Daniel’s story does not begin with lions or visions. It begins with a young captive far from home, given a new name, a new language to learn, and a daily provision of the king’s food and wine.
The arrangement prepared him to serve before the king. Daniel accepted the training, but there was one line he would not cross, and the way he handled it says as much about him as the lions’ den ever would.
The Story of Daniel Refuses the King’s Food
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. The Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand, along with part of the vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar carried into the land of Shinar and placed in the treasure house of his god.
The king told Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring certain of the children of Israel from the king’s seed and the princes – young men in whom was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, who could be taught the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. The king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank, and they were to be trained three years before they would stand before the king.
Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, of the children of Judah. The prince of the eunuchs gave them new names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was called Abed-nego.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank. He did not simply refuse; he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs, but the man was afraid. I fear my lord the king, he said. If the king saw their faces worse liking than the other young men, then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
So Daniel went to Melzar, the steward set over the four of them, with a modest proposal: Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. After that, Melzar could compare their faces with those who ate the king’s meat, and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. Melzar consented and proved them ten days.
At the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. So Melzar took away the king’s food and wine and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
When the three years were over, the prince of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Key Verses
“Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat” Daniel 1:8
“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink” Daniel 1:12
“At the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh” Daniel 1:15
“God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom” Daniel 1:17
“He found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm” Daniel 1:20
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation.
What the Story of Daniel Refuses the King’s Food Teaches Us
Daniel’s stand started inside him before it showed on the outside. He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself, and that decision came first. He did not wait to see what the pressure would be like; he settled the question ahead of time.
He held firm without being harsh. Daniel requested permission, listened to the official’s fear for his own head, and offered a fair test that put the result in plain view: let our countenances be looked upon before thee. Faithfulness and respect for the people over him went together.
The passage is careful about where the results came from. The favor with the prince of the eunuchs came because God had brought Daniel into favour, and the wisdom came because God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. The ten-day test showed the outcome, but the chapter credits God with the gift.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Daniel refuse the king’s food?
Daniel 1:8 says Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank. The chapter gives defilement as his reason but does not explain further what made the food defiling.
What did Daniel eat instead of the king’s food?
He asked for pulse to eat, and water to drink (Daniel 1:12). Pulse is an older English word for plant foods such as beans and grains.
How long was Daniel’s test?
Ten days. Daniel asked Melzar, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days, and at the end of ten days the four looked fairer and fatter in flesh than the others (Daniel 1:12-15).
What were the Babylonian names of Daniel and his friends?
The prince of the eunuchs named Daniel Belteshazzar, Hananiah Shadrach, Mishael Meshach, and Azariah Abed-nego (Daniel 1:7).
How much wiser were Daniel and his friends than the king’s wise men?
Daniel 1:20 says the king found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Where is the story of Daniel and the king’s food in the Bible?
It is in Daniel 1, the opening chapter of the book of Daniel, set after Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem in the third year of Jehoiakim.