Daniel taken Captive

The first deportation of Jews included the elite class, including the royal families. Daniel and his friends were evidently nobility, and were drafted into service at King Nebuchudnezzar's palace. In order to ensure they were fit for service, the King treated them well and fed them food from his own kitchens. These young men were reticent to eat the food because they would have suspected that a portion of it had been sacrificed to idols, which would have made it detestable to God and therefore to them. The diet of the Babylonians would also have contained meats not acceptable to Jews and foods that would not have been prepared according to their dietary laws. Since there were no unclean vegetables, a vegetarian diet seemed an easy way to ensure they were not violating God's law. Like Joseph before them, who had impressed the pagan Pharoah who held him captive, these men found favor with God and were granted success in all that they did.

Tomorrow's reading: Daniel 2-3:30, Jeremiah 7-8:3