Stuff Michael Meeks is doing

Deportation - isolation; very strict requirements; young, handsome, no defects, extremely able etc. the very best. Separated, given foster parents.

Based on later Persian analogies, 14 years old when separated, never again would he see his parents; never mentioned in the book. The whole support system, family, friends, faith etc. to make him maximally vulnerable to Babylonian re-programming.

Daniel 1000 miles to the East coming to Babylon ('Gateway to God'), coming to an amazing city. Meant to be a paradise of God, the university something like a seminary. The river ran around the city, and through it allowing fast transport.

A triple wall fortification, the outer wall; 25ft thick - 2 chariots could pass easily on the road at it's top.

Entering the city, a 75ft wide road; through the Ishcarr gate adorned with blue enamel bricks and gold. Imagine how this must have looked to someone coming from Jerusalem; architecturally breathtaking.

Inside the city - the 7 stage ziggurat; reaching an elevation of 300ft - a sky-scraper of the ancient world. at the top a 'helipad' where 'Marduk' was supposed to land and come down the steps to bless the people.

Of course the hanging gardens, built for Nebuchadnezzar homesick Median wife - a marvel of the ancient world

Most Jews were swept off their feet by the obvious material superiority of the Babylonians: like a plasma TV: I want it! whatever the price.

Fewer than 10% of the jews in captivity wanted to come back later; in spiritual terms the antithesis of Jerusalem.

Nebuchadnezzar carried off the instruments from the temple to the temple of his God (Shinar) - reminiscent of the tower of Babel; their self aggrandising idolatory. Daniel going back where Abraham came from. The same fate awaits this Babylon as met the old one. Yes - God did come down to that tower - but not to bless.

The first step - to isolate him from kith & kin, in a controlled environment, and wowing him with high culture.

Massive re-education; deliberate indoctrination. Ashpanaz was to teach them The language and literature of Babylonians - language an important way to impose culture on other people; eg. the USSR mandatory to learn Russian, William the Conqueror's French in England.

The point of the language - access to the literature; before there was TV, and movies - there was literature before mass culture was formed / re-inforced by these it was by literature.

At the university a curriculum, 30k extant cuniform texts survive from the Babylonian period; you can read it, tons of texts, formulas for divination, sorcery, interpreting unusual flight patterns of birds, astronomical tests, mathematical texts, scientific texts etc.

Impress parocial people - wow these people know so much more than my mum & dad - they must be right about everything.

New names - Daniel -> Belthehasar. On any understanding names are precious to us, people become attached to them. Not something to do with convenience / punctuation - a neferious purpose afoot. Daniel - 'God is my judge' Beltheshazar - incorporates the name of a godess May she preserve the king Mishael - 'who is what God is' Azariah - 'God helps' goes to Abednego - 'servant of Nabu' a God of Babylon. Getting rid of faith confessions in the public square. Similar to Jaques Chiraq's headscarve prohibition; secularism can't abide the profession of real faith.

If his job was to be a pain in the neck; he could have chaffed at his new name, and pretended not to hear it, and be obnoxious in some way; there was a degree of accomodation. But there is a line beyond which he will not pass - he doesn't call himself that. 9 times when he refers to himself, he uses the name Daniel; Gabriel the angel uses his real name too.

There is an accomodating spirit - call me what you want; but my name is Daniel.

The menu - prescribed food, from the King's table. He resolved not to defile himself with the royal food & wine.

• One suggestion is that he was a vegetarian/teetotaller unlikely, it was necessary for the orthodox to eat the passover lamb. Also, Chapter 10 out from the thumb of the king he eat meat and wine.
• Keeping a kosha diet ? true, Babylon relished eating pork, and horse meat - unclean. But, no-where in the bible is wine called unclean; wine of any kind acceptable in theory.

• A better solution: nothing to do with the nutritative value - but who was providing it. The King assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the King's table - vs. 8 the royal food and wine.

  Eating it was feasting at the King's table. Communion - the Lord's supper - eating at his table; his feast. In Biblical world concepts; when you eat with a person at a solemn meal - you make a covenant with them. If you then are disloyal it's an offence against them. cf 11:26.

  Jesus makes the same point - king David had Ahitopel turn against him - Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. The covenant nature of sharing a meal; and it's forshadowing of Judas.

  Daniel drew the line here, at this sign of unqualified submission to the King. Not important where he drew it, but that he did. The stand he takes, is known only to the guard, his 3 buddies and to God. But, 3 times a day, he would be reminded of his refusal; he'd be reminded who his real King is, and who is the real Lord of his life; true to his name: Daniel, he knows who his judge is.

  When David stopped eating at Saul's table (1Sam20) - he saw it as an act of revolt worthy of the death penalty. Ashpanaz doesn't share Daniel's faith, but in his approach to his superiors, he has an absence of stridency; is honest, will not defile himself, God had given him favour in the eyes of Ashpanaz - says try it irenic dealing, choosing his battles well.

  Not afraid of getting contaminated by the literature; in order to use it to convert those whose intent was to convert him. To turn the tables on his opponents in this wonderful battle of truth.