Daniel Lesson 4: The Captivity Begins

The Book of Daniel begins in the year 605 B.C. with the First Exile of Jews from Judah to Babylon, ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar. Included in the first group of captives snatched from their families, homeland, and culture was the young teen, Daniel. In this lesson, we discuss Daniel's Personal History. We also again address an issue the critics of the Book of Daniel make regarding a seeming contradiction in the dating of the reign of King Jehoiakim's reign between Jeremiah and Daniel. The matter is easily resolved! We also take a look at Nebuchadnezzar, the Conquering King used by God to carry out His chastisement on Judah. Then, we will also look at the Cultural Contrasts between Jerusalem and Babylon. Concluding, we look at the Captives' Qualities (the characteristics of the young men, like Daniel, who were taken in the First Exile - and why they were chosen by the Babylonian king).