SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:7
a los cuales el príncipe de los eunucos puso nombres; y puso a Daniel, Beltasar y a Ananías, Sadrac; y a Misael, Mesac; y a Azarías, Abed-nego.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:7
Verse 7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names] This change of names, Calmet properly remarks, was a mark of dominion and authority. It was customary for masters to impose new names upon their slaves; and rulers often, on their ascending the throne, assumed a name different from that which they had before. laynd DANIEL signifies "God is my Judge." This name they changed into rxaŤflb BELTESHATSTSAR; in Chaldee, "The treasure of Bel," or "The despository of the secrets (or treasure) of Bel." hynnh HANANIAH signifies, "The Lord has been gracious to me," or "He to whom the Lord is gracious." This name was changed into űrdŤ SHADRACH, Chaldee, which has been variously translated: "The inspiration of the sun;"God the author of evil, be propitious to us;"Let God preserve us from evil." laŤym MISHAEL signifies "He who comes from God." Him they called űŤym MESHACH, which In Chaldee signifies, "He who belongs to the goddess Sheshach," a celebrated deity of the Babylonians, mentioned by Jeremiah, chap. xxv. 26.
hyrz[ AZARIAH, which signifies "The Lord is my Helper," they changed into wgn dba ABED-NEGO, which in Chaldee is "the servant of Nego," who was one of their divinities; by which they meant either the sun, or the morning star; whether Jupiter or Venus.
The vicious pronunciation of this name should be carefully avoided; I mean that which lays the accent on the first syllable, and hurries so the end, without attending to the natural division of the word Abed-Nego.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names , etc.] Other names, Chaldee names, according to the names of the gods of that country, for honour and glory, as Saadiah observes; which was done either to make them more acceptable to the court and courtiers of the king of Babylon; and to show that they were his servants, and naturalized subjects; and chiefly to cause them to forget the names their fathers gave them, and out of hatred to them, having all of them in them the names of the true God, El or Jah; and, most of all, that they might forget the God of their fathers, whose names they bore. This prince of the eunuchs seems to be the same with the master of the eunuchs, Ashpenaz, before mentioned, so Jacchiades; but some take him to be another person: what he did in changing the names of these four Hebrew youths was not his own idea and by his own authority, but by the order of the king; ( Daniel 5:12): for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar ; which signifies “Bel hath hid and treasured”; or Bel’s treasurer, or the keeper of his treasures; (see Daniel 1:2). Bel was the chief idol of the Chaldeans, ( Isaiah 46:1), and Daniel was named according to him, as Nebuchadnezzar himself says, ( Daniel 4:8) and differs but in one letter from the name of a successor of his, Belshazzar, ( Daniel 5:1), hence Daniel is thought by Broughton, and others, to be the Belesis of Diolorus Siculus: or it may be he had this name given him from “beltis” or “baaltis” f44 , a queen and goddess of the Babylonians, and may be compounded of that and “azer”: and to Hananiah of Shadrach ; which some interpret a “tender pap”, or “breast”: others, the “king’s messenger”, or “the messenger the sun”. The word “rach” signifies a “king” with the Chaldeans, as it did with the Egyptians, as may be observed in the word “abrec”, the king’s father, in ( Genesis 41:43) and is used by them of the sun, the prince of planets, whom they worshipped: others, “the inspiration of the sun”, their idol.
Hillerus explains it of fire, the object of their adoration: and to Mishael of Meshach ; or; “of Shach”, which was a name of a god or goddess of the Chaldeans, they worshipped; at the celebration of whose feast they were when Babylon was taken by Cyrus: and to Azariah of Abednego ; or “a servant, or worshipper of Nego”. The word signifies “shining brightness”: which some understand of fire worshipped by them; others of the bright planet Venus; and others of Lucifer, or the morning star. Saadiah takes it to be the same with Nebo, by a change of a letter, which was a god of the Chaldeans; (see Isaiah 46:1).
Matthew Henry Commentary
The captivity of Daniel and his companions. (Dan. 1:1-7) Their refusa to eat the king's meat. (Dan. 1:8-16) Their improvement in wisdom (Dan. 1:17-21)
Dan. 1:1-7 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, took Jerusalem, and carried whom and what he pleased away. From this first captivity, most think the seventy years are to be dated. It is the interest of princes to employ wise men; and it is their wisdo to find out and train up such. Nebuchadnezzar ordered that these chose youths should be taught. All their Hebrew names had something of God in them; but to make them forget the God of their fathers, the Guide of their youth, the heathen gave them names that savoured of idolatry. It is painful to reflect how often public education tends to corrupt the principles and morals.
Dan. 1:8-16 The interest we think we make for ourselves, we mus acknowledge to be God's gift. Daniel was still firm to his religion Whatever they called him, he still held fast the spirit of a Israelite. These youths scrupled concerning the meat, lest it should be sinful. When God's people are in Babylon they need take special car that they partake not of her sins. It is much to the praise of youn people, not to covet or seek the delights of sense. Those who woul excel in wisdom and piety, must learn betimes to keep the body under Daniel avoided defiling himself with sin; and we should more fear tha than any outward trouble. It is easier to keep temptation at distance, than to resist it when near. And we cannot better improve ou interest in any with whom we have found favour, than to use it to kee us from sin. People will not believe the benefit of avoiding excess and of a spare diet, nor how much they contribute to the health of the body, unless they try. Conscientious temperance will always do more even for the comfort of this life, than sinful indulgence.
Dan. 1:17-21 Daniel and his fellows kept to their religion; and God rewarded them with eminence in learning. Pious young persons shoul endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful things; not for the praise of man, but for the honour of the gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is well for a country, and for the honour of a prince, when he is able to judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them on that account. Let young men steadil attend to this chapter; and let all remember that God will honour thos who honour him, but those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
וישׂם 7760 להם 1992 שׂר 8269 הסריסים 5631 שׁמות 8034 וישׂם 7760 לדניאל 1840 בלטשׁאצר 1095 ולחנניה 2608 שׁדרך 7714 ולמישׁאל 4332 מישׁך 4335 ולעזריה 5838 עבד נגו׃ 5664
