Daniel 1:16

16 So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.

Daniel 1:16 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 1:16

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat
To himself, as the Syriac version adds; he took and carried it to his own family, and made use of it himself; and the portion of four such young gentlemen, maintained at the king's expense, and who had their provision from his table, must be, especially in the course of three years, of great advantage to this man and his family; for this was continued, as the word signifies, and may be rendered, "and Melzar was taking away &c." ^F6; so he did from time to time; and thus, by serving the Lord's people, he served himself: and the wine that they should drink;
which he also took for his own use: and gave them pulse;
to eat, and water to drink, as the Syriac version adds, and which they desired; when he found this agreed so well with them, and he could safely do it without exposing himself to danger, and being to his profit and advantage.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (avn) "fuit ferens", Montanus; "auferens", Piscator, Gejerus; "perseveravit auferre cibum"; Cocceius; "erat capiens", Michaelis.

Daniel 1:16 In-Context

14 So he consented to this and tested them for ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.

16 So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.

18 Now at the end of the time specified by the king, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.