OET interlinear DAN 1:1

1:1a

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah: This phrase tells when the events of this chapter happened. The third year of the reign of Jehoiakim was 605 B.C.The Babylonian Chronicles record that in 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar won a battle at Carchemish and defeated the whole “region of Hamath” (northern Syria). He then conquered all the “Hatti country.” It was probably at that time that Judah and Jerusalem came under Nebuchadnezzar’s control. During that same year Nebuchadnezzar’s father died, and he returned to Babylon and became king in his father’s place. In those days people dated events by referring to the kings who were ruling at that time. You should translate according to this custom. For example:

During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah (NLT)

In the third year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah (CEV)

In the third year: Jehoiakim had ruled over Judah for more than two full years when the Babylonian army came and surrounded the city of Jerusalem.Jehoiakim’s father Josiah had died at the battle of Megiddo in 609 B.C. Jehoahaz became king in his place. Three months later, the Egyptians decided to make Jehoiakim the king of Judah in the place of Jehoahaz. Daniel 1:1 says that the story began in the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign. However Jeremiah 25:1, 9 and 46:2 indicate that Nebuchadnezzar became king in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign. The difference between these two texts is probably due to the different ways people counted the first year a king began to reign.In Egypt and Palestine, the months between the king’s accession to the throne and the following New Year were counted as “year one.” In Babylonia, the months between the king’s accession to the throne until the New Year were not counted as part of the first year. The first year of a king’s reign started at the New Year. (See Lucas, pp. 50–51.) So Daniel may have been following the Babylonian way of counting, while Jeremiah followed the Palestinian way of counting.

the reign: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as reign refers to the period of time when a king rules. In some languages it may be natural to translate this using a verb. For example:

Jehoiakim reigned/ruled over Judah

Jehoiakim king of Judah: In some languages it may be natural to place Jehoiakim’s title before his name. For example:

King Jehoiakim, the ruler of Judah

the king of Judah, Jehoiakim

Jehoiakim is also mentioned in 2 Kings 23:34–24:6 and 2 Chronicles 36:4–8. See how his name is spelled there. He had a son named Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:8 and 2 Chronicles 36:9). You should be careful how you spell these two names so that people do not confuse them.

king: The title king normally refers to the hereditary ruler of a country. If your culture is not familiar with the word king, you may have to use a different word. In some languages people use the word “chief” or “big man” to describe a person who fills this role.

Judah: The tribe of Judah was originally one of the twelve tribes that had formed the united kingdom of Israel. But several hundred years before, Judah and another tribe (Benjamin) had left the united kingdom and formed a new kingdom with their own king. Their kingdom was called Judah.

1:1b

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem: The text implies that Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem with his army in order to attack it. In some languages it may be natural to indicate this by saying:

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem with his army

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of Babylonia from 605 to 562 B.C. Babylonia was a large nation to the east of Israel. In some languages it may be natural to put the king’s title before his name. For example:

the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar: The name Nebuchadnezzar also occurs in 2 Kings 24:1, Ezra 1:7, Esther 2:6, and Jeremiah 21:2. If you have translated any of those books, translate it as you did there.

king of Babylon: Babylon was the capital city of Babylonia and the Babylonian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar ruled from the city of Babylon over the whole of Babylonia. In some languages it may be more natural to name the country rather than the city. For example:

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia (GNT)

Both terms, Babylon and Babylonia, are correct. Sometimes, as here, people used the name of the city as a political term to refer to the whole country. In many cases it will be best to use the same name that the majority language translation uses.

The ancient land of Babylonia included the southern part of the modern country called Iraq. This land extended approximately from the city Baghdad in the north to the city of Basra in the south. In the west, it extended approximately to the modern border of Saudi Arabia. On the east, it bordered the modern country of Iran. You may want to include a map to help your readers locate this ancient country.

The ancient city of Babylon was located in what is today the suburbs of the city of Baghdad. This is where Nebuchadnezzar built his palace. The city had many temples and beautiful gardens. The city was so beautiful that people called it one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Babylon: In the Hebrew language, Babylon is called Babel. The Bible mentions Babel in Genesis 10:10 and 11:9, when the people of the east tried to build a tower that would reach up to heaven. The name of the city Babylon also occurs in Psalm 137:1. The name of the country Babylonia occurs in Joshua 7:21 and Isaiah 11:11.

came to Jerusalem: Jerusalem was the capital city of the kingdom of Judah. In some languages it may be necessary to make this information explicit in some way. There are at least two options:

• Supply this information in the text. For example:

  Nebuchadnezzar came to the capital city of Jerusalem

• Include the information in a footnote or book introduction.

Use the appropriate option for your language situation.

The city of Jerusalem is mentioned many times in the Bible. See how you referred to it in Psalm 51:18, Mark 1:5, Luke 2:22, or John 1:19.

1:1c

besieged it: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as besieged means “encircled, blockaded.” In those days, armies often surrounded a city before they attacked it. In this way they could stop the people in the city from getting food and supplies. They wanted the people to surrender without fighting. Other ways to translate this include:

surrounded it with his army (NCV)

laid siege (NET)

surrounded it in order to make the inhabitants surrenderTranslator’s Handbook on Daniel.

In some languages it may not be necessary to use two separate verbs (“came” and besieged) to describe this action. It may be more natural to use just one. For example:

Nebuchadnezzar and his armies besieged Jerusalem.