The following post is an exegesis (critical interpretation and explanation) of a section of scripture in Daniel chapter 1.
Bryce Zeigle authored this as a paper in 2010 for his Old Testament class at Wheaton College in Illinois and he has now offered to have it posted here for others to read and reflect upon. Selections have been edited and formatted with his permission to improve readability and overall quality.
Daniel 1:8-16
New International Version (NIV)But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
The story in Daniel chapter 1:8-16 is a short one. Daniel and his friends have recently been taken from Israel into the court of the Babylonian king. Daniel’s refusal to eat the King’s food leads to a competition with the rest of the eunuchs. After 10 days Daniel and his friends—after eating their own food—appear healthier and stronger than their Babylonian contemporaries. The question I pose in the interpretation of this passage:
Why did Daniel (and his friends) refuse to eat the king’s food?
First, I would like to start with the main theme of the book, which should place this passage in context. The book of Daniel is split into two parts. The first part contains stories of how God’s people should live as strangers/exiles in a world that is not their home (1). Specific to chapter one, is the topic of living faithfully to God despite exile and submersion in a culture with pagan influences and propaganda. Understanding these overarching views should help to interpret the illocutions of the text.
There are a variety of incorrect interpretations for why Daniel chose not to eat the king’s food. The first, and most amusing, interpretation is as follows: "Daniel obviously rejected the king’s food and drink because alcohol is bad and he knew about the health benefits from being a vegetarian." This interpretation, although easy to make, is terribly incorrect. The first problem here is that the reader is reading the text without putting it into historical context. The second reason this interpretation is wrong is because in Leviticus chapter 11 and Deuteronomy chapter 14 there is no mention of health in relation to the food laws of Israel. Food laws were for ceremonial cleansing and recognition of God’s holiness and sacred space (2).
Another interpretation for Daniel’s actions is that that he was committed to following the food laws of Israel. There is a strong argument for this; however, I do not believe it is the only reason. It is possible that Daniel was concerned about the food being sacrificed to idols, which was a practice in ancient Babylonian culture (3). Nevertheless, not all the meat would have been bad, nor would all the vegetables come from idol worship. Daniel also refrained from any of the king’s drink, but in the food laws there is no regulation regarding the drinking of “forbidden wine.” Furthermore, the diet which Daniel and his friends adopted is much stricter than Israel’s food laws require. A diet of “Seed” (vegetables) and water is actually very extreme and would not be a reasonable excuse for which to turn down a feast at the king’s table (4).
I believe that a proper interpretation of Daniel’s decision is this: Daniel rejected the temptations of Babylonian life in order to declare (both physically to others and spiritually to himself and God) that Daniel is set apart for God. This is not an act of rebellion against Babylon, because that does not fit the theme of the rest of the chapter. The beginning chapters of Daniel show him rewarded for his faithfulness to God. Only a few verses later, in chapter one, Daniel receives the favor of the king (vs. 19). In chapter 2 he is promoted upon revelation of the King’s dream. In chapter 3 his three friends are saved from a fiery furnace. In all these stories we see faithfulness to God rewarded along with the portrayal of God as being more powerful than Babylon. For this reason, I believe that the illocutions of this story recognize Daniel’s motives for rejecting the king’s food as a way to avoid falling into the temptations of Babylon (lusts of the flesh) and a way to remain set apart (holy) before God.
1. "Daniel, Book of." ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.
2. Walton, John H., and Andrew E. Hill. "Chapter 2." Old Testament Today: a Journey from Original Meaning to Contemporary Significance. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004. Print.
3. Porteous, Norman. Daniel: a Commentary. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1965. Print.
4. Redditt, Paul L. The New Century Bible Commentary: Daniel. Scheffield Academic, 1999. Print.
Reader Response:
+ What do you think was Daniel's main motive?
+ Feel free to contribute any further facts, knowledge, or insight into the scriptures of Daniel and relevant topics.
Why did Daniel (and his friends) refuse to eat the king’s food?
First, I would like to start with the main theme of the book, which should place this passage in context. The book of Daniel is split into two parts. The first part contains stories of how God’s people should live as strangers/exiles in a world that is not their home (1). Specific to chapter one, is the topic of living faithfully to God despite exile and submersion in a culture with pagan influences and propaganda. Understanding these overarching views should help to interpret the illocutions of the text.
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| Modern Day Comparison |
Another interpretation for Daniel’s actions is that that he was committed to following the food laws of Israel. There is a strong argument for this; however, I do not believe it is the only reason. It is possible that Daniel was concerned about the food being sacrificed to idols, which was a practice in ancient Babylonian culture (3). Nevertheless, not all the meat would have been bad, nor would all the vegetables come from idol worship. Daniel also refrained from any of the king’s drink, but in the food laws there is no regulation regarding the drinking of “forbidden wine.” Furthermore, the diet which Daniel and his friends adopted is much stricter than Israel’s food laws require. A diet of “Seed” (vegetables) and water is actually very extreme and would not be a reasonable excuse for which to turn down a feast at the king’s table (4).
I believe that a proper interpretation of Daniel’s decision is this: Daniel rejected the temptations of Babylonian life in order to declare (both physically to others and spiritually to himself and God) that Daniel is set apart for God. This is not an act of rebellion against Babylon, because that does not fit the theme of the rest of the chapter. The beginning chapters of Daniel show him rewarded for his faithfulness to God. Only a few verses later, in chapter one, Daniel receives the favor of the king (vs. 19). In chapter 2 he is promoted upon revelation of the King’s dream. In chapter 3 his three friends are saved from a fiery furnace. In all these stories we see faithfulness to God rewarded along with the portrayal of God as being more powerful than Babylon. For this reason, I believe that the illocutions of this story recognize Daniel’s motives for rejecting the king’s food as a way to avoid falling into the temptations of Babylon (lusts of the flesh) and a way to remain set apart (holy) before God.
1. "Daniel, Book of." ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.
2. Walton, John H., and Andrew E. Hill. "Chapter 2." Old Testament Today: a Journey from Original Meaning to Contemporary Significance. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004. Print.
3. Porteous, Norman. Daniel: a Commentary. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1965. Print.
4. Redditt, Paul L. The New Century Bible Commentary: Daniel. Scheffield Academic, 1999. Print.
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+ What do you think was Daniel's main motive?
+ Feel free to contribute any further facts, knowledge, or insight into the scriptures of Daniel and relevant topics.
Maybe so , Bryce, but isn't it intriguing, nonetheless, that Daniel took great pains with a very specific diet for an absolute amount of time...
He could have chosen many other ways to set himself apart...
makes me wonder anew at how what God has created in its most natural state, ie...veggies and water, isn't the better plan?
Hmm interesting. I always thought that it was to adhere to the Mosaic food laws, but apparently that's not the case. Definitely food for thought...
@ Anonymous,
Are you advocating the idea that a diet of strictly vegetables and water is overall more healthy than the king's food? That, with this knowledge, Daniel chose the food because of its health benefits?
I'm curious if you also think that this is an example that we can learn from to apply to how we eat today? For example, the strict moderation and regimental aspects of Daniel's diet?
Looking forward to hearing from you!
AJ
To eat food in as close to its natural state as possible...(ie the way God made it) would, in my opinion, be the healthiest and wisest choice.
However, having come from an eating disorder earlier in my life , I strongly feel that satan can use extreme legalism in how we eat to put us into bondage as well. We need to hold everything up to the light of scripture, obviously, and remain free and thankful for His provisions. This also includes our sustenance.