11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. Daniel 1:11-16 KJV
In the original language of the book of Daniel, 'pulse' (Hebrew: zero'im) meant 'food derived from plants', the kind that God gave to our first parents in the Garden of Eden. God said to them, '....I have given you every herb bearing seed,.... and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat [food].' Genesis 1:29. The food that Daniel chose was therefore fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables, and the wonderful drink that God has given us for our health - pure water.
As Daniel expected, after ten days of eating this simple but nourishing food, his health was excellent, and that of hiss companions also. They were able to study easily. It is just as true today that a healthful diet and proper physical habits are a most wonderful aid to mental an moral strength. Students in school would be wise to follow the youthful Daniel's example.
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. Daniel 1:11-16 KJV
In the original language of the book of Daniel, 'pulse' (Hebrew: zero'im) meant 'food derived from plants', the kind that God gave to our first parents in the Garden of Eden. God said to them, '....I have given you every herb bearing seed,.... and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat [food].' Genesis 1:29. The food that Daniel chose was therefore fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables, and the wonderful drink that God has given us for our health - pure water.
As Daniel expected, after ten days of eating this simple but nourishing food, his health was excellent, and that of hiss companions also. They were able to study easily. It is just as true today that a healthful diet and proper physical habits are a most wonderful aid to mental an moral strength. Students in school would be wise to follow the youthful Daniel's example.