Age of Daniel at Captivity in Babylonian History
Daniel was likely a teenager, possibly between 13 and 17 years old, when he was taken captive to Babylon during the first deportation of Jews by Nebuchadnezzar [4]. This event occurred in the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign, around 604 BCE [1, 6, 7]. While Jeremiah dates this event to Jehoiakim's fourth year, Daniel's account may exclude an incomplete year, leading to the difference in numbering [6].
Daniel's capture was part of Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem, which resulted in the city's temporary fall and the removal of select individuals and temple treasures to Babylon [7, 8]. Daniel is described as being of royal or noble descent and possessing notable personal qualities [1, 4]. He was among a group of young men chosen for their intelligence, appearance, and potential to serve in the king's palace [1]. These youths were to undergo three years of training in the language and literature of the Chaldeans before entering the king's service [8].
The Book of Daniel itself is divided into two main parts: the first six chapters are primarily historical, detailing events during the Captivity, while the latter six are largely prophetic [2]. Daniel is considered a significant figure in this period, providing a continuous narrative for the time of the Babylonian exile [2].
Later in his life, Daniel continued to serve in prominent positions. By the time Darius the Mede received the kingdom, Daniel was approximately 80 to 85 years old [3, 5]. This indicates a long and distinguished career in the Babylonian and later Persian courts, spanning many decades after his initial captivity [5, 10]. He lived to see the first year of Cyrus, marking the end of the Babylonian captivity, and is mentioned as still living in the third year of Cyrus [9, 10].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Daniel — (judgment of God). + The second son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess. (1 Chronicles 3:1) In (2 Samuel 3:3) he is called Chileab. (B.C. about 1051.) + The fourth of 'the greater prophets." Nothing is known of his parentage or family. He appears, however, to have been of royal or noble descent, (Daniel 1:3) and to have possessed considerable personal endowments. (Daniel 1:4) He was taken to Babylon in "the third year of Jehoiakim" (B.C. 604), and trained for the king's service. He was divinely supported in his resolve to abstain from the "king's meat" for f”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Daniel, Book of — Is ranked by the Jews in that division of their Bible called the Hagiographa (Heb. Khethubim). (See [144]BIBLE.) It consists of two distinct parts. The first part, consisting of the first six chapters, is chiefly historical; and the second part, consisting of the remaining six chapters, is chiefly prophetical. The historical part of the book treats of the period of the Captivity. Daniel is "the historian of the Captivity, the writer who alone furnishes any series of events for that dark and dismal period during which the harp of Israel hung on the t”
- Daniel “Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. -- Daniel 5:31”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Daniel — God is my judge, or judge of God. (1.) David's second son, "born unto him in Hebron, of Abigail the Carmelitess" (1 Chr. 3:1). He is called also Chileab (2 Sam. 3:3). (2.) One of the four great prophets, although he is not once spoken of in the Old Testament as a prophet. His life and prophecies are recorded in the Book of Daniel. He was descended from one of the noble families of Judah (Dan. 1:3), and was probably born in Jerusalem about B.C. 623, during the reign of Josiah. At the first deportation of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar (the kingdom of Israel had c”
- Daniel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Daniel 6:3: 6:3-5 Daniel’s integrity was unassailable and his abilities unmatched, so the envious administrators found fault with Daniel’s strongest point, his faithful worship of God. Daniel was about 80~85 years old at this time. He had led an exemplary life in Babylon. 6:3 the king made plans to place him over the entire empire: Cp. 2:48-49; 3:30; Gen 41:40-43.”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 1 (introduction): THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY BEGINS; DANIEL'S EDUCATION AT BABYLON, &C. (Dan. 1:1-21) third year--compare Jer 25:1, "the fourth year; Jehoiakim came to the throne at the end of the year, which Jeremiah reckons as the first year, but which Daniel leaves out of count, being an incomplete year: thus, in Jeremiah, it is "the fourth year"; in Daniel, "the third" [JAHN]. However, Jeremiah (Jer 25:1; Jer 46:2) merely says, the fourth year of Jehoiakim coincided with the first of Nebuchadnezzar, when the latter conquered the Egyptians at Carchemish; n”
- Daniel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Daniel 1:1: We have in these verses an account, I. Of the first descent which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, made upon Judah and Jerusalem, in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, and his success in that expedition (Dan 1:1, Dan 1:2.): He besieged Jerusalem, soon made himself master of it, seized the king, took whom he pleased and what he pleased away with him, and then left Jehoiakim to reign as tributary to him, which he did about eight years longer, but then rebelled, and it was his ruin. Now from this first captivity most interpreters”
- Daniel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Daniel 1 (introduction): This chapter begins with an account of the first captivity of the Jews, in the times of Jehoiakim; of which captivity Daniel was one, and it is mentioned on his account, Dan 1:1, who, with others, were selected by the order of the king of Babylon, to be educated in the learning of the Chaldeans, and to be maintained at his expense, in order to be his ministers, Dan 1:3, but Daniel and his three companions refused the king's meat and wine, lest they should be defiled; in which they were indulged by their governor, after trial being made, that they were fair”
- Daniel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Daniel 10:1: In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia,.... Not of his being king of Persia only, but of the Medopersian empire, after he had subdued the Babylonian empire, and annexed it to his dominions; and this is not to be reckoned from the time of his taking Babylon, and putting the government of it into the hands of his uncle Darius, with whom he jointly reigned; but from the time of his uncle's death, when he was sole monarch of the whole empire: he reigned thirty years, as Cicero (t), from a Persian writer, relates; which is to be reckoned from the time of his being appoi”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 1:21: Daniel continued . . . unto . . . first year of Cyrus-- (Ch2 36:22; Ezr 1:1). Not that he did not continue beyond that year, but the expression is designed to mark the fact that he who was one of the first captives taken to Babylon, lived to see the end of the captivity. See my Introduction, "SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY." In Dan 10:1 he is mentioned as living "in the third year of Cyrus." See Margin Note, on the use of "till" (Psa 110:1, Psa 112:8). Next: Daniel Chapter 2”