Daniel 1:11-16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:15

Verse 15 Now this surprising event took place, — Daniel contracted neither leanness nor debility from that mean food, but his face was as shirting as if he had continued to feed most delicately; hence we gather as I have already said, that he was divinely impelled to persist firmly in his own design, and not to pollute himself with the royal diet. God, therefore, testified by the result that he had advised Daniel and his companions in this their prayer and proposal. It is clear enough that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 1:16

Verse 16 After Melsar saw it possible to gratify Daniel and his companions without danger and promote his own profit, he was humane and easily dealt with, and had no need of long disputation. For an intervening obstacle often deters us from the pursuit of gain, and we forbear to seek what we very much crave when it requires oppressive labor; but when our profit is at hand, and we are freed from all danger, then every one naturally pursues it. We see, then, what Daniel means in this verse,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 1:3-21

Training for imperial office and work. The name and the nature of a king are not always yoked together. Jehoiakim had been professedly a king, but was, in truth, a slave. Daniel and his companions, though led into exile as captives, had within them kingly qualities, which could not be degraded by strangers. As living water from the flinty rock will rise through every kind of strata, and find its way to the surface, so, through all adversities, innate nobleness will assert its imperial... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 1:5-21

Moral heroism. "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (verse 8). I. THE VARYING CONDITIONS OF IMMORTALITY . The reference is to subjective immortality, i.e. in the memories of men. The principal stable condition seems to be the possession of soul-power (see Luke 1:80 ; Luke 2:40 ). But this may develop itself: 1 . Evilly. The immortality then is one of infamy. 2 . Continuously ; e.g. Daniel, through a long life. 3 . Specially... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 1:11

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The reading of the Septuagint differs from the Massoretic in two particulars—instead of "Melzar," the name given is "Abiesdri," as in the third verse; and the verb minnah ( מִנָּה ) is read מֻנָּה ( munnah ), "set overse" The Peshitta reads instead of "Melzar,' in this verse, "Mashitzar" (but see verse 16). This confirms the idea that this is a proper name, not an... read more

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 1:14

So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. The literal rendering is, And he hearkened unto them as to this matter , proved them ten days. The Septuagint reading is again peculiar, "And he dealt with them after this manner, and proved them ten days." ישמע is not very unlike יעשה , nor לדבד very unlike כדבר , and this is all the change implied. The Massoretic reading seems the more natural, but it might be argued that this very naturalness is the result... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 1:15

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. The Septuagint is a little paraphrastic, and renders, "After ten days their countenance appeared beautiful and their habit of body better than that of the other young men who ate of the king's meat." Theodotion is painfully faithful to the Massoretic text. The Peshitta translates טוב ( ṭōb ), "good," "fair," by sha-peera , "beautiful."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 1:16

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their moat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. The Massoretic has the article here before "Melzar"—a fact that the Authorized does not indicate; the Revised renders more correctly, "the steward." The version of the Septuagint does not differ much from the Massoretic, only the word translated "that they should drink" is omitted; on the other hand, we have the verb δίδωμι ( ἐδίδου ) put in composition with ἀντί ( ... read more

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