John Gill Commentary Daniel 1:16

"So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse." — Daniel 1:16 (ASV)

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat To himself, as the Syriac version adds; he took and carried it to his own family, and made use of it himself; and the portion of four such young gentlemen, maintained at the king's expense, and who had their provision from his table, must be, especially in the course of three years, of great advantage to this man and his family; for this was continued, as the word signifies, and may be rendered, "and Melzar was taking away &c." ^F6 ; so he did from time to time; and thus, by serving the Lord's people, he served himself:

and the wine that they should drink which he also took for his own use:

and gave them pulse to eat, and water to drink, as the Syriac version adds, and which they desired; when he found this agreed so well with them, and he could safely do it without exposing himself to danger, and being to his profit and advantage.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F6: (avn) "fuit ferens", Montanus; "auferens", Piscator, Gejerus; "perseveravit auferre cibum"; Cocceius; "erat capiens", Michaelis.