דניאל, פרק א׳, פסוק י״א

Daniel navigates a delicate political situation, seeking a way to maintain his religious convictions without openly defying the royal court. After encountering hesitation from the highest authority in charge of his care, he demonstrates remarkable diplomatic skill by shifting his focus to a lower-ranking official. He directs his request to the steward, the specific attendant appointed to oversee him and his companions [אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון]. This official was responsible for the practical, day-to-day tasks of portioning out the rations, arranging the dishes, and serving the meals and drinks [אבן עזרא, רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].

The commentators analyze the strategy behind this shift in command. One perspective suggests Daniel approached the steward simply because the chief officer refused to listen to his plea [יוסף אבן יחיא]. However, the primary approach among commentators is that the chief officer never issued a flat refusal. Instead, he merely expressed his personal fear of the king's wrath. Daniel wisely understood this response; he realized the chief officer looked upon him favorably and would willingly turn a blind eye if the lower-ranking steward altered the meals [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם].

This chain of events reveals a highly calculated strategy. Had Daniel approached the steward first, the attendant would never have dared to help, terrified that the chief officer would discover the plot and have him executed. By speaking to the chief officer first, Daniel secured his quiet agreement. The chief could not officially order the menu change himself, as dealing with such minor details was beneath his station, and doing so would make him directly responsible if the youths' health deteriorated. His unspoken consent, however, empowered the steward to conduct the dietary experiment independently [אלשיך].

Furthermore, Daniel exercised extreme caution, carefully tailoring the information he shared with each official. When speaking to the chief officer, he avoided mentioning his intention to eat a diet consisting solely of seeds. A menu that sparse would have been viewed as a guaranteed threat to their physical and mental health, prompting the chief to forbid it immediately. Instead, Daniel only expressed a general desire to avoid the king's food. Later, when presenting his plan to the steward, Daniel completely concealed the underlying religious motive of refusing food used in idol worship, choosing to present only the practical request for the new diet [אלשיך, מלבי״ם].