Daniel Chapter 1 Vs. 4

Daniel Taken to Babylon

Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. Dan. 1:4

understanding science... History records 2 main periods of science: the Greek period from 600 B.C. to 200 A.D., and the modern period from 1450 A.D. to our day. Science began in Egypt and Babylon with the birth of mathematics, metallurgy, anatomy, and astronomy. To the Babylonians we owe the exact measurements of the lunar and solar cycles, the tracing of the paths of the planets, the division of the circle into 360 degrees, and the designation of constellations, notably those of the zodiac. Daniel was no doubt trained in all these sciences. The inscriptions show that there was a special palace school with elaborate arrangements for special education.

stand in the... This was a special department in the palace school for courtiers.

teach the learning... Hebrew: Cepher, book; literature (Dan. 1:4, 1:17). History records the existence of huge libraries in Babylon with books classified on all subjects which could be secured from the librarian as in our day.

tongue of the... They were a distinct class from Babylonians and other learned classes and belonged to South Babylonia (Dan. 2:2, 2:4, 2:5, 2:10; 3:8; 4:7; 5:7, 5:11; Eze. 23:23). In a wider sense, the word is used of a nationality (Dan. 5:30; Gen. 11:28-31; 15:7; 2Ki. 24:2; 25:4-26; Job. 1:17; Hab. 1:6).