The story of Daniel starts from the Prophecy of Isaiah, when King Hezekiah, out of his pride, showed everything he had to the envoy from Babylon. The pride act of Hezekiah was severely condemned, and the prophet Isaiah foretold the future damage the king of Babylon would cause to Judah. The historical background for the book of Daniel starts 110 years before the incidents took place.
The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.
And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. – 2 Kings 20:17,18
When Hezekiah died, his son Manasseh undid all the good work he had done by ruling Judah wickedly for the next 55 years. He was followed by Amon for a brief period, and then Josiah, son of Amon, became king of Judah at the age of eight.
Josiah ruled the kingdom for the next thirty-one years. He renewed the covenant with God and celebrated Passover. During his time, the Egyptian king Pharoh Neco II was marching towards the Euphrates for the battle of Carchemish.
King Josiah, without consulting God, picked up a war with Neco II, though there was no quarrel between them.
But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you. 2 Chronicles 35:21,22
Josiah and Neco II met in the battle of Meggido (BC 609), and Josiah was killed. The death of Josiah accelerated the fall of Judah. Though delayed due to the battle of Meggido, Neco II joined the Assyrian king in the battle of Carchemish (BC 605), where he took the full-blow attack of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. After losing the battle of Carchemish, Neco II retreated.
After the death of Josiah, Jehoahaz became king of Judah. After three months of Jehoahaz’s rule, Neco II replaced him with Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar II came against Judah and defeated Jehoiakim.
The prophecy of Isaiah given to King Hezekiah was fulfilled in BC 605 by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. Daniel and his friends were exiled to Babylon during this time. The prophecy of Isaiah foretold to King Hezekiah was fulfilled after approximately 110 years.
He continued attacking Judah twice, in BC 597 and BC 586. In BC 586, during the reign of Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple, the walls of Jerusalem, and everything valuable in Jerusalem.
Learning for our life:
Jesus said, Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. – Matthew 24:35.
God’s words will not go away, and his prophecies will not fail. He is not a God who changes his mind. His convents do not change. His promises will not fail us. We can boldly put trust in Him. He will lead us and guide us.
The Bible says, Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10.
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