Reading for May 22nd

TALES CONCERNING DANIEL IN EXILE Chs. 1-6: The tales establish Daniel's credibility as a righteous Jew whose God-given wisdom enables him to overcome the challenges of exile and to point to God's redemption of Jews from foreign domination. Read Daniel 1.1-2 In 1.1-21: Four young Jews in the Babylonian court. This tale establishes the thme of adherence to Jewish identity and practice by pointing to the sucess, wisdom, and good health of four young Jewish men who decline the delicacies and wine of the Babylonian king in order to obeserve Jewish dietary laws. In verses 1-2: The third year of the reign of King Jehiakim was 606 BCE. Nebuchadnezzar assumed the throne of Babylon in 605 BCE, after he defeated Egypt and brought Judah under his rule. He besieged Jerusalem in 597 BCE during the reign of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24.1-16) and again in 587 BCE duringthe regency of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25.1-7). Shinar: The location of Babylon (Gen 10.10; 11.2; Zech 5.11). Comments or Questions..