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Daniel

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Daniel 6

1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;

1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

Commentary · verse 1

At the beginning of the Book of Esther, Mordecai was the cousin of Esther and taken captive with Jehoiachin, king of Judah, by Nebuchadnezzar. This was eleven years before the final captivity of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem. Mordecai was second in Ahasuerus' kingdom, while Daniel was second under Nebuchadnezzar. In the previous chapter, it looked as if Daniel had lost his position under Belshazzar. In Daniel 9, we will see Darius the Mede is the son of Ahasuerus...and Esther!

2and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage.

2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

Commentary · verse 2

Daniel was the ruler of Darius' satraps (princes). Darius was administrating.

3Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Commentary · verse 3

Daniel was preferred because of the excellent spirit in him (5:12), so much that Darius thought to put Daniel over the "whole realm." Esther was the mother of Darius and Darius was a believer. If you want the explanation, click the "Esther" link.

4Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

Commentary · verses 4-5

The other presidents and princes were jealous of Daniel. Daniel was attacked because of his faith in God. This was the only thing they knew to, or could, use against him.

6Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Commentary · verses 6-7

Daniel did not agree to this. It said "all" of them agreed in verse 7, the presidents lied.

8Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.

8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

Commentary · verses 8-9

Darius trusted them and took their advice. In Esther 3:9-11, we saw Darius' father blindly trusted Haman in the same way as what was recorded here.

10And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem); and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Commentary · verse 10

Daniel intentionally violated the law of the Medes and Persians.

Doctrines on this passage

11Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.

11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

Commentary · verse 11

The men went looking for Daniel. They knew he would be breaking the law.

12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

Commentary · verses 12-13

The men accused Daniel to Darius.

14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him.

14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

Commentary · verse 14

Darius knew this was his fault and not Daniel's. Darius tried to do everything not to put Daniel in the lion's den.

15Then these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

Commentary · verse 15

The men confronted the king.

16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

Commentary · verse 16

Darius kept the law but had faith and knew that Daniel did not deserve this. Notice, Darius also believed in the power of Jehovah.

17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.

17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

Commentary · verses 17-18

Darius fasted through the night and did not sleep. Remember, Darius could not pray, otherwise he would be breaking his own law. Darius took responsibility for his decision.

19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

Commentary · verse 19

As soon as he legally could, Darius went to the lion's den.

20And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.

20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

Commentary · verses 20-23

Because of Daniel's trust/faith in God, an angel shut the mouths of the lions.

24And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.

24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

Commentary · verse 24

Darius judged the liars, their children, and their wives.

25Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.

26I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

25Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Commentary · verses 25-26

Darius declared the God of Daniel as supreme.

27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Commentary · verse 27

The third king of Israel was Solomon. Solomon was lukewarm. He was given warnings from God and refused to take down the high places. The Book of Ecclesiastes showed that once he did not get the one excellent woman he wanted as the Queen of his queens (Song of Solomon), his attitude took a turn for the worse and he violated the four causes of judgment from Ezekiel 16. Solomon wanted all the authority of being king without any of the responsibility. We saw Solomon finished apart from God. In this chapter, we saw the third "heathen" king over Israel took responsibility for his decisions. He was not lukewarm. Darius a believer. Clearly, the first three Israelite kings were each the opposite of the respective first three heathen kings over Israel.

28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Commentary · verse 28

Daniel prospered through Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, and Cyrus. Cyrus was the king we saw in Ezra 1 that gave the decree to build the temple.

Daniel 4-6 covered the conclusion of Part I of the Book of Daniel, interactions with the kings. Next we will begin Part II: Prophecy.

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