Мидраш к Даниэль 1:5

(Fol. 24) One passage says (Num. 8, 24) From twenty and five years old and upward, and again another passage says (Ib. 4, 3) From thirty years old; how can both passages be reconciled? The age of twenty-five years refers to the time of studying and the thirty years of age refers to actual work. From this it may be inferred that a scholar who does not see a sign of improvement for a period of five years, will hence never see an improvement. R. Jose says: "If he does not see for a period of three years, as it is said (Dan. 1, 5) And that they should be nourished three years; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans." The former Tanna, however, contends that three years were sufficient for the Chaldaic language, which is easy to learn. The latter Tanna holds that only concerning the rules of the Temple work, which were so numerous a period of five years was necessary.

An idolater asked Rabban Gamliel, "Why was the Holy One, Blessed be He revealed to Moses in the Burning Bush?" Rabban Gamliel replied to him, "If God had been revealed in a carob tree or a fig tree, you would have asked me the same thing, and I could not send you away without an answer. This teaches you that there is no place in the world devoid of the Shekhinah."

Similarly, you find that though the Holy One, blessed be He, decreed that Daniel and his companions should eat unclean bread, as it is said: And the Lord said: “Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their bread unclean, among the nations whither I will drive them” (Ezek. 4:13), nevertheless when Nebuchadnezzar commanded them to eat his food, as is said: And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s food and of the wine which he drank (Dan. 1:5), Daniel would not obey. He declared: Even though the Holy One, blessed be He, has decreed that we should eat unclean food, He did so only to test us. We will do our part, let Him do His part. Then he said to the chief of the officers: Try thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king’s food; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants (Dan. 1:12–13). The officers retorted: “Are you descended from nobility that you are able to withstand the test of ten days without food or wine?” “Yes, indeed,” they replied, “for we are the descendants of that righteous man who was tried ten times. Perhaps his merit will assist us. After all, has not the king found us to be ten times as wise as all his magicians and sorcerers?” Forthwith, the Holy One, blessed be He, made the officer feel well disposed toward Daniel: So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and tried them for ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youth that did eat of the king’s food (ibid., vv. 14–15).