THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
What prompts his sorrow once more? If it is indeed the first year of Cyrus' reign, why continue to lament, especially when he could choose to mourn for just a single day? Yet, he finds himself without any response to his petitions. It appears he is beseeching God for the end of their afflictions; however, the Lord remains silent on this matter, reiterating a message more explicit than before. The prophet intercedes for the return of all the Jews, despite the looming disasters that would confront them, though God intends to withhold their homeland from them. Here, God articulates His intention with greater clarity. It is noteworthy that Daniel consistently receives visions only after periods of fasting.
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Prior to the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he fasted; when Gabriel came to him, he was again in a state of fasting, clothed in sackcloth; and now, as the angel appears, he continues with fasting and prayer. Observe how Daniel is nearly vindicated in his actions.
How do you, as a Jew, engage in fasting now, considering that your forebears neither offered sacrifices, nor observed fasting, nor celebrated feasts? It is already clear that they did not partake in the Passover; for where there is no sacrifice, there can be no feast, since every feast required a sacrifice. To further illustrate this, consider the words of Daniel: “In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks; I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the great river, the Tigris” (Dan. 10:2-4). Pay close attention, for these statements clearly indicate that during the Babylonian captivity, the Jews did not observe the Passover.
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Allow me to explain how this is evident. During the Days of Unleavened Bread, fasting was not permitted for the Jews, yet Daniel abstained from food for twenty-one days. How can we ascertain that these twenty-one days coincided with the Days of Unleavened Bread? This is indicated by his mention of “the twenty-fourth day of the first month,” as the Passover concludes on the twenty-first day. Beginning on the fourteenth day of the first month and continuing for seven days, the observance would reach the twenty-first day. However, Daniel continued his fasting even after the Passover, having started on the third day of the first month and then fasting for twenty-one days, which would include the fourteenth day along with seven days and an additional three days.
Therefore, can it not be said that the Jews acted unlawfully and irreverently? While those holy individuals did not engage in any religious practices in a foreign land, the Jews now behave contrary to this with their persistence. If it were just some negligent and ungodly individuals, one might excuse their failure to observe feasts due to carelessness. Conversely, if they were devout and God-fearing individuals who treasured God's commandments, it becomes evident that their neglect of the law concerning these feasts was rooted not in negligence but in the conviction drawn from the law itself, which states that none of these rituals should be observed outside of Jerusalem. This reveals another profound truth: that the performance of sacrifices, observance of Sabbaths, new moons, and similar practices were not deemed essential within that contemporary Jewish framework. Neither could these observances confer any special virtue, nor could their absence diminish a person's righteousness or moral standing. Thus, these holy men, who lived on earth with wisdom akin to that of the angels, did not perform sacrifices, celebrate feasts, or observe fasts, yet their lives were so pleasing to God that they transcended natural bounds and illuminated the universe with the knowledge of God. What can compare to Daniel?