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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 1:12

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. The Septuagint seems to have read yutan , "let there be given," instead of yitnu , "let them give." Zero ‛im , "seeds" ( σπερμάτων , Theodotion), "pulse". This word occurs only here; it differs, however, only by the second vowel from zērūim in Isaiah 61:11 , and there it is rendered as by Theodotion here, σπέρματα . As the vowels were not written for centuries... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 1:13

Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. The Septuagint Version here differs considerably from the Massoretic text; it is as follows: "And should our countenance appear more downcast than ( διατετραμμένη παρὰ ) those other youths who eat of the royal feast, according as thou seest good ( θέλῃς ), so deal with thy servants." In the text before the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 1:11

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel ... - Margin, or, the “steward.” It is not easy to determine whether the word here used (מלצר meltsâr) is to be regarded as a proper name, or the name of an office. It occurs nowhere else, except in Daniel 1:16, applied to the same person. Gesenius regards it as denoting the name of an office in the Babylonian court - master of the wine, chief butler. Others regard it as meaning a treasurer. The word is still in use... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 1:12

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days - A period which would indicate the probable result of the entire experiment. If during that period there were no indications of diminished health, beauty, or vigour, it would not be unfair to presume that the experiment in behalf of temperance would be successful, and it would not be improper then to ask that it might be continued longer.And let them give us pulse to eat - Margin, “of pulse that we may eat.” Hebrew, “Let them give us of pulse, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 1:13

Then let our countenances be looked upon - One of the “objects” to be secured by this whole trial was to promote their personal beauty, and their healthful appearance Daniel 1:4-5, and Daniel was willing that the trial should be made with reference to that, and that a judgment should be formed from the observed effect of their temperate mode of life. The Hebrew word rendered countenance (מראה mar'eh) is not limited to the “face,” as the word countenance is with us. It refers to the whole... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 1:11-12

Daniel 1:11-12. Then said Daniel, Prove thy servants, I beseech, thee To satisfy him that there would be no danger of any ill consequence, Daniel desires the matter might be put to a trial for ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat The word הזרעים , here used, seems to signify fruits or vegetables; or rather, according to the Greek interpreter, seeds in general. At the 16th verse the word is זרענים , seeds, and some MSS. read it so in this verse. The sense is doubtless the same in... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:1-21

1:1-6:28 STORIES ABOUT DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDSTraining for Nebuchadnezzar’s court (1:1-21)Babylon’s first attack on Jerusalem came in 605 BC, during the reign of the Judean king Jehoiakim. In keeping with the usual practice among conquerors in ancient times, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar plundered the temple of the conquered people, carried off its sacred objects and placed them in his own temple. In this way Nebuchadnezzar demonstrated his belief that Babylon’s gods were superior to the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 1:11

Melzar. Hebrew = the melzar = the steward or butler, who had charge of the wine, &c. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 1:12

pulse = vegetable food (to avoid the idol-tainted meat). read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Daniel 1:12

Daniel 1:12. Pulse— Pulse here signifies all sorts of roots or herbs. read more

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