A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                 FAR FROM HOME PART II

"I, Daniel, and my three friends were taken to the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.... We were taken there as prisoners from Jerusalem.... We did not know why we were taken to the palace.... But we soon found out.... We were to learn the language and literature of the Babylonians.... Our teacher is the chief of the court officials.... His name is Ashpena.... I have never needed to learn the Babylonian language and literature.... That is because I am a Hebrew... I speak, therefore, the Hebrew language... And so do my three friends.... We are all Hebrews.... And we all speak the Hebrew language... But we are no longer in Jerusalem.... I know, though, that I will remain a Hebrew no matter what language I will have to speak.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Daniel and his friends were taken to the palace where they were to be taught the Babylonian language and literature...


             ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                            FAR FROM HOME PART II

Daniel, having been taken to Babylon from Jerusalem together with his three friends, now finds himself among a people who speak a foreign language, whose customs are foreign to him and whose gods are foreign gods. Furthermore, he is not allowed to choose his education system. It is chosen for him by the king.And that is for one purpose only; that Daniel and those with him will forget that they are Hebrew people who serve the Hebrew God as you can read in Daniel 1:3-4

Then the king ordered Ashpena, the chief of the court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites form the royal family and the nobility - young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand. and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and the literature of the Babylonians.

It seems that Daniel accepts all these changes. After all, he is a prisoner of the Babylonian king so what can he do as a prisoner? He knows very well that if king Nebuchadnezzar is not pleased with his behaviour he can order for Daniel's head to be cut off. So it makes sense for Daniel to play it safe and to just go along for nothing is worth losing his life over, or is it....?