דניאל, פרק א׳, פסוק י״ג

A bold, practical trial is proposed to resolve the conflict over the royal diet. Daniel asks the chief officer to directly compare the young men eating simple meals with those consuming the king's lavish delicacies [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The timeframe of ten days for this test is highly specific. According to medical knowledge, the physical damage caused by an improper diet becomes clearly visible on a person's face within ten days [מלבי״ם]. Moreover, the simple diet is not just a forced compromise but carries a distinct advantage. Basic foods promote better physical health and mental clarity, particularly for men of intellect and spirit, whereas rich royal meals can easily lead to illness. While the proposal explicitly mentions only the king's food, the royal wine is also included in the trial, left out of the speech merely for the sake of brevity [אבן עזרא].

A careful look at Daniel's request reveals his deep spiritual caution. He asks the officer only to observe their facial appearance, purposefully avoiding any promise that they will become physically robust or heavy. A glowing, healthy face is ultimately a reflection of inner joy. The young men know that by avoiding forbidden foods and faithfully doing God's will, they will be filled with a profound inner happiness that will naturally radiate from their faces, even on a meager diet. Gaining actual physical bulk from eating only seeds, however, would be entirely unnatural, and righteous people are careful not to rely on miracles. Therefore, Daniel only commits to an outcome that can be achieved through the natural order [אלשיך, חומת אנך].

Ultimately, the final decision rests entirely in the officer's hands, depending strictly on the visible results of the trial [רש״י]. If the youths look unwell after ten days, they will be forced against their will to consume the king's rich food and wine. But if their appearance remains healthy, they will be allowed to continue their simple diet of seeds and water [מצודת דוד]. Although Daniel deliberately avoids relying on a supernatural event, God sees their pure intentions and rewards them far beyond the limits of nature. He performs a wonder, ensuring that the youths do not merely look fresh and radiant, but actually become physically stronger and noticeably healthier than all the children eating the royal meals [אלשיך, חומת אנך].