Daniel 1:1 reads, “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah,Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.”
Daniel’s initial words identify four historical facts about Babylon’s first attack on Jerusalem: 1) It was in the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign; 2) Jehoiakim was king of Judah; 3) Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon; and 4) Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem.
These are the kinds of facts that scholars rely on to establish dates in the Bible. Most scholars believe Babylon’s first attack on Jerusalem began in 606 B.C. It drug on into 605 B.C. Then, Nebuchadnezzar suddenly broke it off.
A Babylonian tablet has been discovered that says Nebuchadnezzar’s father was king of Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar first attacked Jerusalem in 606 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar’s father died in August of 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar had not fully conquered Israel. But he suddenly called off the attack. And returned home to be crowned king of Babylon.
It’s important to understand that many details in the Book of Daniel can be confirmed by archaeology and Babylonian historical records. The Book of Daniel and the Bible are accurate.
Daniel 1:2 reads, “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.”
“The Lord gave” means the fall of Judah was God’s doing. Jehoiakim King ofJudah was captured. The Jewish Temple was plundered. The Temple treasures were taken to Babylon. They were placed in the temple of Babylon’s false god.
It’s important to understand that God rules. He sets up kings and kingdoms. He brings down kings and kingdoms. The future is in His hands. He brought downJudah.
A Word to the Wise
After the Northern Kingdom was destroyed by Assyria and the Southern Kingdom was destroyed by Babylon, the Jewish nation didn’t exist. Many would say the Bible is wrong. They would say it contains many prophecies about Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple that can’t be fulfilled. They would say the prophecies can’t be taken literally. They would say the prophecies have to be allegorized, spiritualized, explained away or thrown out.
Then, after 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God brought Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple back into existence. And all the prophecies that seemed impossible to fulfill were literally fulfilled at a later date.
In 70 A.D., Israel was destroyed again. This time the Romans did it. And, once again, people started saying the Bible is wrong, the Church has replaced Israel, all prophecy has been fulfilled, we are in the Millennium, and things like that. This is why many mainline denominations are saying Israel is no longer significant. Their leaders fell for this. They started teaching false doctrine. And they are too self-righteous and proud to tell their members they made a mistake.
Beware of making the same mistakes they are making. Take the Bible literally. Every jot and title of it will be fulfilled (Matthew 5:18).
Daniel 1:3 reads, “And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of theking’s seed, and of the princes.”
Notice, in verses 1 and 2 that Nebuchadnezzar captured King Jehoiakim. Notice, in this verse, that he also captured the King’s seed, (Jehoiakim’s son Jeconiah) and the princes of Judah (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and others). But the thing to see here is that King Jehoiakim and his son Jeconiah were both captured (I Chron. 3:16; Est. 2:6; Jer. 24:1-10; 27:20; 28:4; 29:2).
The significant point here is that Jehoiakim and his son Jeconiah were descendants of King David. And God had promised King David that the Messiah would come from David’s royal line (II Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:3-4; 110:1; 132:11; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1). Jehoiakim and his son Jeconiah were heirs to the throne of David through Solomon (the first surviving son of David and Bathsheba). But Jehoiakim and his son Jeconiah were evil kings. So God put a curse upon Jeconiah. God said, “No man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah” (Jer. 22:30). He was saying none of Jeconiah’s descendants will rule in Judah.
Did God Lie or Make a Mistake
God promised King David that the Messiah would come from David’s royal line. Jeconiah was a descendant of King David. He was heir to the throne. If something happened to his father Jehoiakim, he was next in line to rule inJudah. But God said He wouldn’t let any of Jeconiah’s descendants rule inJudah.
Here we see that God used Nebuchadnezzar to fulfill the curse of Jeconiah. God gave Jehoiakim and the king’s seed (Jeconiah) into Nebuchadnezzar’s hands. Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakim and Jeconiah to Babylon. They never returned to Israel to take the throne. It looked like the reign of David’s royal line was ended forever. The king and his son were in Babylon. They would never return. And there was no nation of Israel.
Rejoicing in Hell
Satan and his demons were probably having a field day. They had succeeded in corrupting the royal line. They had succeeded in getting God to curse the royal line and bring it to an end. They probably thought they had God right where they wanted Him. They probably said God has lied. He has broken His promise to King David. The Bible has an error in it.
Don’t Count Your Chickens before They Hatch
King David and Bathsheba had more than one child. Their first surviving son was Solomon. But they had a second surviving son named Nathan. One of Nathan’s descendants was a young virgin girl named Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Messiah, the Seed of Woman, a descendant of King David (Luke 3). God overcame the curse on the royal line by one of the greatest miracles in the history of mankind (the Virgin Birth.). Now where’s the rejoicing? It is in Heaven because God always keeps His promises.
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck