John Trapp on Daniel 1:4

Ver. 4. Children in whom was no blemiſh] Such as were Joſeph, David, Artaxerxes Longimanus, Germanicus, and others, in whom beauty proved to be the flower of virtue, as Chryſippus called it. Of Galba the Emperour One ſaid, that his good wit dwelt in an ill houſe, like an excellent inſtrument in a bad caſe: whereas Vatinius the Roman was not more misſhapen in body then in mind. The Heathens alſo adviſe us to beware of thoſe whom Nature hath ſet a mark upon.

And skilful in all wiſdom] i. e. Ingenious and induſtrious, apt and able to receive, and improve inſtruction. Tacitus telleth us, that in the times of Veſpatian and Domitian, the children of the Brittiſh Nobles were ſo witty and well-bred, that the Romans infinitely admired them, for the debonnaireneſſe of their natures,In vit. Jul. Agrico. preferring the wits of the Brittaines, before the ſtudy of the Gaules. And they are called Angli quaſi Angeli, ſaid Gregory the Great, concerning the Engliſh boys preſented to him.

And ſuch as had ability in them] Daniel and his three friends are thought by ſome to have been bred under the Prophet Jeremy, and to have begun to Prophecy ſome years before Ezekiel.

To ſtand in the Kings Palace] i. e. To do him ſervice. This is that which learned men ſhould aim at in their ſtudies: viz. to lay forth themſelves for the publike g[illegible: 1 letter]od. Paulùm ſepultae diſtat inertiae Celata virtus. Horat.

And whom they might teach the learning] Heb. the Book, that is, the Art of Grammar, ſay ſome: But why not other Arts alſo learned by books, thoſe mutemaſters? yet not ſo well (the Mathematickes eſpecially) without a Teacher. Joſeph Scaliger who was [non-Latin text not transcribed], ſelf-taught, and yet proved ſo great a ſcholar, is by One called daemonium hominis, & miraculum naturae, more then a man, even a very miracle.

And the tongue of the Chaldee] Which was not therefore the ſame with the Hebrew, but a different dialect, or daughter of it. The moſt ancient tongue was the Hebrew, preſerved in Hebers family. The Hebrews and Chaldees had one common Anceſtour, viz. Arphaxad: and Abraham, being born in Chaldea, could ſpeak both Languages: but ſo could not Daniel and his fellows, till they were taught. Good letters and languages are to be taught in Schools and Univerſities; Hebrew, Greek, and Latin eſpecially, the dignity and ſtudy whereof Chriſt would have to be ever kept a foot in his Church, as appeareth by that inſcription (not without a Providence) ſet upon his croſſe in thoſe three tongues, Joh. 19.19, 20.