Ver. 8. There may be several weighty reasons assigned why Daniel did this.
1. Because many of those meats provided for the king's table were such as were forbidden by the Jews law, whereof Daniel made conscience,
2. Daniel knew these delicacies would too much gratify and pamper the flesh, and therefore he would prevent the defilements which too often do arise from delicious fare, Deuteronomy 32:14,15 Eze 16:49 Hosea 13:6 Romans 13:13; so that those who fare deliciously would practise this.
3. Daniel knew he should by this bait be taken with the hook which lay hid under it, and insensibly be drawn from the true to a false religion, by eating and drinking things consecrated to idols.
4. Daniel saw his people lie under God's displeasure by their captivity, and therefore could not but be sensible how unsuitable a courtly life would be in him to the afflicted state of God's people, Hebrews 11:24-26. Therefore Daniel was herein a rare pattern of avoiding all the occasions of evil, which he did with purpose of heart, Acts 11:23; saith the text, he purposed in his heart to abstain.