Daniel 1:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king 's food.

NIV: At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

NASB: And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better, and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.

CSB: At the end of ten days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.

NLT: At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.

KJV: And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

NKJV: And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.

The ten-day test (Daniel 1:8–14) proved successful. Daniel and his three friends appeared healthier and more muscular than the other youths. Scripture does not intend this to endorse a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle (Genesis 9:3). The point is that God always honors those who honor Him by adhering to His Word. This reflects God's sovereign guidance, honoring Daniel's choice to avoid the unclean food prepared for a pagan king.

Psalm 1 promises blessing to the person who shuns the way of the wicked and delights in God's will. Verse 3 promises: "He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." Daniel and his friends prospered by obeying God. Although obedience to the Lord may not cause believers to look physically different, it certainly will make their lifestyle differ from that of unbelievers.

Daniel 1:8–16 explains one of the ways Daniel and three other captured Hebrew boys (Daniel 1:1–7) resisted being corrupted by the pagan culture of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar assigned the Hebrew youths the same kind of food and wine that he ate and drank. These would have been unclean, for various reasons, under the Law of Moses. Daniel received permission from his supervising steward to eat only vegetables and water for a ten-day test. When the Hebrew youths were healthier than those who ate the king's food, they were allowed to continue their special diet.

When Daniel was young, Babylon conquered Jerusalem and took many of its treasures and people back to their land. Daniel was chosen to become an advisor due to his good looks and bright mind. Along with other boys, he was educated and given a Babylonian name. Daniel and several friends demonstrate faithfulness to God by avoiding foods that might be unclean. They also excel in their roles. This leads Daniel to become an important advisor regarding dreams and visions, as described starting in chapter 2.

Daniel was taken captive when Babylon conquered the nation of Israel. The first chapter of the book establishes his history, his level of natural talent, and the depth of his faith. This is followed by a series of prophetic interpretations tied to Gentile nations in chapters 2—7. Chapters 8—12 focus on prophecies more closely related to the nation of Israel. Many of these details are restated or expanded in the book of Revelation.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.

Accessed 11/21/2024 3:43:23 PM