Daniel 1:8

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths that are of your own age? So would ye endanger my head with the king. Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat the king's dainties; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants."

It should be remembered that there were other children of Israel besides these particular four who were also given the same opportunities; but the record reveals that only these decided to abide by the rules of the law of Moses regarding the eating of unclean things. "God's people were here facing a situation where it had to be absolute loyalty to God or they were lost. It is the same situation which Christians face today."[23] Of all those who were given the opportunity, only these four remained faithful to God.

Defilement through eating the king's dainties was "ceremonial defilement" as outlined in the Mosaic law. The meats which formed, no doubt, a major part of the king's food would have been dedicated to idols after the pagan customs that continued even until the days of the apostles. All of the wonderful things which happened in the Book of Daniel were the result of the blessing of God upon these faithful young men who would not permit themselves to be led into violation of the Holy Scriptures.

It is interesting to note that Daniel received favor from the authorities whom he petitioned to allow a diet which did not violate their consciences. It would appear that God Himself intervened to give Daniel the necessary preference to make the granting of his wish possible.

"Pulse ... (Daniel 1:12). This word does not mean simply "peas, or legumes," but "It would refer to all plants that bear seeds."[24]

It has often been pointed out that there is no mandate here for vegetarianism. There would in all probability have been no scruples whatever on the part of the four young men against eating meat, except for the great likelihood of any meats which the king would have provided for them having been sacrificed to idols, or, at any rate, not kosher.

Others have been equally diligent to affirm that the refusal of the wine did not indicate a denial that wine was an acceptable part of the diet for Jews generally. On the other hand, these young Hebrew students might very well have refused the wine on the grounds of its being detrimental and harmful. There are many today who refused to drink alcohol for the same excellent reason. We know of no way that Nebuchadnezzar's wine would not have been kosher.