verse continues, “... Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:” Daniel added the word, “Daniel” whose name means “God is my judge who was the writer of this book and the the fourth of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon who because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams became the second in command of the Babylonian empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events, and he was noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel” (See Ezekiel 28:3), “Hananiah” or “God has favored”, “Mishael” whose name means “who is what God is”, “and Azariah” or “Jehovah has helped”. Daniel shared how he himself, “Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” whose names mean, “God has favored, who is what God is and Jehovah has helped” were among the children of Israel who were selected by Ashpenaz for King Nebuchadnezzar.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel about the names of four of the children of Israel who were specially chosen to be set before King Nebuchadnezzar. “Daniel”, who wrote this book, “Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” were chosen by Ashpenaz, (the master of the eunuchs”), for King Nebuchadnezzar to be fed, trained and instructed in the Chaldean ways, and we shall see how God used every one of them to fulfill His purposes. God's plan of salvation was converging, and each of these “children of Judah” would play a certain role in fulfilling His plan to offer salvation to everyone. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way for everyone who puts their faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and used in His Kingdom to lead others to trust in Him. “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” were used by God, and everyone reading these words may be used by Him as well when they submit to Him. 

Next time Daniel shares how “the prince of the eunuchs gave names”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".