Daniel 1:8-14

1:8

made <07760> [purposed.]

defile ........................ defile <01351> [defile.]

Heathen nations not only ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by Jewish law, but even the clean animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods, and part of the wine was poured out as a libation on their altars. Hence Athen‘us calls the beasts served up at the tables of the Persian kings, [hieria,] victims. Daniel was therefore resolved not to defile himself with their viands; yet he did not rudely refuse what was intended as a kindness, but mildly and modestly requested the proper officers to indulge him in this respect.

1:9

1:10

fear <03373> [I fear.]

malnourished <02196> [worse liking. Heb. sadder.]

age <01524> [sort. or, term, or continuance.]

1:11

warden <04453> [Melzar. or, the steward.]

1:12

vegetables ... eat <0398 02235> [pulse to eat. Heb. of pulse that we may eat, etc.]

Pulse, {zer”im,} denotes all leguminous plants, which are not reaped but pulled or plucked; which, however wholesome, was not naturally calculated to render them fatter in flesh than the others.