Catholic Commentary on Daniel 1

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.” (Daniel 1:8)

The Book of Daniel

Daniel is a complex book combining court tales and apocalyptic visions, set in the Babylonian and Persian courts. The court tales (chapters 1-6) present Daniel and his companions as models of faithful Jewish living under pagan power: wise, courageous, unwilling to compromise their covenant identity regardless of the cost. The apocalyptic visions (chapters 7-12) present sweeping historical panoramas and the final triumph of the kingdom of God over all earthly empires.

The book opens in the third year of Jehoiakim's reign. Nebuchadnezzar takes some of the vessels of the temple and some of the Israelites to Babylon. Among those selected for royal service are Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. God gives Daniel favour with the official who allows a ten-day trial of vegetables and water. After ten days their appearance is better than those who ate the royal food. Daniel and his companions are healthier and wiser than all the magicians and enchanters in the kingdom.

The Catechism identifies Daniel's refusal to defile himself as the model of the faithful person who maintains covenant identity within a culture that pressures conformity (CCC 2242).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Daniel resolved not to defile himself. The resolve came before the test. He did not wait to see how bad it would be and then decide; he had already decided. The person who resolves in advance what they will not compromise is the person who holds their ground when the pressure arrives. What have you already resolved?

Prayer

Lord God, give us Daniel's resolve before the test arrives. Let us decide in advance what we will not defile ourselves with. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daniel
1
Daniel Removed to Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar,* 1:2 That is, Babylonia to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.
 
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family † 1:3 Hebrew from the seed of the kingdom and the nobility- 4 young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace-and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans.‡ 1:4 That is, the Babylonians
 
5 The king assigned them daily provisions of the royal food and wine. They were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s service.
 
6 Among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
Daniel’s Faithfulness
 
8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
 
9 Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official, 10 but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!”
 
11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearances with those of the young men who are eating the royal food, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
 
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.
Daniel’s Wisdom
 
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. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king’s service.
 
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. 21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

*1:2 1:2 That is, Babylonia

†1:3 1:3 Hebrew from the seed of the kingdom

‡1:4 1:4 That is, the Babylonians

Public Domain