Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 1:11

Albert Barnes Commentary

Daniel 1:11

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Daniel 1:11

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:" — Daniel 1:11 (ASV)

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel ... - Margin, or, the “steward.” It is not easy to determine whether the word here used (מלצר meltsâr) is to be regarded as a proper name, or the name of an office. It occurs nowhere else, except in (Daniel 1:16), applied to the same person. Gesenius regards it as denoting the name of an office in the Babylonian court - master of the wine, chief butler.

Others regard it as meaning a treasurer. The word is still in use in Persia. The Vulgate renders it as a proper name - Malasar; and so the Syriac - Meshitzar; and so the Greek - Ἀμελσὰδ Amelsad. The use of the article in the word (המלצר hameltsâr) would seem to imply that it denoted the name of an “office,” and nothing would be more probable than that the actual furnishing of the daily portion of food would be entrusted to a steward, or to some incumbent of an office inferior to that sustained by Ashpenaz (Daniel 1:3).