Daniel 1:14

14 And when he heard such a word, he assayed them (for) ten days.

Daniel 1:14 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 1:14

So he consented to them in all this matter
Or, "hearkened to them" ^F5; 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 an easy rate: and proved them ten days;
tried the experiment, by giving them pulse and water only during this time, in order to see how it would agree with them; and whether any visible alteration could be discerned in their countenances, so as to bring him or his master into suspicion and danger.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (Mhl emvyw) "auscultans eis", Junius & Tremellius, Broughtonus; "auscultavit eis", Pisator, Cocceius.

Daniel 1:14 In-Context

12 I beseech, assay thou us thy servants by ten days, and pottages be given to us to eat, and water to drink; (I beseech thee, assay thou us thy servants for ten days, and let vegetables be given to us to eat, and water to drink;)

13 and behold thou our cheers, and the cheers of children that eat the king's meat; and as thou seest, so do thou with thy servants. (and look thou upon our faces, and upon the faces of the young men who eat the king's food; and as thou seest fit, so do thou with thy servants.)

14 And when he heard such a word, he assayed them (for) ten days.

15 Forsooth after ten days the cheers of them appeared better and fatter, than all the children that ate the king's meat. (And after ten days their faces appeared better and fatter, than all the other young men who ate the king's food.)

16 Certainly Melzar took [away] the meats, and the wine of the drink of them, and gave them pottages. (And so Melzar took away the food, and the wine, and gave them vegetables to eat, and water to drink.)