The Meaning of Daniel 1:2 Explained

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.

YLT: and the Lord giveth into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the house of God, and he bringeth them in to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he hath brought in to the treasure-house of his god.

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Daniel 1:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Daniel wrote that the Lord was responsible for Nebuchadnezzar"s success in defeating Jehoiakim. He viewed God as sovereignly controlling the past affairs of His chosen people (cf. Ephesians 1:4). As the book unfolds, this appreciation for God"s sovereignty continues as Daniel described God"s future dealings with the Jews and the Gentiles.
Daniel used the name "Shinar" to describe Babylon ( Daniel 1:2). Shinar is a biblical name for Babylon that often connotes a place hostile to God and faith in God (cf. Genesis 10:10; Genesis 11:2; Genesis 14:1; Isaiah 11:11 [1]; Zechariah 5:11 [1]). Carrying off the vessels from a conquered people"s temple was a way that ancient Near Eastern kings expressed their victorious sovereignty over that nation, particularly its gods (cf. Daniel 5:3-4). Therefore Daniel began this book by reminding his readers that it was not only Israel"s king who suffered defeat at Nebuchadnezzar"s hands, but also Yahweh had experienced humiliation. He then proceeded to vindicate Yahweh with all that follows.

Context Summary

Daniel 1:1-21 - Moral Courage Rewarded
These young men of noble Jewish families were brought to Babylon to receive education for the civil service. Their names were altered to break, so far as possible, their connection with the past. The food provided probably contravened Leviticus 3:17. According to the usual custom it had been presented before an idol, 1 Corinthians 8:10. Note those words: Daniel purposed in his heart. It is all important to resolve in one's heart that certain things are not possible for us. Too many of us have a secret reserve. We barricade the front door but leave the back door on the latch. We ought to realize the extent to which Paul referred when he said, "dead to sin." God always cooperates with His servants when they are true to Him. He brought Daniel into favor; He gave him skill; He caused his face and that of his three friends, to bear the hue of health. Let us trust Him to do His part! This is the secret of continuance, Daniel 1:21. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 1

1  Jehoiakim's captivity
3  Ashpenaz takes Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
8  They refusing the king's portion do prosper with pulse and water
17  Their proficiency in wisdom

What do the individual words in Daniel 1:2 mean?

And gave the Lord into his hand - Jehoiakim king of Judah and with some of the articles of the house of God and which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god and the articles he brought into house of the treasure his god
וַיִּתֵּן֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י בְּיָד֜וֹ אֶת־ יְהוֹיָקִ֣ים מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֗ה וּמִקְצָת֙ כְּלֵ֣י בֵית־ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיְבִיאֵ֥ם אֶֽרֶץ־ שִׁנְעָ֖ר בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהָ֑יו וְאֶת־ הַכֵּלִ֣ים הֵבִ֔יא בֵּ֖ית אוֹצַ֥ר אֱלֹהָֽיו

וַיִּתֵּן֩  And  gave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֲדֹנָ֨י  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
בְּיָד֜וֹ  into  his  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוֹיָקִ֣ים  Jehoiakim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹויָקִים 
Sense: son of Josiah and the third from the last king of Judah; subject vassel of Nebuchadnezzar who reigned for years before he died a violent death either in combat or by the hands of his own subjects.
מֶֽלֶךְ־  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יְהוּדָ֗ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וּמִקְצָת֙  and  with  some 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: קְצָת  
Sense: end, part.
כְּלֵ֣י  of  the  articles 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: כְּלִי  
Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.
בֵית־  of  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וַיְבִיאֵ֥ם  and  which  he  carried 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶֽרֶץ־  into  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
שִׁנְעָ֖ר  of  Shinar 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׁנְעָר  
Sense: the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea.
בֵּ֣ית  to  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֱלֹהָ֑יו  of  his  god 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הַכֵּלִ֣ים  the  articles 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּלִי  
Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.
הֵבִ֔יא  he  brought 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בֵּ֖ית  into  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אוֹצַ֥ר  of  the  treasure 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹוצָר  
Sense: treasure, storehouse.
אֱלֹהָֽיו  his  god 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).