We are told in the text that Daniel had proposed in his heart that he wouldn’t defile himself with the king’s food or wine from his table (Daniel 1:8). What does this mean in the context of Daniel being brought to Babylon through the judgment of God? It was because of national disobedience that this thing occurred (Isaiah 39:5-6), so was Daniel faithful while yet in the land, or did he repent, when he was brought to Babylon (cp. 1Kings 8:33-34)? We cannot tell for certain which is correct, but most scholars agree that Daniel’s faith was something he had prior to his being brought to Babylon. Nevertheless, whether Daniel was faithful from his youth, as Joseph was, when he was brought into Egypt as a slave, or whether he remembered the covenant he made with the Lord and confessed his sin and repented (cp. Daniel 9:5-11), he went boldly to the prince of the eunuchs and asked him to permit him not to defile himself with the portion of the king’s food and wine that was given him.[1]
The Lord had brought Daniel and his brethren into the favor of the prince of the eunuchs (Daniel 1:9; cp. Psalm 106:46), but the prince feared the king, and the food given them was considered the best food available and believed to give a person a strong and unblemished appearance (Daniel 1:10). If Daniel and his brethren were the only men among all, whom the king had chosen, that appeared frail and unhealthy, the king wouldn’t take it kindly, but would require it of Ashpenaz, the prince of the eunuchs, for Daniel was placed in his charge (Daniel 1:9, cp. 1:3-5).
Nevertheless, Ashpenaz agreed to Daniel’s request, which provided for a trial period, which was so short that Ashpenaz was hardly at risk at the hand of the king (cp. Daniel 1:5). The arrangement between Daniel and Ashpenaz was for ten days, so Daniel mentioned this to the steward, whom the prince placed over Daniel and his three brethren. The steward was to give Daniel and his three brethren vegetables and water and inspect their appearance for 10 days. If their appearance had diminished during that period in comparison with those who ate the king’s food, then the steward would deal with Daniel and the friends as he wished, and they would comply (Daniel 1:11-13).
After the arrangement was made and the four young men underwent the scrutiny of the steward that Ashpenaz placed in authority over them, it was decided that the four appeared in better shape than the other young men, whom the king had selected to serve him and ate of the king’s portion (Daniel 14-15). Therefore, the steward didn’t require Daniel and his brethren to eat the king’s food or drink his wine, and he set before them the vegetables and water they had requested (Daniel 1:16).
Why is this event so important that it is recorded in the word of God? There isn’t much a slave is able to do without permission from the king. Even Joseph, second in command behind Pharaoh, had to ask Pharaoh to allow him to return to Canaan to bury his father in a tomb, where Abraham was buried. The dietary laws were among the least of the laws of the Mosaic Covenant, but they and the washing ceremonies were outward signs of a Jews’ inner commitment to their God. So, in this context Daniel’s request was a very important matter. Once understood, Daniel was saying, although he was committed to serving Nebuchadnezzar, he had a deeper commitment to Lord God of the Jews.
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[1] Daniel asked permission to act according to his heart. We need to keep in mind that Daniel was a virtual slave. He didn’t ask to be among these young men and to be placed in a special project whereby he would become the king’s personal servant for certain matters. These things were done, without his permission. Daniel simply accepted the table of the Lord, but asked to be permitted to worship his God according to his heart, something which could have been denied him. What Daniel would have done, if it were denied him, isn’t said, I suspect he would have behaved in this matter according to how both he and his brethren delt with other matters of their faith, while they were in Babylon (cp. Daniel 3:12-18 and Daniel 6:9-16).
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