Single lesson

Daniel and His Friends Choose Faithfulness

Daniel 1:1–21

In this lesson, children hear how Daniel and his friends were taken into the king’s training programme, faced a choice about food, and were found especially wise. The passage helps students trace the story and notice both human choices and God’s action.

6–10 years30 minutes

Before you teach

Daniel 1:1–21 begins when Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem and some people from Judah are taken to Babylon. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are chosen for training in the king’s palace. The account follows what was ordered for them, what Daniel requested, and what happened at the end of the testing and training.

Learning aim

Students will be able to retell the sequence of Daniel 1:1–21, name Daniel’s choice, and identify ways the passage says God acted.

Welcome: Spot the big changes

4 min

Begin by telling children they will hear about four young men from Judah in a new place with new training and new names. Ask them to listen for changes in the story and for one important choice Daniel makes. Explain that the passage starts with Jerusalem under Babylon’s power and items from God’s house taken to Babylon.

Daniel 1:1, Daniel 1:2, Daniel 1:6, Daniel 1:7

Read and explain: Chosen for the king’s training

7 min

Read Daniel 1:3–7. Explain that these youths were selected from Israel and taught the learning and language of the Chaldeans. The king also assigned daily food and wine for three years. Point out the four names from Judah, then the new names given to them. This helps children follow who is in the account.

Daniel 1:3, Daniel 1:4, Daniel 1:5, Daniel 1:6, Daniel 1:7

Discuss: Daniel’s careful request

7 min

Read Daniel 1:8–16. Explain that Daniel decided not to defile himself with the king’s food and wine, so he made a request. God gave Daniel favour with the official, yet the official was afraid of the king. Daniel then suggested a ten-day test with vegetables and water. At the end, the four appeared healthier, so their food was changed.

Daniel 1:8, Daniel 1:9, Daniel 1:10, Daniel 1:12, Daniel 1:14, Daniel 1:15, Daniel 1:16

Make and respond: Sequence the account

8 min

Children work together to place key story moments in order: Jerusalem besieged, youths chosen, new names given, Daniel’s request, ten-day test, healthier appearance, God giving knowledge, and the king finding the four outstanding. As they order the cards, ask which actions belong to people in the passage and which actions the text says God did.

Daniel 1:1, Daniel 1:6, Daniel 1:7, Daniel 1:8, Daniel 1:14, Daniel 1:15, Daniel 1:17, Daniel 1:20

Closing: What the king found, and what God gave

4 min

Read Daniel 1:17–21. Emphasise that God gave the four knowledge and skill, and Daniel understanding in visions and dreams. When they were brought before Nebuchadnezzar, no one was found like them, and the king found them ten times better in wisdom and understanding. Finish by reviewing the lesson goal together.

Daniel 1:17, Daniel 1:18, Daniel 1:19, Daniel 1:20, Daniel 1:21

Questions to explore

What choice did Daniel make about the king’s food and drink?

Look at the words 'purposed in his heart' and 'requested' to describe both his decision and the way he responded.

Daniel 1:8

Why was the prince of the eunuchs worried about Daniel’s request?

Use the verse that explains his fear of the king and his concern about how the youths might look.

Daniel 1:10

What does this passage say God gave to Daniel and his three friends?

Answer from the verse that names knowledge, skill, wisdom, and Daniel’s understanding.

Daniel 1:17

Make, think or respond

Daniel 1 Sequence Cards

What you’ll need

plain paper or card
pencils or markers
scissors
Bible

Try it together

Write or draw eight moments from Daniel 1 on separate cards: Jerusalem besieged, selected youths, new names, Daniel’s request, ten-day test, healthier result, God gave knowledge, king found them outstanding.
Mix the cards and let children work in pairs or small groups to place them in order.
Read the matching verses aloud as children check each card.
Ask children to put a star on cards that show a human choice and a circle on cards that show what God did.

This activity helps children sequence Daniel 1:1–21 and notice both the choices in the account and the ways the passage says God acted.

Adapt for your group

For younger children, reduce the sequence to four cards and use simple drawings instead of full phrases.
For older or confident readers, ask them to match each card with the exact verse number from Daniel 1.

An optional closing prayer

'God, thank you for this account about Daniel and his friends. Please help us listen carefully to your word and learn from their choices and from what you did. Amen.'

Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic

Daniel 1

¹ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

² The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

³ The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles:

⁴ youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding science, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.

⁵ The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years, that at its end they should stand before the king.

⁶ Now among these of the children of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

⁷ The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

⁸ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

⁹ Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.

¹⁰ The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”

¹¹ Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

¹² “Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.

¹³ Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king’s delicacies; and as you see, deal with your servants.”

¹⁴ So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer and they were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s delicacies.

¹⁶ So the steward took away their delicacies and the wine that they were given to drink, and gave them vegetables.

¹⁷ Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

¹⁸ At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

¹⁹ The king talked with them; and among them all was found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.

²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.

²¹ Daniel continued even to the first year of King Cyrus.

World English Bible Classic. Public domain.