Was Daniel a eunuch?

Brian30755 · Aug 4, 2005

In studying for a Sunday School lesson from the book of Daniel (Chapter 1), I've came across a couple of commentaries that suggest that Daniel was a eunuch.

Example:

Mention of the "prince of the eunuchs" as the one in charge of training the young male exiles strongly suggests they were made to be eunuchs. However, some of the more recent translations of the Bible identify the prince of the eunuchs simply as "chief of the officials of the king." In contrast to this, Josephus, the respected first-century Jewish historian, believed Daniel and the other males deported with him were required by the Babylonians to be made eunuchs by surgery (by castration). This would have been consistent with the Babylonians' policy that these Jewish males, potential future leaders of Judah, not have offspring.

The young male exiles were stripped of their Jewish identity by being made eunuchs, a cause for perpetual separation from the congregation of Israel (Deuteronomy 23:1), and by being deprived of their Hebrew names and given pagan Chaldean names.
Click to expand...

Have you ever heard this? Do you believe that Daniel was castrated? I'm certainly no Bible scholar, but I had never heard that Daniel was made to be a eunuch.

Bro Tony · Aug 4, 2005

It was a common practice when the king would bring young men into his palace with his wives, concubines and daughters. Daniel seems to place himself initially under the control of the captian of eunichs, which would indicate that he along with Shad, Mesh, Aben were made eunichs.

Bro Tony

Was Daniel a eunuch?

Brian30755 New Member

Bro Tony New Member

Useful Searches

Was Daniel a eunuch?

Brian30755 New Member

Bro Tony New Member