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. Daniel 1:8
PROHIBITION AGAINST EATING BLOOD
There may have been more than one reason that eating from the king’s table would have caused a Jew to be defiled. Leviticus 17:10-12 makes it clear that the Israelites were prohibited from eating blood:
“‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”
In Deuteronomy 12:23-24 the LORD commands the Israelites to drain the blood from the meat they will eat:
But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.
PROHIBITION AGAINST EATING UNCLEAN ANIMALS
The pagans not only failed to drain the blood from the meat they were going to consume but also ate animals that were declared unclean for Israelites.
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud. Leviticus 11:1-3
The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you. Leviticus 11:6-8
If Daniel ate what was served to King Nebuchadnezzar, both eating unclean animals and meat that was not drained of its blood would have defiled him.
PROHIBITION AGAINST EATING MEAT OFFERED TO IDOLS
In addition, a portion of the meat as well as a portion of the wine would have first been offered to their idol “Bel.” If Daniel ate and drank this meat and wine he would be giving his tacit approval to the practice of idolatry.
Although righteous Daniel risked offending the king and could have been put to death for refusing to eat his royal food, Daniel resolved not to defile himself in obedience to the commandments of the LORD God of Israel.
