דניאל, פרק ה׳, פסוק י״ג

Following the queen's recommendation, Daniel is finally brought into the royal feast. His absence from the palace up until this critical moment stems from a personal choice; in his old age, he stepped away from the royal court to live a quiet, private life. Because of this, he was entirely unknown to the current guests, and only the queen remembered his past presence and unique abilities [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

When Daniel arrives, the king addresses him by specifically pointing out his background as a captive from Judah, noting that he was brought over by the former king. Commentators offer different reasons for why the ruler chooses to highlight Daniel's status as an exile at this moment.

One perspective suggests the king is trying to honor Daniel and elevate his standing in the room. By explicitly stating that his royal father brought him from Judah, the king distinguishes Daniel from later groups of exiles. Those later captives were considered lowly and were brought over by the captain of the guard, whereas Daniel belonged to the first, distinguished group of exiles brought directly by King Nebuchadnezzar himself [מלבי״ם].

Conversely, another approach views the king's greeting as a political apology driven by deep embarrassment. A capable ruler is expected to keep his wisest advisors close at hand, yet the king had completely ignored Daniel's existence until now. Fearing that Daniel might harbor bitterness for being forgotten and only summoned in a moment of sheer desperation, the king fixates on his origins as a captive. He pretends to have known Daniel only as a simple exile, conveniently denying any knowledge of the immense power and high rank Nebuchadnezzar had previously granted him. This acts as a calculated excuse for why he never brought Daniel into his inner circle, hoping the elderly advisor will accept the subtle apology and agree to solve the terrifying mystery [אלשיך].