Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 1:10
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king.
10. for why should ] i.e. ‘lest,’ which would in fact be the better rendering. The expression is the translation into Hebrew of the ordinary Aramaic idiom for ‘lest’ (cf. Theod. ).
worse liking ] An old English expression for ‘in worse condition.’ Cf. ‘well-liking’ in Psa 92:13, P. B. V.; properly ‘well-pleasing,’ i.e. in good condition; and 2 Hen. IV. iii. 2, 92, ‘You like well, and bear your years very well.’ The Heb. is z‘phm, ‘gloomy,’ ‘sad,’ in Gen 40:6 used of Pharaoh’s butler and baker, who were troubled mentally, here of the dejected appearance produced by insufficient nutriment. Theod. ; cf. Mat 6:16.
than the youths ( Dan 1:4) which are of your own age (R.V.); so should ye (Bevan) make my head a forfeit (lit. make my head guilty) to the king ] The two sentences might be rendered more concisely, ‘ lest he see , and ye make my head a forfeit,’ &c. The officer who had charge of the Hebrew youths dreaded his master’s displeasure if he should see them thriving badly under his care.
age ] The word ( gl), which occurs only here in the O. T., is found in the same sense in the Talmud (Levy, NHWB [185] i. 324); and in Samaritan, as Gen 6:9; Gen 15:16; Gen 17:12, and often (not always), for the Heb. dr (‘generation’).
[185] HWB. M. Levy, Neuhebrisches und Chaldisches Wrterbuch, 1876 89.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king – He was apprehensive that if Daniel appeared less healthful, or cheerful, or beautiful, than it was supposed he would under the prescribed mode of life, it would be construed as disobedience of the commands of the king on his part, and that it would be inferred that the wan and emaciated appearance of Daniel was caused by the fact that the food which had been ordered had not been furnished, but had been embezzled by the officer who had it in charge. We have only to remember the strict and arbitrary nature of Oriental monarchies to see that there were just grounds for the apprehensions here expressed.
For why should he see your faces worse liking – Margin, sadder. The Hebrew word ( zoapym) means, properly, angry; and then morose, gloomy, sad. The primary idea seems to be, that of any painful, or unpleasant emotion of the mind which depicts itself on the countenance – whether anger, sorrow, envy, lowness of spirits, etc. Greek, skuthropa – stern, gloomy, sad, Mat 6:16; Luk 24:17. Here the reference is not to the expression of angry feelings in the countenance, but to the countenance as fallen away by fasting, or poor living. Than the children. The youths, or young men. The same word is here used which occurs in Dan 1:4. Compare the note at that verse.
Which are of your sort – Margin, term, or continuance. The Hebrew word here used ( gyl) means, properly, a circle, or circuit; hence an age, and then the men of an age, a generation. – Gesenius. The word is not used, however, in the Scriptures elsewhere in this sense. Elsewhere it is rendered joy, or rejoicing, Job 3:22; Psa 43:4; Psa 45:15; Psa 65:12; Pro 23:24; Isa 16:10; Isa 35:2; Isa 65:18; Jer 48:33; Hos 9:1; Joe 1:16. This meaning it has from the usual sense of the verb ( gyl) to exult, or rejoice. The verb properly means, to move in a circle; then to dance in a circle; and then to exult or rejoice. The word circle, as often used now to denote those of a certain class, rank, or character, would accurately express the sense here. Thus we speak of those in the religious circles, in the social circles, etc. The reference here is to those of the same class with Daniel; to wit, in the arrangements made for presenting them before the king. Greek, sunelika humon, of your age.
Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king – As if he had disregarded the orders given him, or had embezzled what had been provided for these youths, and had furnished them with inferior fare. In the arbitrary courts of the East, nothing would be more natural than that such an apparent failure in the performance of what was enjoined would peril his life. The word used here, and rendered make me endanger – chub – occurs nowhere else in the Bible. It means, in Piel, to make guilty; to cause to forfeit. Greek, katadikasete – you will condemn, or cause me to be condemned.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
He believed their countenances would betray them; and the king having appointed it, he dares not disobey, for his life lay at stake.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. worse likinglooking lesshealthy.
your sortof yourage, or class; literally, “circle.”
endanger my headAnarbitrary Oriental despot could, in a fit of wrath at his ordershaving been disobeyed, command the offender to be instantlydecapitated.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king,…. This he said, not as refusing and denying the request of Daniel; but as hesitating about it, divided in his own mind, between love and tenderness to Daniel, and fear of the king: it is as if he should say, I could freely out of respect to you grant you your request; were it not for duty to my lord the king, reverence of him, and especially fear of his wrath and displeasure: who hath appointed your meat and your drink; has ordered it himself, both the quality and quantity, both what and how much; whose will is his law, and cannot be resisted, but must be obeyed; and though I should indulge you in this matter, and it may be concealed for a while, yet it cannot be always a secret, your countenance will betray it:
for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? than the other Jewish youths that were selected at the same time, and brought up in the same manner, and for the same ends. Some x render it, “than the children of your captivity”; who were taken and brought captive to Babylon when they were; but the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, “than those of the same age” y; their contemporaries, that were born about the same time, and brought up together in the same way: or, than those of your own nation? as some z translate it: and now, when they should be presented together to the king, the difference would be observable; Daniel and his companions would appear of a pale complexion, of thin and meagre looks, and dark dismal countenances, like persons angry, fretful, and troubled; as the word signifies a; when their contemporaries would appear fat and plump, cheerful and pleasant; which would naturally lead into an inquiry of the reason of this difference:
then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king; I shall commit a trespass, of which I shall be found guilty, and be condemned to die, and lose my head for it; and now, as if he should say, I leave it with you; can you desire me to expose myself to so much danger? I would willingly grant your favour, but my life is at stake.
x “secundum captivitatem vesture”, Gejerus; “in captivitate vestra; sic quidam legunt cum” , Vatablus. y The word is only used in this place; but in the Arabic language
“gil” is an age or generation, as in the Arabic version of Gen. vi. 9. Matt. i. 17. and xxiii. 36. Luke xi. 50, 51. So, in the Talmudic language, is one that is born in the same hour, and under the same planet, as the gloss explains it in T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 27. 2. z So Hottinger, who says the word in the Arabic language signifies a nation or country; and renders the words, “qui secundum nationem et gentem vestram”, Smegma Orientals, l. 1. c. 7. p. 134. a see Gen. xl. 6. 2 Chron. xxvi. 19. 1 Kings xx. 43. and xxi. 4. Prov. xix. 3. 12. so Ben Melech.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Daniel suffers a repulse from the prefect; and truly, as I have lately remarked, his humanity is not praised through his listening to Daniel’s wish and prayer; but through his burying in silence whatever might have brought him into difficulties. And his friendship appears in this; for although he denies his request, yet he does so mildly and civilly, as if he had said he would willingly grant it unless he had feared the king’s anger. This, therefore, is the meaning, — the prefect, though he did not dare to comply with Daniel’s request, yet treated both him and his companions kindly by not endangering their lives. He says, — he was afraid of the king who had ordered the food He is not to be blamed as if he feared man more than the living God, for he could not have any knowledge of God. Although he may have been persuaded that Daniel made his request in the earnest, pursuit of piety, yet he did not think himself authorized to comply; for he thought the Jews had their peculiar method of worship, but meanwhile he clung entirely to the religion of Babylon. Just as many profane persons now think us quite right in casting away superstitions, but yet they slumber in this error, — it is lawful for themselves to live in the ancient manner, since they were so brought up and instructed by their forefathers. Hence they use rites which they allow to be disapproved by us. So also this prefect might feel rightly concerning Daniel and his associates; at the same time he was not so touched by them as to desire to learn the difference between the two religions. Therefore he simply excuses himself, as not being at liberty to grant Daniel’s request, since this would endanger his own head with the king. It now follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) Of your sort, i.e., of your contemporaries, those who are of the same age with you.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And the prince of the palace servants said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord, the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces as worse likeable (more gloomy) than the youths who are of your own age. In that you would put it on my head before the king.”
The prince was quite frank with him. It put him in a dilemma. Much as he might wish to, he dared not do as Daniel asked, or else he himself would be punished and even possibly his own head might be forfeit. To him ‘good eating and drinking’ were the secret of health. It had worked before. Perhaps it was he in fact who referred them to the steward who had immediate watch over the youths and was probably highly experienced at dealing with such problems.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king.
Ver. 10. I fear my lord the king. ] This made him stand off as he did, in pretence at least. Tertullian taxeth the heathens for this, quod maiore formidine Caesarem observarent quam ipsum de Olympo Iovem, that they feared Caesar more than they did their greatest god Jupiter. But he who truly feareth God, needeth not fear any else. Act 4:19
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
And: or, Yet.
worse liking = sadder: i.e. thin and sad-looking. Compare Mat 6:16.
your sort = your own age.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 1:10
Dan 1:10 And the princeH8269 of the eunuchsH5631 saidH559 unto Daniel,H1840 IH589 fearH3372 (H853) my lordH113 the king,H4428 whoH834 hath appointedH4487 (H853) your meatH3978 and your drink:H4960 forH834 whyH4100 should he seeH7200 (H853) your facesH6440 worse likingH2196 thanH4480 the childrenH3206 whichH834 are of your sort?H1524 then shall ye make me endangerH2325 (H853) my headH7218 to the king.H4428
Dan 1:10
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
The prince of the eunuchs was sympathetic to Daniel’s plea but he knew his life would be forfeit if Daniel and his companions did not gain weight and appear healthy before the king. There was obviously a relationship between the two because the master of the eunuchs wanted to know why Daniel would request something that would cause him to lose his head over so Daniel’s request was at first refused.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
I fear: Pro 29:25, Joh 12:42, Joh 12:43
worse liking: Heb. sadder, Mat 6:16-18
sort: or, term, or continuance
Reciprocal: 1Ki 8:50 – and give them Dan 1:7 – the prince
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 1:10, Sort means age, and tbe prince was fearful Lest Daniel should not look as well as the others of his age if he were permitted to abstain from the diet provided for him. Of course that would endanger the life of the man who was made responsible for the welfare of the prisoners allotted to him. He made this protest to Daniel who was reasonable enough to see the position the prince was in, and he seems to have said nothing more to him on that matter.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Dan 1:10. The prince of the eunuchs said, I fear my lord the king He objects that he should incur the kings displeasure, and bring his life into danger, if he complied with Daniels request; the king having appointed what sort of meat and drink Daniel and his young friends should use, and having given no one authority to change it for any other, especially for a kind less calculated to preserve their health, and increase the strength and vigour of their constitutions, and beauty of their appearance. For why should he see your faces worse liking Hebrew, , , as the LXX. render it, more sad and dejected, or meager and lean; than the children which are of your sort Or, which are of your age, as the Hebrew word signifies in the Arabic, and as the LXX. understand it. Probably, however, the word may include the condition also.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, {n} I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king.
(n) He supposed they did this for their religion, which was contrary to the Babylonians, and therefore in this he represents those who are of no religion: for neither would he condemn theirs, nor maintain his own.