A BATTLE FOR THE MIND

Immediately, a battle for the young minds of these exiles began.  To make sure that the Hebrew teenagers would be molded to fit in with  the Babylonian system, Nebuchadnezzar decreed that his officials "teach them the writing and the tongue of the Chaldeans." (Daniel 1:4) This was not ordinary education. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains that it "compromised the study of Sumerian, Akkadian, Aramaic . . ., and other languages, as well as the extensive literature written in them."  "The extensive literature" consisted of history, mathematics, astronomy, and so on.  However, "associated religious texts, both omina [omens] and astrology . . .,played a large part." 

So that these Hebrew youths would completely adopt the customs and culture of Babylonian court life,  "the king appointed a daily allowance from the delicacies of the king and from drinking wide, even to nourish them for three years, that at the end of these  they might stand before the king." (Daniel 1:5)  Furthermore, "to them the principle court official went assigning names.  So he assigned to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, Shadrach; and to Mishael; and to Azariah, Abednego." (Daniel 1:7)  In Bible times it was a common practice for a person to be given a new name to mark a significant even in his life.  For instance, Jehovah changed the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah. (Genesis 17:5, 15, 16) For a human to change someone's name is clear evidence of authority or dominance.  When Joseph became the food administrator of Egypt, Pharaoh named him Zaphenath-paneah. -Genesis 41:44, 45; compare 2 Kings 23:34; 24:17. 

In the case of Daniel and his three Hebrew friends, the name changes were significant. The names their parents had given them were in harmony with the worship of Jehovah.  "Daniel" means "My Judge Is God."  The meaning of "Hananiah"   is "Jehovah Has Shown Favor."   "Mishael"  possibly means "Who Is Like God?" Azariah" means "Jehovah Has Helped." No doubt it was their parent's fervent hope that their sons would grow up under the guidance of Jehovah God to become his faithful and loyal servants.  

However, the new names given to the four Hebrews were all closely associated with those of false gods, suggesting that the true God had been subjugated by such deities.  What an insidious effort to sabotage the faith of these young people! 

Daniel's name was changed to Belteshazzar, meaning "Protect the Life of the King."  Evidently , this was a shortened form of an invocation to Bel, or Marduk, the principal god of Babylon. Whether Nebuchadnezzar had a hand in  in choosing this name for Daniel or not, he was proud to acknowledge that it was "according to  the name of [his] god."  (Daniel 4:8) Hananiah was renamed Shadrach, which some authorities believe to be a compound name meaning  "Command of Aku."  Azariah's Babylonian name was Abednego, probably meaning "Servant of Nego." And "Nego" is a variant of  "Nebo," the name of a deity after which a number of Babylonian rulers were also named.  

Next time: Determined TO REMAIN TRUE TO JEHOVAH 

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999