Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:5

And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat ,.... Every day a portion was ordered them, from the king's table, of the richest dainties he himself ate of; which was done not only as an act of royal munificence and generosity, and in respect of their birth and breeding; but also as a bait and snare to allure and entice them, to make them in love with the country and condition in which they were, and to forget their own; as well also in order to preserve their well favoured... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:6

Now among these were of the children of Judea , Among those youths that were selected from the rest, and brought up in the above manner, and for the above purposes, who were of the tribe of Judah, and very likely of the house of David, and of royal descent, were the four following persons: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah ; who are particularly mentioned, because they were the most famous and renowned of them, and are concerned in the subsequent history and account of facts: their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:7

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names ,.... Other names, Chaldee names, according to the names of the gods of that country, for honour and glory, as Saadiah observes; which was done either to make them more acceptable to the court and courtiers of the king of Babylon; and to show that they were his servants, and naturalized subjects; and chiefly to cause them to forget the names their fathers gave them, and out of hatred to them, having all of them in them the names of the true God,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart ,.... It being proposed to him to be brought up in the manner before described, he revolved it in his mind; he well weighed it, and considered it with himself, and came to a resolution about it. This is to be understood of him, not to the exclusion of his three companions, who were of the same mind with him, as appears by what follows; but perhaps it was first thought of by him; at least he first moved it to them, to which they consented; and because he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:9

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. Even before this request was made; as he gave to Joseph favour in the sight of Potiphar, and of the keeper of the prison; for whatever favour is shown to good men by bad men is from the Lord; for though Daniel's ingenuity, the goodness of his temper, and his modest behaviour, his excellent natural parts, and other accomplishments, might be a means of ingratiating him into the favour of this officer; yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:10

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king ,.... This he said, not as refusing and denying the request of Daniel; but as hesitating about it, divided in his own mind, between love and tenderness to Daniel, and fear of the king: it is as if he should say, I could freely out of respect to you grant you your request; were it not for duty to my lord the king, reverence of him, and especially fear of his wrath and displeasure: who hath appointed your meat and your... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:11

Then said Daniel to Melzar ,.... The prince of the eunuchs, having put off Daniel with the above answer, seems to have left him; or, however, Daniel, finding he could not obtain of him what he sought for, applies to Melzar, a subordinate officer, whom he hoped to find more pliable; and it may be that Ashpenaz might suggest it to him to apply to this person, and signify that if he could prevail upon him to give him other food instead of the king's; who might be under a temptation from profit,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:12

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days , Here Daniel manifestly includes his companions, and makes his request for himself and them; desiring that they might be tried ten days with different sort of food and drink, and see whether any alteration would be made in them for the worse; which was a proper time for such a trial; for in that time it might be reasonably supposed that their food, if it had any bad effect on them, would appear. Saadiah makes these ten days to be the days between... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:13

Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee ,.... And be thoroughly examined, whether any alteration is made therein for the worse: and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat ; who were either Chaldean youths brought up in this manner; or rather young men of the Jews, who were not so scrupulous as Daniel and his companions, and made no objection to eating the king's food; let their countenances and ours be compared together: and as thou... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 1:14

So he consented to them in all this matter ,.... Or, "hearkened to them" F5 וישמע להם "auscultans eis", Junius & Tremellius, Broughtonus; "auscultavit eis", Pisator, Cocceius. ; being convinced that it was a very reasonable request, and the matter was fairly put; and especially as he saw, if it succeeded to their wish, it would be to his profit; since the meat and drink of these four persons would be his perquisite, and fetch him money; pulse and water being to be obtained at... read more

Group of Brands