So the steward
The term "steward" refers to the official appointed by the Babylonian king to oversee the young captives from Judah, including Daniel and his friends. In Hebrew, the word used is "sar," which can mean prince, chief, or official. This highlights the hierarchical structure of the Babylonian court and the significant responsibility placed on this steward. Historically, this reflects the organized and bureaucratic nature of the Babylonian Empire, which was known for its administrative efficiency.

continued to withhold
The phrase indicates a sustained action, suggesting that the steward consistently refrained from giving Daniel and his friends the royal provisions. This decision was not a one-time event but a continuous practice, demonstrating the steward's compliance with Daniel's request. The Hebrew root here implies a deliberate and ongoing choice, reflecting Daniel's influence and the steward's willingness to accommodate their dietary convictions.

their choice food
The "choice food" refers to the rich and luxurious diet provided by the king's table, which included meats and delicacies. In the context of ancient Near Eastern cultures, such food was often associated with wealth, status, and sometimes idolatrous practices, as it could be offered to idols before consumption. Daniel's refusal of this food underscores his commitment to maintaining ritual purity and faithfulness to God's laws, even in a foreign land.

and the wine they were to drink
Wine, a common beverage in ancient Babylon, was often used in religious rituals and could symbolize indulgence and assimilation into Babylonian culture. By abstaining from the wine, Daniel and his friends were making a statement of resistance against cultural assimilation and a commitment to their distinct identity as followers of Yahweh. This act of abstinence is a powerful testament to their faith and discipline.

and he gave them vegetables instead
The term "vegetables" in Hebrew is "zeroim," which can also mean seeds or plants. This diet was likely simpler and more in line with Jewish dietary laws. The choice of vegetables symbolizes a return to a more natural and God-honoring way of living, reminiscent of the diet in the Garden of Eden. This decision reflects a reliance on God for sustenance and a rejection of the opulence and potential defilement associated with the king's food.

Verse 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 (ἀντεδίδου), "gave them instead," as if, in the text before the translator, the mem, which begins mishtayhem, had been put to the end of yayin, "wine," making it "their wine" - a construction which would be more symmetrical than the present. Only it is difficult to see how either tahath asher could be changed into shtayhem, or vice versa. The Septuagint translation suggests a simpler and more natural text - not a simplified one - therefore it is, on the whole, to be preferred. The careful word-for-word translation of the beginning of the verse renders it little likely that the translator would paraphrase at the end; c g. the word translated in our version "thus" is really veeay'he, "it was," and in the LXX. this is rendered η΅ν, "it was." Theodotion is in absolute agreement with the Massoretic text. The Peshitta calls the steward ma-nitzor, and renders the last clause, "and he gave to them seeds to eat, and water to drink," evidently borrowed from the twelfth verse. The result of the success of the experiment is that the youths are no more importuned to partake of the king's dainties. The steward, or the attendant who looked after their mess, supplied them with pulse. It has occurred to two commentators, widely separated from each other in point of time, that the consent of the "Melzar ' was all the more easily gained, that he could utilize the abstemiousness of these Hebrew youths to his own private advantage. Both Jephet-ibn-Ali in the beginning of the eleventh century, and Ewald in the middle of the nineteenth, maintain that the "Melzar' used to his own purposes, possibly sold, the portion of food and wine that the Hebrew youths abjured. Certainly the verb nasa means the lifting and carrying away, and suggests that every day the portions of food and wine were first carried to the table of these Hebrews, and then, after having been placed before them, were removed and pulse brought instead. When we think of it, some such process would have to take place. If it had been observed that one table was never supplied with a portion from the king's table, there might have been remarks made, and the "Melzar" would have fallen into disgrace with his sovereign, and the Hebrew youths would possibly have shared his disgrace. As to how the portions thus retained were disposed of, we need not be curious; there would, no doubt, be plenty of claimants for the broken victuals from the King of Babylon's table, without accusing the "Melzar" of dishonest motives. The fact that the verbs are in participle implies that henceforth it was the regular habit of the "Melzar" to remove from before the tour friends the royal dainties, and supply them instead with pulse. We have already referred to the word used for "pulse; ' it is here zayroneem, whereas in the twelfth verse it is zayroeem. Not impossibly in the verse before us we have another case of the original Aramaic shining through the translation; in the Peshitta the word is zer'oona, Whatever the word was, it seems certain that originally it was the same in both places, as in none of the versions is there any variation. It is not so impossible that originally the vocalization was different, and that the word was the ordinary word zer'aim, "seeds." This certainly is the translation of Theodotion.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Thus
וַיְהִ֣י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the steward
הַמֶּלְצַ֗ר (ham·mel·ṣar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4453: The butler, other officer in the Babylonian court

continued to withhold
נֹשֵׂא֙ (nō·śê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

their choice food
פַּתְבָּגָ֔ם (paṯ·bā·ḡām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6598: Portion, delicacies

and the wine
וְיֵ֖ין (wə·yên)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

they were to drink,
מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֑ם (miš·tê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4960: Drink, drinking, a banquet, feast

and he gave
וְנֹתֵ֥ן (wə·nō·ṯên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

them
לָהֶ֖ם (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

vegetables [instead].
זֵרְעֹנִֽים׃ (zê·rə·‘ō·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2235: Something sown, a vegetable


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OT Prophets: Daniel 1:16 So the steward took away their dainties (Dan. Da Dn)