Daniel 1:3

And Scripture says, "And the king told Ashpenaz the chief of the eunuchs to bring in some of those from the sons of the captivity of Israel and from the seed of the king and from the princes, young men, who have no blemish, who are beautiful in appearance and are understanding in all wisdom, being well versed in knowledge, disposed to prudence, and who have in themselves the strength to stand in the house of the king, and to teach them the letters and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them on that very day to be nourished from the table of the king and from the wine which he drank in order for them to be nourished three years, and after these things to stand before the king. And there was among them from the sons of Judah, Daniel and Hanniah, Mishael, and Azariah." [Daniel 1:3-7] It is necessary that those who love learning to not read these things cursorily, but to prepare the mind for the things that lie before us. For the divine writings do not idly preach to us, but their admonition is meant for us and also the blessing of these prophets and the demonstration of all the things which are spoken by them are for us as well. For when Hezekiah king of Judah was sick unto death, then "Isaiah the prophet came to him and told him 'Set in order your sons and your daughters and your father's house, for you will die and you will not live.'" [2 Kings 20:1, also see Isaiah 38:1] Having been grieved at this word, "Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord saying, 'Lord remember me just as I have walked before you in truth and in faith and with a full heart and I have done what is pleasing in your presence.' And Hezekiah wept with great weeping." [2 Kings 20:1-3] After this occurred, Isaiah was sent to him a second time and he said to him, "The Lord the God of David your father says this, 'I have heard your prayer and have seen your tears. […]

And so the God of all makes evident the foolishness, infirmity and loathsome ways of the world in order to put to shame its power and wisdom. People who care for bodily things and seek beauty, greatness and great bodily strength know nothing of divine …

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs,.... That is, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon spake to this officer of his, whose name was Ashpenaz; which, according to Saadiah, signifies a man of an angry countenance; but Hillerus (e) derives it from the Arabic word "schaphan", as designing one that excels in wit and understanding; for which reason he might have the command of the eunuchs, many of which the eastern princes had about them, particularly to wait upon their women, or to educate youth, as the Turks have now; though, as R.

Of the eunuchs - These were chief among the king's servants; and they are called eunuchs, because many of them were such. And of the princes - Here was fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah had foretold, Isaiah xxxix, 7.

The improvement he made of this success. He did not destroy the city or kingdom, but did that which just accomplished the first threatening of mischief by Babylon. It was denounced against Hezekiah, for showing his treasures to the king of Babylon's ambassadors ( Isa. xxxix.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens