pickledilly Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 Daniel and his friends experienced a total change of life when they were taken captive. In Jerusalem they were sons of nobility and royalty, well-educated with comfortable lives and assurance of place and position in their future, free to worship and serve Yahweh. Once enslaved in Babylon, they were stripped in every way of their Jewish identities, indoctrinated in Babylonian culture and philosophy, emasculated, and given Babylonian names in order to steal their past life and heritage. This was intended to degrade and demoralize, "marry" them only to Babylon, and give them nothing to hope for except Babylonian life. These particular verses don't reveal their response, but we know these young men did not compromise their heritage of faith, which they believed would be defilement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsStreet Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Q2. (Daniel 1:1-7) What changes did Daniel and his friends experience? What was their status in Jerusalem? In Babylon? What do you think was the effect of changing their names to Babylonian names? What impact might it have on them to be made eunuchs? Did they make compromises? If so, why? Daniel and his friends had to experience the changes from becoming royalty in Jerusalem to becoming servants for the king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon after the siege of Jerusalem. Surely the impact of having their names changed must have been devastating to them as their belief in their names was a representation of their character and their future status. The impact upon them as eunuch took away their chances of ever having a family or children to which they could carry on their name. They had no other choice but to compromise due to the fact that they were no longer under the jurisdiction of Jerusalem but under the siege of Babylon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioned Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Q2. (Daniel 1:1-7) What changes did Daniel and his friends experience? What was their status in Jerusalem? In Babylon? What do you think was the effect of changing their names to Babylonian names? What impact might it have on them to be made eunuchs? Did they make compromises? If so, why? Daniel and his friends experience changes in the culture. The people of Babylon did not worship the God of Daniel and his friends, Their diet was different and wanted Daniel and his friends to adopt to their customary dining. Their names were changed from the Hebrews names to reflect the gods that the Babylonians worshiped. In Jerusalem and his friends were from royal families or nobility, in Babylon they were servants to the king; notwithstanding the place they held in the palace. Having their name changed from the Hebrew name to the Babylonian name did not have any great effect on Daniel and his friends as they were completely sold on serving the true God regardless of the circumstance they may find themselves. To be made eunuchs in Babylon would be in their agreement so that they need not be required to take on a Babylonian wife. As children of the Most High God, Daniel and his friends did not make compromises, because of their faith in God to deliver them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda bass Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 The changes that Daniel and his friends experienced were, 1] being deported from Judah to Babylon, 2] being educated in the occult knowledge of Babylon, and 3] having their Hebrew names replaced with Babylonian ones. There status in Jerusalem was being members of royal families or nobility. Their status in Babylon was being servants to the king. The effect of changing their names to Babylonian names was like having their identity taken away. The Hebrews believed a person's character and future could be prefigured by the name they were given at birth. I'm sure Daniel wasn't happy about having his name changed to that of one of the Babylonian gods. The impact on them to be made eunuchs was probably devastating. They would never be able to have families of their own. They compromised in some ways like allowing their names to be changed. However, they refuse to compromise when it came to eating the king's rich food and wine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sophie Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Q2. (Daniel 1:1-7) What changes did Daniel and his friends experience? What was their status in Jerusalem? In Babylon? What do you think was the effect of changing their names to Babylonian names? What impact might it have on them to be made eunuchs? Did they make compromises? If so, why? Daniel and friends were uprooted against their will, hurled away from loved ones into a strange land. Loneliness! One violation after another: status removed, freedom removed, names corrupted, bodies altered. They accepted changes on the outside, but remained faithful Jews on the inside. Meekness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaconmarks Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 They were in the enemies camp. They had to feel as we would feel today if we were to go over to our enemies house. Strange. Unaccustomed to the lay of the land. They had a sheltered life in Jerusalem. In Babylon, they would have been respected by their fellow captives, but ridiculed by the Babylonians. Changing their names, would have gave them partial acceptance by the Babylonians. To be made a eunuchs, may not have an effect on them, if they remained strong in their faith, it would have been considered a part of God's plan. I cannot be sure that they made compromises. They continued to worship God the way they always had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionwolf Posted October 23, 2016 Report Share Posted October 23, 2016 Q2. (Daniel 1:1-7) What changes did Daniel and his friends experience? What was their status in Jerusalem? In Babylon? What do you think was the effect of changing their names to Babylonian names? What impact might it have on them to be made eunuchs? Did they make compromises? If so, why? Daniel and his friends went from a life of plenty to a life of restriction. Everything they had ever known was gone. Now they were subject to the arbitrary whims of a foreign king. They were privileged in Jerusalem but were slaves to the king in Babylon. The name change appears to be psychological. This is intended to help them lose their Jewish identity. Being made a eunuch would be extremely terrifying to these young men who had never known this type of brutality. They had to make compromises, most of which were forced upon them. However these young men appear smart enough to know what battles to pick. All these changes have not affected their relationship with God. These compromises are acceptable because they do value their relationship with God. They probably realize they may never see their home in Jerusalem and know their life has changed. They must accept being subservient in a new world but they know when, and how, to negotiate the important issues concerning their relationship with God! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolanda King Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Obviously their culture changed, their language, their social norms, possibly the way they dressed, as well as the food they ate. Their status in Jerusalem was somewhat important as they were from Royal/wealthy families. I think the effect of changing their names to Babylonian names must have been very difficult as it was more than just a name to them, but it was almost a part of their identity. I imagine they would have still held onto their real names almost like a Middle name, in remembrance of who they really were, but this is just my opinion. I think if they were really made eunuchs, it could have made a great effect on their lives in that they were unable to have children, which could have caused them to mourn that. However like mentioned in the study it would have also meant that they were devoted to loyalty and service. I don’t think they made compromises, because when they had the opportunity to compromise with food and drink they didn’t, and later on with worship they didn’t. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasYankee Posted September 14, 2023 Report Share Posted September 14, 2023 Having moved from my birth town of Boston, MA, to the great state of Texas in my 30s I am able to relate to the difficulties Daniel and his friends encountered. Not only is the language different (yes, we all speak English but the meaning of the words varies), weather is totally different, attitudes towards strangers is very strong when you speak with an accent... You stand out right away and are recognized as an outsider. With their families so far away and their faith not practiced in their new land, they had no place to feel safe. They were trusting their God in all things but everything about their new life was a challenge. Accepting their new names was the easy part... living day to day in a world totally foreign to them with different customs, attitudes, food and spending every day with total strangers was a situation only God could handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heath Posted October 1, 2023 Report Share Posted October 1, 2023 On 8/15/2015 at 6:41 AM, Pastor Ralph said: Q2. (Daniel 1:1-7) What changes did Daniel and his friends experience? What was their status in Jerusalem? In Babylon? What do you think was the effect of changing their names to Babylonian names? What impact might it have on them to be made eunuchs? Did they make compromises? If so, why? They experienced their homeland conquered by a foreign people. They were separated from their families of nobility/royalty and taken to Babylon against their will to serve in the foreign king's palace. They were to be taught the letters and language of the Chaldeans. From being masters to being servants. Having their names changed emphasized that they were not in charge of their lives. The new names were insults to their faith. Being made eunuchs would have been physically, mentally and emotionally crippling. They had to submit to their ruler as long as it didn't compromise their faith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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