The most distinguished member of the Babylonian Diaspora was Daniel.
Though not a prophet, (76) he was surpassed by none in wisdom, piety,
and good deeds. His firm adherence to Judaism he displayed from his
early youth, when, a page at the royal court, he refused to partake of
the bread, wine, and oil of the heathen, even though the enjoyment of
them was not prohibited by the law. (77) In general, his prominent
position at the court was maintained at the cost of many a hardship,
for he and his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were envied
their distinctions by numerous enemies, who sought to compass their
ruin.
Once they were accused before King Nebuchadnezzar of leading an
unchaste life. The king resolved to order their execution. But Daniel
and his friends mutilated certain parts of their bodies, and so
demonstrated how unfounded were the charges against them. (78)
As a youth Daniel gave evidence of his wisdom, when he convicted two
old sinners of having testified falsely against Susanna, as beautiful
as she was good. Misled by the perjured witnesses, the court had
condemned Susanna to death. Then Daniel, impelled by a higher power,
appeared among the people, proclaimed that wrong had been done, and
demanded that the case be re-opened. And so it was. Daniel himself
cross-questioned the witnesses one after the other. The same questions
were addressed to both, and as the replies did not agree with each
other, the false witnesses stood condemned, and they were made to
suffer the penalty they would have had the court inflict upon their
victim. (79)
Daniel's high position in the state dates from the time when he
interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king said to the astrologers
and magicians: "I know my dream, but I do not want to tell you what it
was, else you will invent anything at all, and pretend it is the
interpretation of the dream. But if you tell me the dream, then I shall
have confidence in your interpretation of it."
After much talk between Nebuchadnezzar and his wise men, they confessed
that the king's wish might have been fulfilled, if but the Temple had
still existed. The high priest at Jerusalem might have revealed the
secret by consulting the Urim and Thummim. At this point the king
became wrathful against his wise men, who had advised him to destroy
the Temple, though they must have known how useful it might become to
the king and the state. He ordered them all to execution. Their life
was saved by Daniel, who recited the king's dream, and gave its
interpretation. (80) The king was so filled with admiration of Daniel's
wisdom that he paid him Divine honors. Daniel, however, refused such
extravagant treatment he did not desire to be the object of
idolatrous veneration. (81) He left Nebuchadnezzar in order to escape
the marks of honor thrust upon him, and repaired to Tiberias, where he
build a canal. Besides, he was charged by the king with commissions, to
bring fodder for cattle to Babylonia and also swine from Alexandria.
(82)