Daniel 1:2 kjv

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

Daniel 1:2 nkjv

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

Daniel 1:2 niv

And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

Daniel 1:2 esv

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.

Daniel 1:2 nlt

The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.

Daniel 1 verses

Daniel 1 2 Meaning

Daniel 1:2 details the beginning of Judah's exile, stating that "the Lord gave" Jehoiakim, King of Judah, along with some of the sacred vessels from God's house, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. These precious items were then transported to the land of Shinar, specifically to the temple and treasure house of Nebuchadnezzar's deity. This verse underscores God's sovereignty over all human rulers and nations, emphasizing that even seemingly disastrous events, like the destruction and plundering of His temple, are ultimately under His divine permission and direction, serving as a judgment against Judah's sin and an affirmation of His ultimate authority.

Daniel 1 2 Context

Daniel 1:2 immediately follows Daniel 1:1, which establishes the precise historical setting: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it." Verse 2 then elaborates on the outcome of this siege, emphasizing the divine hand behind Nebuchadnezzar's success. This event, occurring around 605 BC, marks the first of three major deportations of Jews to Babylon, beginning the 70-year period of Babylonian captivity prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer 25:11-12, Jer 29:10). The immediate context shows Jerusalem's fall not merely as a military defeat, but as God's judgment upon His people due to their idolatry and unfaithfulness. The capturing of King Jehoiakim and the removal of sacred temple vessels signified the temporary subjugation of Judah and the perceived triumph of Babylon's gods over Yahweh in the ancient Near Eastern worldview. However, the foundational assertion "the Lord gave" profoundly reshapes this narrative, preparing the reader for Daniel's message of Yahweh's ultimate supremacy even in exile.

Daniel 1 2 Word analysis

• And the Lord (Adonai/YHWH): Refers to the God of Israel. The immediate use of "the Lord" at the verse's opening asserts divine causality. This choice of Adonai (or implying YHWH through narrative context) underscores that the following events are not random acts of war but manifestations of His will and judgment. It positions God as the primary actor, even when pagan kings are the visible agents.

• gave (natan - נתן): Hebrew verb meaning 'to give,' 'to place,' 'to deliver.' This is a critical theological term here. It means God intentionally, purposefully, delivered Jehoiakim and the vessels. It implies sovereignty and control, refuting any idea that Judah's defeat was due to Babylon's gods being stronger than Yahweh. God orchestrates, allows, and directs historical events, including His people's judgment.

• into his hand (b'yado - בידו): 'into his power/control.' The 'his' refers to Nebuchadnezzar. It specifies the recipient of the divine "giving." Nebuchadnezzar is the human agent, but God is the ultimate authority empowering his actions. This phrase shows delegated authority, not independent triumph.

• Jehoiakim (Yehoiakim - יְהוֹיָקִים): King of Judah from 609 to 598 BC. His reign was marked by wickedness, opposition to Jeremiah's prophecies, and disloyalty to both Egypt and Babylon. His surrender or capture, though details vary between historical accounts and Scripture (2 Chron 36:6 suggests capture for deportation, Jer 22:19 predicts a shameful burial), confirms his subjection under God's judgment.

• king of Judah (melekh yehudah - מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה): Identifies Jehoiakim's legitimate (but ultimately subject) authority over the Southern Kingdom. This underscores that God delivered not just an individual, but the divinely established king of His chosen people, signifying a national judgment.

• with part of the vessels (u'miktsat kley - וּמִקְצָת כְּלֵי): Indicates that not all vessels were taken at this first deportation (contrast 2 Kgs 24:13; 25:13-17 which list more extensive removal in subsequent sieges). This suggests a graduated judgment, and also a calculated move to demoralize Judah without completely desecrating the Temple at once.

• of the house of God (bet ha'Elohim - בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים): Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, Yahweh's dwelling place. These were sacred vessels used in divine worship, signifying the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Their removal was not merely an act of plunder but a profound desecration and an attack on the very core of Israelite identity and worship, and Yahweh's honor.

• which he carried (hevia - הֵבִיא): The he refers to Nebuchadnezzar, emphasizing his direct action in transporting the vessels. This highlights the enemy's role as the instrument of carrying out God's judgment.

• into the land of Shinar (eretz shin'ar - אֶרֶץ שִׁנְעָר): The ancient name for Babylonia (modern southern Mesopotamia), associated with the Tower of Babel (Gen 10:10, 11:2). This is symbolically significant: it represents humanity's rebellious origins against God, and now becomes the place of Israel's punishment, a center of idolatry.

• to the house of his god (bet elohav - בֵּית אֱלֹהָיו): The temple of Nebuchadnezzar's patron deity, most likely Marduk (also known as Bel). This was a deliberate act by the Babylonians to assert the supremacy of their god over the God of Israel. From their perspective, it proved Marduk was more powerful as His temple now housed the defeated God's sacred implements as spoils of war.

• and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god (ve'et hakelim hevi la'bet otzar elohav - וְאֶת הַכֵּלִים הֵבִיא לְבֵית אוֹצַר אֱלֹהָיו): Reiteration emphasizes the final resting place. The "treasure house" (a storeroom or dedicated space for valuable items) signifies complete assimilation into the pagan temple's assets, intended to signify Marduk's permanent triumph and superior wealth. However, the very premise "the Lord gave" renders this 'triumph' as orchestrated by the very God they intended to humiliate.

Daniel 1 2 Bonus section

The specific dating "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim" (Dan 1:1) is crucial for aligning this event with known historical records, approximately 605 BC. This marked Nebuchadnezzar's first invasion of Judah during his co-regency with his father Nabopolassar, preceding his official ascension. The fact that the initial spoils were only "part of the vessels" highlights that this was not a complete destruction of the temple at this stage; subsequent deportations and destructions would occur (597 BC and 586 BC), culminating in the temple's complete demolition. The "house of his god" refers to a temple dedicated to one of the major Babylonian deities, likely Marduk (the chief god of Babylon, also called Bel), or perhaps his son Nabu. The Babylonians believed that bringing the defeated god's items into their god's temple transferred the power of the conquered deity to their own, signifying an absolute religious and political victory. However, the book of Daniel emphatically refutes this, demonstrating Yahweh's ultimate control over all earthly powers and even pagan deities, turning the tables on their perceived triumph into a demonstration of His power through judgment and preservation.

Daniel 1 2 Commentary

Daniel 1:2 immediately confronts the prevailing ancient Near Eastern worldview. In that context, when one nation conquered another, it was believed their gods had triumphed over the defeated nation's deity. The practice of carrying away sacred temple artifacts signified the superior power of the victor's god, who would then house them in his own temple as spoils. However, the Danielic narrative completely subverts this perspective by asserting that "the Lord gave" Jehoiakim and the sacred vessels into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. This declarative statement unequivocally establishes God's absolute sovereignty. The Babylonians may have thought they were demonstrating Marduk's supremacy, but Daniel reveals that they were merely instruments in Yahweh's divine plan of judgment upon His disobedient people (Judah) and ultimate revelation of His power. The desecration of the Temple vessels by placing them in a pagan temple sets up a theological tension that will be fully explored in later chapters, particularly in Daniel 5 where Belshazzar's sacrilegious use of these same vessels leads to his swift judgment. This opening verse is foundational, explaining the very premise of Daniel's situation in Babylon and why the divine interventions that follow are entirely consistent with Yahweh's active rule over history.