Daniel’s Arrival in Babylon

This chapter tells the story of how Daniel and his companions arrived in Babylon,
remained faithful to God, and rose to prominence in King Nebuchadnezzar's court.
In 605 BC, at the Battle of Carchemish, Nebuchadnezzar defeated the invading Egyptian
army under Pharaoh Neco II. With Egypt pushed back, he turned to Jerusalem, which he saw as a
rebellious city that needed control.
That summer, the young Daniel watched in horror as Babylonian soldiers stormed into
Jerusalem. Foreigners shouted in Aramaic, a language unfamiliar to many Jews. The invaders
sought out Judah’s nobility and royal family, looking for the best and brightest young men. They
would be taken as hostages to ensure Judah’s loyalty to Babylon.
Among those seized were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—later known by their
Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The boys, frightened and unsure of their
fate, took one last look at their families before being forced to march north to Haran, then south
along the Tigris and Euphrates, finally passing through the massive gates of Babylon. The
journey likely took four months (Ezra 8:31–32).

Nebuchadnezzar Becomes King

Meanwhile, as Daniel and his companions traveled, King Nabopolassar,
Nebuchadnezzar’s father, died on July 20, 605 BC. The young prince hurried back to Babylon,
leaving his armies behind. On August 12, he was crowned King of Babylon. His father had
divided power between his two sons: Nebuchadnezzar was made king, while his younger brother
Nabu-shum-lisher was given the title of Chief Priest of Marduk.
Shortly after Nebuchadnezzar’s coronation, Daniel and the other captives arrived in
Babylon.

A Harsh Reality: The Fate of the Captives

Once in Babylon, the young captives likely faced a terrifying ritual—castration. They
were placed under the care of Ashpenaz, the chief of the eunuchs, suggesting that they, too, were
made eunuchs. The Bible never mentions Daniel marrying or having children, further supporting
this possibility. Isaiah had warned that Hezekiah’s royal descendants would be taken as eunuchs
in the palace of Babylon (Isaiah 39:7).
Babylon had no anesthetics and little compassion. The pain, grief, and loss these boys
endured must have been unbearable. They may have questioned God’s faithfulness:
     Was the God of Israel real?
     Where were His promises?
     Was Marduk, the god of Babylon, stronger than Yahweh?
     What had they done to deserve such a fate?
They had lost everything—their families, their home, and their future as men. In Jewish
tradition, boys became adults at thirteen, when they celebrated their bar mitzvah. But instead of
stepping into manhood, they were stripped of it and became slaves to a foreign king.

Faith in the Midst of Suffering

Despite their suffering, Daniel and his friends remained faithful to God. Israel’s priests
and kings, who once had great power and wealth, had failed to obey God’s commands. Later,
Judah’s exiles in Egypt would also reject the Lord (Jeremiah 44:16). But these four teenage
captives, even after being emasculated and enslaved, refused to compromise their faith. They
would not defile themselves by accepting pagan customs.
Because of their loyalty, God would use them—along with the prophet Ezekiel—to
preserve the covenant promises given to Abraham, Moses, and David. These promises would
eventually lead to the Messiah, whom Daniel would later brilliantly prophesy.

Babylon’s Training System

Nebuchadnezzar had a clear plan for his new captives. He wanted them trained in the
language and literature of the Chaldeans. Babylon prided itself on science, literature, and
technology. Learning Chaldean wisdom was like mastering Greek in Rome, Latin in the Middle
Ages, or French in 19th-century England. It was the key to becoming truly cultured.
The word “Chaldean” did not just refer to an ethnic group—it became synonymous with
wisdom, astrology, and priesthood. Nebuchadnezzar’s goal was to train a new class of sages,
loyal only to him, to counterbalance the influence of his brother and the powerful Chaldean
priesthood. By doing this, he ensured that his own political allies held the highest positions.

The Political Strategy Behind the Training

As a young king ruling a newly conquered empire, Nebuchadnezzar faced many
challenges. He spent much of his reign on military campaigns, fighting to expand and secure his

vast territory. While he led troops into battle, he needed a trusted cabinet of advisors to govern

Babylon in his absence

Nebuchadnezzar had personally fought in his father’s war against Assyria, overthrowing
the last Assyrian king, Sin-shar-ishkun. This experience taught him a critical lesson: a
Babylonian king who ignored internal politics risked being overthrown.
By training foreign elites like Daniel and his companions, Nebuchadnezzar created a
network of educated, loyal servants to help him maintain order. This was not just about
education—it was a political survival strategy.

Daniel’s Writing: Hebrew for the Jews, Aramaic for the World

Daniel wrote Chapter 1 in Hebrew, a message meant specifically for his fellow Jews.
However, later in the book (Daniel 2:4b–7:28), he switched to Aramaic, the international
language of the Babylonian and Persian empires. This shift signaled that those chapters were
meant for the entire world to read.