Fame Versus Faithfulness

1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.

2 He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. 4 There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. 5 All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.

6 And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them.

7 And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.

8 His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter whom he had taken in marriage.

9 All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. 12 The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the LORD and the vestibule of the house. – 1 Kings 7:1-12 ESV

Once Solomon had completed the construction of the LORD’s House, he turned his attention to building his own royal palace and administrative complex. The author indicates that it took Solomon seven years to complete the Temple, and he spent an additional 13 years constructing the complex that would include separate residences for him and his wife, the daughter of Pharaoh. According to 1 Kings 9:10, Solomon spent two decades of his reign overseeing these various building projects.

It took Solomon twenty years to build the Lord’s Temple and his own royal palace. – 1 Kings 9:10 NLT

From the descriptions provided, it appears that Solomon’s palace complex consisted of a series of distinct structures, including the two royal residences, the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Hall of Pillars, the Hall of Judgment, and the Hall of the Throne. These were evidently separate, but interconnected buildings arranged around a shared courtyard. Each of them was equally impressive in size and grandeur. The House of the Forest of Lebanon alone was larger in size than the Temple itself and featured the same degree of meticulous detailing and costly craftsmanship.

It would be easy to overlook that these impressive structures were only made possible by the forced conscription of Israelite citizens. In Chapter Five, it was revealed that Solomon instituted a nationwide “draft” to provide the large labor force necessary to accomplish his ambitious and ongoing building projects.

Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of this labor force. Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 quarry workers in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen to supervise the work. – 1 Kings 5:13-16 NLT

Tens of thousands of Israelites were forced into service and required to dedicate 20 years of their lives to these seemingly never-ending construction projects. When one building was done, another one would begin. Stones had to be quarried, transported, and carefully carved. Massive amounts of trees were cut down and moved to the various construction sites, where they were transformed into wood flooring and panels to adorn the walls and ceilings of Solomon’s royal residence and administrative offices. The sheer number of common laborers, skilled craftsmen, and project foremen to complete 20 years' worth of construction projects is impossible to calculate. This doesn’t include the additional labor force required to manage Solomon’s household, care for his extensive flocks and herds, cultivate his fields and vineyards, tend his gardens, cook his food, and provide ongoing maintenance for his vast and growing kingdom. All of this was in fulfillment of the words spoken by Samuel the prophet, when he warned the people of Israel of the consequences that would come with their demand for a king.

“The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.” – 1 Samuel 8:11-17 NLT

Solomon was a good and wise king. He had been appointed by God Himself. But even his reign brought a certain degree of suffering and servitude upon the people of Israel. Their desire for a king had ultimately proven costly to them. Kings tend to build kingdoms. They go to war. They demand loyalty and allegiance. They wield power. They use their position to pursue their agendas. And sadly, they can end up treating their people as little more than tools in their royal toolbox.

Later in life, Solomon voiced his regrets at spending so much time, money, and energy building his grand and glorious kingdom. In the end, all his hard work and that of his conscripted laborers would be for naught because you can't take it with you when you go. 

I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world.

Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. – Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 NLT

There’s little doubt that Solomon was successful in all his building efforts. When the final brick was laid on the last building, the completed project was a sight to behold. Combined with the Temple complex, it must have made a powerful impression on all those who saw it. We know from Chapter 10 that when the Queen of Sheba made a royal visit to Jerusalem, she was awe-struck by the experience.

When the queen of Sheba realized how very wise Solomon was, and when she saw the palace he had built, she was overwhelmed. She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their splendid clothing, the cup-bearers, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple of the LORD. – 1 Kings 10:4-5 NLT

For 20 years, Solomon concentrated his efforts on building the physical representation of his kingdom. He built palaces, administrative buildings, throne rooms, judgment halls, and even a Temple to accommodate the God of Israel. He was transforming Jerusalem into a showplace where his power and prestige were constantly on display. Visitors couldn’t help but be impressed by the opulence of his royal residences, the sheer size and scope of his administrative complex, and the grandeur of the Temple.

But as will soon be made clear, there was something dark and foreboding lying beneath the shiny surface of Solomon’s kingdom. The trappings of success obscured a hidden danger that would prove to be Solomon’s undoing and the key to Israel’s ultimate fall from grace.

Hundreds of years later, Jesus, another descendant of King David, would warn against the danger of building kingdoms on earth and investing all our time and energy in accumulating earthly treasures.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

Solomon was under the misguided impression that materialism mattered. He was out to build a kingdom that would rival that of every other nation on earth. He wanted Israel to be the envy of the world, and his glowing reputation to spread throughout the land. In his later days, he would declare his rather pessimistic belief in the value of a good reputation, because that is all you really leave behind that is of lasting value. 

A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
    And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
    After all, everyone dies—
    so the living should take this to heart. – Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 NLT

But two decades into his reign, Solomon was still working under the delusion that more was better. He would continue to amass more wealth, increase his land holdings, construct additional buildings, and furnish them all with the finest of furnishings. He was storing up treasures on earth in a desperate search for meaning and significance. Like a child in need of attention, Solomon was using his wealth and wisdom to make a name for himself. Perhaps it was all an attempt to break free from the shadow of his father's looming legacy. It would have been difficult to follow in the footsteps of the man after God's own heart. Solomon was neither a warrior nor a kingdom builder. He inherited his domain from his father and received his wisdom and wealth as gifts from Yahweh. However, Solomon used what he had to good effect and made a name for himself. 

I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!

So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. – Ecclesiastes 2:4-10 NLT

In time, Solomon’s love of self would replace his love for Yahweh. His obsession with self-promotion and establishing his reputation would supplant his desire to honor the name of God. Fame became more important than faithfulness. 

In Solomon’s old age, they [his wives] turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the LORD’s sight; he refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done. – 1 Kings 11:4-6 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Food for Thought

5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. – Daniel 1:5-16 ESV

Since the book bears Daniel’s name, it’s easy to assume that its content is all about him. Its retelling of Daniel’s arrival in Babylon and his meteoric rise to prominence within the court of Nebuchadnezzar gives it the feel of a biography. Over the centuries there has been much debate concerning the book’s authorship, but within its own pages, the evidence points to Daniel.

In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. – Daniel 8:1 ESV

…in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. – Daniel 9:2 ESV

While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. – Daniel 9:20-21 ESV

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. – Daniel 1-:2-3 ESV

Throughout the book, Daniel switches from the first-person singular to the third-person, a common literary practice among ancient authors. The primary reason some scholars reject Daniel as the book’s author is the staggering success rate of the prophecies it contains. The fact that so many of Daniel’s predictions come true leads them to conclude that the book was written by an unknown author who lived centuries later.

The Book of Daniel predicts events of the second century before the coming of Jesus (especially the period 175-164 B.C.) with such precision that doubting critics believe it had to have been written after that period, during the time of the Maccabees (in-between the Old and New Testaments). Supposedly, the purpose for writing Daniel at that time was to inspire God’s people on to victory during the Maccabean wars. – David Guzik, Daniel: The Enduring Word Commentary

Critical scholars, unwilling to accept the supernatural nature of the book’s prophetic visions, have attempted to explain it all away by arguing for an anonymous author who used Daniel as a mouthpiece. By recasting the events of his own day as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy, the author was merely attempting to encourage his contemporary readers.  Yet, Jesus, who lived centuries after the events recorded in the book, believed Daniel was its author.

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)…” – Matthew 24:15 ESV

But while this suggests that the book is actually an autobiography, Daniel is not telling his story. He is simply a player in the grand drama that began with the call of Abraham in Ur. Daniel and his companions were caught up in a much larger story that spans all the way from God’s creation of the universe to His ultimate recreation recording in the Book of Revelation. This book was not intended to set Daniel up as an icon of virtue or a model for godly living. While he and his friends exhibit admirable characteristics and demonstrate a commitment to God worthy of emulation, they are not to be worshiped as heroes. Too often, the book’s content is reduced to little more than a guide for godly living. Lessons have been written with titles like “Dare to Be a Daniel” that attempt to encourage faithfulness and discourage compromised convictions in the face of worldly pressure. But while those are worthy objectives, they can easily lose sight of the book’s primary objective.

The opening chapter sets the stage for Daniel’s arrival in Babylon. There are no details given as to Daniel’s family background or social standing in the city of Jerusalem. Verse 3 states that Nebuchadnezzar issued orders “to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility” (Daniel 1:3 ESV), so it seems likely that Daniel was from an affluent family. It also appears that a selection process was involved that culled out the less attractive “candidates.” Daniel was one of the “youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace” (Daniel 1:4 ESV).

Upon their arrival in Babylon, these young men were separated from their families and taken to the royal palace where they were to be trained “in the language and literature of Babylon” (Daniel 1:4 NLT). In a sense, they were enrolled in a Babylonian boarding school where they would be inculcated with the wisdom and ways of their new masters. This was nothing less than an intense indoctrination strategy designed to isolate these young men from their parents so they could be reprogrammed and repurposed.

There is no way of determining the exact number of young men who were forced to endure this three-year program of brainwashing and rehabilitation. It’s unlikely that the four individuals listed represent the entire “freshman class” of Nebuchadnezzar’s elite training program. But Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are listed because they will play important roles as the book unfolds. Each of them is from the tribe of Judah and faces the challenge of maintaining their Jewish heritage and faith in Yahweh as they endure the pressure to adapt to the ways of their new masters.

It all begins easily enough with Daniel and his companions being offered “a daily ration of food and wine” (Daniel 1:5 NLT) from the king’s own kitchen. Rather than being treated like slaves, they were feted like royalty, eating food fit for a king. This was likely a ploy to soften up these young men so they would have a more favorable view of their Babylonian overlords. Along with fine food, they were given new names, another not-so-subtle ploy to reprogram these young men so they would forego their past and embrace their new homeland.

…the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. – Daniel 1:7 ESV

There is far more going on here than just the designation of new Babylonian names. There was a purpose behind the eunuch’s choice of names. Daniel’s Hebrew name meant “God is my judge,” while his new name meant “the prince of Bell). Hannaniah, which means “Beloved by the LORD” was changed to “Illumined by Sun-god.” Mishael’s name (Who is as God) was changed to Meshach (Who is like Shach). Finally, Azariah had his name (The LORD is my help) changed to Abed-Nego (Servant of Nego). Each young man’s Hebrew name honored Yahweh, the God of the Israelites. But their new names honored one of the gods of the Babylonians. This was another attempt to indoctrinate these young men by removing any attachment they may have to their former religion. Everything was being altered; their diet, education, environment, names, and religious affiliation.

Yet, despite the pressure to compromise, Daniel resisted.

Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. – Daniel 1:8 ESV

There is far more going on here than Daniel refusing to eat the king’s rich and probably unhealthy diet. The text purposely uses the word “defile.” The Hebrew word, gā'al, can be translated as “to pollute” or “desecrate.” It is a word associated with unacceptable sacrifices offered to God. In the Book of Malachi, God confronts the priests of Israel, accusing them of treating His name with contempt. They declare their innocence and respond, “How have we despised your name?” (Malachi 1:6 ESV). God answers them with a specific charge that uses the same Hebrew word.

“By offering polluted [gā'al] food upon my altar. ” – Malachi 1:7 ESV

The content of Daniel’s diet is not provided, but it seems likely that it contained meat that had not been processed according to the Mosaic Law. Israelites were forbidden to eat any meat that had not first been drained of all its blood.

“If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.” – Leviticus 17:10-12 ESV

Daniel refused to eat meat that was improperly prepared. To do so would defile himself before Yahweh. His request for a vegetarian-based diet reflects his desire to avoid the impure nature of the meat provided by the Babylonians. When Daniel informed the chief eunuch of his decision to fast, he was met with concern, not consternation. The eunuch didn’t explode with rage or threaten Daniel with discipline. Instead, he showed unprecedented concern. But the text makes clear that this reaction was God-ordained.

God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs. – Daniel 1:9 ESV

This subtle statement sets the tone for the rest of the book, revealing that Yahweh was behind every aspect of Daniel’s life and would be intimately involved in every circumstance that unfolded in the days ahead. Even within the confines of Nebuchadnezzar’s royal compound, Yahweh was providentially moving behind the scenes to accomplish His will for Daniel and His redemptive plan for the people of Israel. This was about far more than Daniel’s diet; it was about the sovereign will of Yahweh.

When the eunuch heard the decision of Daniel and his companions, he became concerned that the lack of protein might have a deleterious effect on their health and his own personal well-being.

“If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” – Daniel 1:10 NLT

But Daniel calmed the eunuch’s fears by suggesting a short-term trial to determine the efficacy of a vegetarian diet.

“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” – Daniel 1:12-13 NLT

The eunuch agreed to conduct the test and when the ten days were up, the results were all-conclusive; Daniel and his friends had not only survived but “looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king” (Daniel 1:15 NLT).

It should be no surprise that this story has been used to elevate Daniel and his friends to an almost saint-like status. This is where the “Dare to Be a Daniel” idea gets its genesis. Another strange but as-to-be-expected conclusion reached from this account is the once-popular “Daniel Diet.” Sometimes referred to as the Daniel Fast, this weight-loss program features a 10 to 21-day vegan diet plan based on minimally processed, plant-based foods, and the avoidance of all animal products, caffeine, and alcohol. While there is nothing inherently wrong with a vegetarian diet, that is not the point of this story. There is also nothing wrong with emphasizing Daniel’s faithfulness and refusal to compromise his convictions. But, once again, that is not the primary point of the story.

God was at work. The very fact that Daniel and his friends were in Babylon was the result of God’s sovereign will. The fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians and the deportation of its citizens had all been part of His plan. Nebuchadnezzar had not chosen these young men, God had because He had a plan to use them to accomplish His will. Their decision to refuse the king’s food was not a result of their willpower, but of God’s Spirit moving in their hearts.

When the text states that “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself ” (Daniel 1:8 ESV), it attempts to convey more than just a cognitive decision on Daniel’s part. He didn’t use logic to reach his conclusion; it was a matter of the heart. The Hebrew could be translated as “he made up his mind” (NET Bible), or better yet, “he placed on his heart.”  This was a God-directed decision on Daniel’s part, and it was necessary so that Daniel and his friends could serve as God’s secret agents operating within the enemy camp. Yahweh had work for these young men to do and He was going to protect them and provide for them all along the way.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.