| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
Daniel Chapter
Six
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 6
This
chapter gives an account of Daniel's being cast into the den of lions
and the
causes of it
and the steps leading to it; and also of his wonderful
deliverance out of it
and what followed upon that. It first relates how Daniel
was made by Darius first president of the princes of the kingdom
which drew
their envy upon him
Daniel 6:1
and
that these princes finding they could get no occasion against him
but in
religion
proposed to the king to make a law forbidding prayer to any god for
thirty days
which they got established
Daniel 6:5
and
Daniel breaking this law
is accused by them to the king; and the penalty
casting into the den of lions
is insisted on to be executed
Daniel 6:10
which
the king laboured to prevent
but in vain; and Daniel is cast to the lions
to
the great grief of the king
Daniel 6:14
who
visited the den the next morning
and to his great joy found Daniel alive
Daniel 6:19
upon
which
by the law of retaliation
his accusers
their wives
and children
were
cast into it
Daniel 6:24
and an
edict was published by the king
commanding all in his dominions to fear and reverence
the God of Daniel
Daniel 6:25.
Daniel 6:1 It pleased
Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps
to be over the
whole kingdom;
YLT
1It hath been good before
Darius
and he hath established over the kingdom satraps -- a hundred and
twenty -- that they may be throughout the whole kingdom
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty
princes
.... This is the same Darius mentioned in the latter part of the
preceding chapter; who
as soon as he took the kingdom of Babylon
divided it
into a hundred and twenty provinces
as Jacchiades observes; as was the manner
of the Medes and Persians. So Darius the son of Hystaspes divided the kingdom
of Persia into twenty provinces
and set governors over each
according to
HerodotusF18Thalia
sive l. 3. c. 89. ; to these hundred and twenty
provinces seven more were afterwards added
through the victories of Cyrus and
Cambyses
and Darius Itystaspes
Esther 1:1.
JosephusF19Antiqu. l. 10. c. 11. sect. 4.
through forgetfulness
makes these princes and provinces three hundred and sixty:
which should be over the whole kingdom; or
"in
the whole kingdom"F20בכל מלכותא "in toto regno"
Pagninus
Montanus
Piscator
Cocceius; "toti regno"
Junius & Tremellius. ; in the
several parts of it
and take care of all things relative to the civil
government of it
both for the honour and advantage of the king
and the good
of the subjects.
Daniel 6:2 2 and
over these
three governors
of whom Daniel was one
that the satraps
might give account to them
so that the king would suffer no loss.
YLT
2and higher than they three
presidents
of whom Daniel [is] first
that these satraps may give to them an
account
and the king have no loss.
And over these three presidents
.... To whom the hundred
and twenty princes were accountable for their conduct
and to whom the people
might apply for redress of grievances
if oppressed; perhaps the whole empire
was divided into three greater parts
and each part had forty provinces in it
and over it a president or deputy of the king; to whom the princes of each
province gave in the account of what they received for the king
and what use
they made of it:
(of whom Daniel was the first:) or "one"F21חד εις
Sept.; "unus"
V. L. Syr. Ar. Pagninus
Montanus
Piscator
Cocceius
Michaelis.
who was now an old man
having been about seventy years in
Babylon
and had had a large experience of the affairs of civil government
being advanced in the times of Nebuchadnezzar to high posts; and very probably
Darius had heard of the wisdom of Daniel before he came to the kingdom
as well
as the king of Tyre
Ezekiel 28:3 and
might be informed of his prediction of Belshazzar's death
and the change of
the empire: and of Belshazzar's promise to make him the third ruler in the
kingdom; and he might also himself observe in him an uncommon sagacity and
fitness for business of this sort. JosephusF23Antiqu. l. 10. c. 11.
sect. 4. says
that Darius took Daniel with him into Media
and made him one of
the three presidents; and indeed no mention is made in this history of the
nobles of Babylon
but only of the Medes and Persians:
that the princes might give account unto them
and the king should
have no damage: or loss in his revenues
through the fraud and bad management of
the princes of the provinces; since they might be discovered and checked by the
presidents
who were to audit their accounts: or
"have no trouble"F24לא להוא נזק
οπως μη ενοχληται
Sept.; "ne rex molestia afficeretur"
Pagninus; "ut rex illo
levaretur gravamine"
Munster. ; in looking over and passing the accounts
of the princes.
Daniel 6:3 3 Then
this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps
because an
excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him
over the whole realm.
YLT
3Then this Daniel hath been
overseer over the presidents and satraps
because that an excellent spirit [is]
in him
and the king hath thought to establish him over the whole kingdom.
Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes
.... Not only
above the princes
but the presidents
being the first of them
as before: or
"he was victorious above them"F25מתנצח
"victorem se gerebat"
Piscator
Michaelis. ; he got more credit and
applause than they did
being more exact
diligent
and laborious
faithful
and conscientious:
because an excellent spirit was in him; meaning not a
spirit of grace
piety
and religion
which the Heathen king was no judge of
nor valued him for it
though it was in him; but a spirit of knowledge of civil
affairs
and of prudence in managing them
and of integrity throughout the
whole of his conduct:
and the king thought to set him over the whole realm; or
"wherefore the king thought"F26ומלכא
"ideo rex"
Gejerus
Michaelis.
&c.; because there was such a
spirit in him
which so qualified him for public business
he began to think of
abolishing his triumvirate of presidents
and making Daniel his viceroy over
the whole empire
which very probably they had got some knowledge of; and this
as well as being above them
drew the envy of them on him
and put them upon
the following scheme.
Daniel 6:4 4 So
the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel
concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault
because he was
faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
YLT
4Then the presidents and
satraps have been seeking to find a cause of complaint against Daniel
concerning the kingdom
and any cause of complaint and corruption they are not
able to find
because that he [is] faithful
and any error and corruption have
not been found in him.
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against
Daniel concerning the kingdom
.... Concerning the management of the
affairs of the kingdom
he being prime minister of state; the presidents and
princes joined together in this inquiry; the princes
because Daniel was so
strict and exact in looking into their accounts
that no fraudulent measures
were taken to cheat the king of his revenue; and the presidents
because he was
preferred above them:
but they could find none occasion nor fault; or
"corruption"F1שחיתה
"corruptela"
Pagninus
Montanus
Cocceius
Michaelis;
"corruptionem"
Gejerus.
that he had been guilty of any
mis-administration
or any corrupt practices:
forasmuch as he was faithful
neither was there any error or fault
found in him; no mistake in his accounts; no blunder in his management of
things; nothing done amiss
neither wilfully
nor through ignorance
negligence
or inadvertence; so faithful and upright
so prudent and discreet
so exact and careful
that the most watchful observers of him
and these
envious
and his most implacable enemies
could find no fault in him
or anything
or the colour of it
to ground an accusation upon.
Daniel 6:5 5 Then
these men said
“We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we
find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
YLT
5Then these men are saying
`We do not find against this Daniel any cause of complaint
except we have
found [it] against him in the law of his God.'
Then said these men
.... To one another:
we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel; whom they
speak of with great disdain and contempt
calling him this Daniel
this fellow
though in the highest post in the kingdom:
except we find it against him concerning the law of his God; about his
religion; not that they thought he would be prevailed upon to break the law of
his God in any respect; but they knew he was tenacious of the Jewish religion
and of all the laws
rites
and ceremonies of it; if therefore they could get
an act passed
and signed by the king
which would any ways affect his
religion
or any branch of it
or prohibit the performance of it for any time
they hoped to get an advantage of him
knowing that he would not on any
consideration forsake or neglect that; which being said by his enemies was
greatly to his honour.
Daniel 6:6 6 So
these governors and satraps thronged before the king
and said thus to him:
“King Darius
live forever!
YLT
6Then these presidents and
satraps have assembled near the king
and thus they are saying to him: `O king
Darius
to the ages live!
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king
.... Having
consulted the matter
and agreed upon and formed a scheme among themselves
and
drawn up a bill or decree in form
ready to be signed by the king
whom they
hoped to persuade to it; and for that end they got together
and went in a body
to him. The wordF2הרגשו "tumultuarie
convenerunt"
Montanus; "cum tumultu accurrerent"
De Dieu;
"convenerunt gregatim et cum strepitu"
Gejerus. signifies to
assemble in a tumultuous and noisy way; they thought
by their number and
noise
their bustle and bluster
to carry their point. Ben Melech compares it
with Psalm 2:2
and said thus unto him
O King Darius
live for ever; this they
said as courtiers
professing subjection to him
and affection for him
wishing
him health
long life
and happiness.
Daniel 6:7 7 All
the governors of the kingdom
the administrators and satraps
the counselors
and advisors
have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make
a firm decree
that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days
except
you
O king
shall be cast into the den of lions.
YLT
7Taken counsel have all the
presidents of the kingdom
the prefects
and the satraps
the counsellors
and
the governors
to establish a royal statute
and to strengthen an interdict
that any who seeketh a petition from any god and man until thirty days
save of
thee
O king
is cast into a den of lions.
All the presidents of the kingdom
the governors
and the princes
the counsellors
and the captains
.... There were but three
presidents
and Daniel was one of them
so that these "all" were but
"two"; they made the most of it they could; and very probably not all
and everyone of the other officers mentioned were present; but they were
willing to make their request appear as general as they could
in order that it
might have the greater weight with the king:
have consulted together to establish a royal statute
and to make
a firm decree; that is
they had met together
and had drawn up a bill that
might be passed into a law by having the royal assent
and be made sure and
firm by the king's signing it; which is as follows:
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; by which law
all invocation of their own gods was prohibited for a month
as well as of the
living and true God; but this they stuck not at
provided they could gain their
point against Daniel; and they were obliged to express it in this general way
to cover their designs; for had they mentioned a particular deity
as the God
of the Jews
or the God of Daniel
their views would have been seen into by the
king; and not only religious invocation is here forbidden
but all civil requests
are prohibited: servants might not ask anything of their masters
nor children
of their parents
nor wives of their husbands
nor one neighbour of another;
for this seems not to be limited to asking any thing of a man worshipped as a
god; though Saadiah says there were some in Darius's kingdom that believed in
worshipped
and prayed to a man; but all men are excluded
except Darius
himself
of whom only anything was to be asked for thirty days; which was not
only a deifying him
but exalting him above all gods and men; and suggesting as
if it was in his power to answer all the exigencies of his subjects
and supply
all their wants
many of which it was impossible for him to do. JosephusF3Antiqu.
l. 10. c. 11. sect. 5. mentions this law in a different manner; as if the
design of it was to give the people an intermission from devotion for such a
time
and that they were neither to pray to Darius
nor any of the gods
during
it; whereas the exception is express
"save of thee
O king". The
sanction or penalty of it is
casting into the den of lions; the king's den of
lions
as Jarchi
where his lions were kept; as it is usual with princes: this
very probably was a punishment common in the eastern nations
as casting the
Christians to the lions was usual with the Romans.
Daniel 6:8 8 Now
O king
establish the decree and sign the writing
so that it cannot be
changed
according to the law of the Medes and Persians
which does not alter.”
YLT
8Now
O king
thou dost
establish the interdict
and sign the writing
that it is not to be changed
as
a law of Media and Persia
that doth not pass away.'
Now
O king
establish the decree
and sign the writing
.... For they
had not only agreed upon it among themselves what to propose
as to the
substance of it; but they had drawn it up in writing
ready to be signed
which
they urge to have done immediately:
that it be not changed
according to the law of the Medes and
Persians
which altereth not; when once signed by the king: mention being
made of both the Medes and Persians
shows that these two nations were now
united in one government; that Darius and Cyrus were partners in the empire;
and it is easy to account for it why the Medes are mentioned first; because
Darius was the Mede
and Cyrus the Persian; the one the uncle
the other the
nephew; but afterwards
when a Persian only was on the throne
then the Persian
is mentioned first
Esther 1:19.
Daniel 6:9 9 Therefore
King Darius signed the written decree.
YLT
9Therefore king Darius hath
signed the writing and interdict.
Wherefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree. Moved to it by
the number and importunity of his principal men; and chiefly through affectation
of deity
which this law gave him; and that he might have an opportunity of
ingratiating himself into his new subjects by his munificence and liberality
not being aware of the snare laid for his favourite
Daniel.
Daniel 6:10 10 Now
when Daniel knew that the writing was signed
he went home. And in his upper
room
with his windows open toward Jerusalem
he knelt down on his knees three
times that day
and prayed and gave thanks before his God
as was his custom
since early days.
YLT
10And Daniel
when he hath
known that the writing is signed
hath gone up to his house
and the window
being opened for him
in his upper chamber
over-against Jerusalem
three times
in a day he is kneeling on his knees
and praying
and confessing before his
God
because that he was doing [it] before this.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed
.... This he
knew
either by the relation of others
or by the public proclamation of it
through the city; however
he did not know of it till it was signed
or otherwise
he might have prevented it by applying to the king
in whom he had great
interest; but
now the thing was done
he did not solicit the abrogation of it
knowing it was in vain; nor did he go to the king with complaints against his
enemies
showing the design they had in it; but let things take their own
course
he being determined to be found in his duty
be it as it would:
he went into his house: he left the court at the
proper time of prayer
and went to his own house to perform it; he did not
in
defiance of this law
go to prayer in the court
or in the streets
but retired
home
as he was used to do:
and his windows being opened; not to be seen of men
but that he might have a clear view of the heavens
where his God dwelt
to
whom he prayed
and be the more affected with the consideration of his
greatness and glory:
in his chamber toward Jerusalem; it was not in the lower
part of the house
nor on the top of the house
in either of which he might be
more easily seen; but in his chamber
where he was wont to retire
the windows
of which were opened "towards Jerusalem"; not towards the king's
palace
as if he prayed to him
and so eluded the decree; nor towards the east
as the Heathens did; but towards Jerusalem
which lay to the south of Babylon;
and that
either because of his remembrance of that city
his affection to it
and concern for its re-edification; or having some respect to the words of
Solomon
1 Kings 8:33
&c.; and so
according to the Jewish writers
it was the custom of their
people. Ben Gersom
on the above place
says
that though they did not pray
within the temple
yet they prayed
turning themselves towards it
as much as
possibly they could; and even when it was destroyed
as now
yet they in
praying turned to the place where it had stood
as Saadiah
Aben Ezra
and
Jarchi observe: and chiefly Daniel did this
because the temple was a type of
Christ
through whom the persons and prayers of the saints are acceptable unto
God:
he kneeled upon his knees three times a day
and prayed; kneeling is a
prayer gesture
a token of reverence and humility; this was done three times a
day
morning
noon
and evening; see Psalm 55:17
in the
morning
before he went out about the king's business; at noon
when he
returned home to dinner; and at evening
when all his work was done
and he was
about to retire to bed; the hours of prayer with the Jews seem to have been the
third
sixth
and ninth; that is
at nine in the morning
twelve at noon
and
three in the afternoon; see Acts 2:1
and gave thanks before his God; for the benefits he
daily received from him; or he "confessed before him"F4מודא "confitebatur"
V. L. Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator
Calvin
Cocceius. ; the sins he had been guilty of
and
owned the favours he partook of:
as he aforetime did; as it had been his
custom from his youth upward
and therefore would not omit it now
on account
of this edict.
Daniel 6:11 11 Then
these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his
God.
YLT
11Then these men have
assembled
and found Daniel praying and entreating grace before his God;
Then these men assembled
.... Gathered together
and went in a body to Daniel's house; knowing his times of prayer
and where
and in what manner
he used to pray
to see if they could find him at it as
aforetime; that so they might have to accuse him with it. Saadiah says
they
found a girl
and asked her what Daniel was doing? she told him that Daniel was
on his knees
praying to his God in his chamber; immediately they went
and
found as she had said:
and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God; they went
into his house
and up into his chamber
the doors not being locked
pretending
perhaps business with him
and saw him at his devotions; so that they were
able
upon their own knowledge
to bring in an accusation against him for
breach of the king's law
and prove it.
Daniel 6:12 12 And
they went before the king
and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you
not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty
days
except you
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 does not alter.”
YLT
12then they have come near
yea
they are saying before the king concerning the king's interdict: `Hast
thou not signed an interdict
that any man who seeketh from any god and man
until thirty days
save of thee
O king
is cast into a den of lions?' Answered
hath the king
and said
`The thing [is] certain as a law of Media and Persia
that doth not pass away.'
Then they came near
.... They went
immediately from Daniel's house to the king's palace
and into the king's
presence; which they could do
either by virtue of their offices
or being
admitted by the proper officer in waiting:
and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; at first they
said nothing about Daniel
but about the decree
to get it recognized
and
afresh ratified and confirmed; lest
under some pretence or another
the king
should change it:
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? they do not say peremptorily that he had signed such a decree
but put the question to him
that they might have it affirmed by himself:
the king answered and said
the thing is true
according to the
law of the Medes and Persians
which altereth not; it is true
that such a decree is made and signed
and it is an unalterable one; such as is
every established and signed decree of the Medes and Persians: it is as if he
had said
it is very true what you put me in mind of
and I will never recede
from it
or nullify and make it void.
Daniel 6:13 13 So
they answered and said before the king
“That Daniel
who is one of the
captives[a] from
Judah
does not show due regard for you
O king
or for the decree that you
have signed
but makes his petition three times a day.”
YLT
13Then they have answered
yea
they are saying before the king
that
`Daniel
who [is] of the sons of
the Removed of Judah
hath not placed on thee
O king
[any] regard
nor on the
interdict that thou hast signed
and three times in a day he is seeking his
petition.'
Then answered they
and spake before the king
.... Having
obtained what they desired
a ratification of the decree
they open the whole
affair to him they came about:
that Daniel
which is of the children of the captivity of Judah
regardeth not thee
O king: they call him "that Daniel"; by
way of contempt; and
to make him the more despicable
represent him not only
as a foreigner
but a captive
and therefore ought to have been humble and
obedient
as Jacchiades observes; and a Jewish captive too
of all people the
most odious; and
though he had been raised from a low estate to great honour
and dignity
yet such was his ingratitude
that he made no account of the king
nor of his orders
but despised him:
nor the decree that thou hast signed; the decree
concerning making any petition to God or man for a month
which was signed with
the king's own hand
and was firm and stable; and of which Daniel could not be
ignorant
and therefore wilfully
and in a contemptuous manner
acted contrary
to it:
but maketh his petition three times a day; to whom they
say not whether to God or man; but in this general way accuse him which they
thought best and safest; they feared
had they mentioned his God
something
might have been said in his favour to excuse him; and to aggravate the matter
they observe the frequency of his doing it
three times; so that it was not a
single fact he is charged with
but what he had repeated again and again.
Daniel 6:14 14 And
the king
when he heard these words
was greatly displeased with
himself
and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till
the going down of the sun to deliver him.
YLT
14Then the king
when he hath
heard the matter
is greatly displeased at himself
and on Daniel he hath set
the heart to deliver him
and till the going up of the sun he was arranging to
deliver him.
Then the king
when he heard these words
was sore displeased with
himself
.... Or "at it"F5עלוהי
"super eo"
Montanus; "super ipsum"
De Dieu. ; or
"with him"; with Daniel
not so much for what he had done
but that
he had not done it with more caution
or more privately
that it might not have
been known: or rather
as we render it
"with himself"
that he
should so rashly sign the decree
without considering the consequences of it;
for he now found that he was circumvented by his princes
and that their design
was not his honour and glory
but the destruction of Daniel: or the sense in general
is
that what he heard was very disagreeable
afflictive
and distressing to
him:
and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; he resolved
if possible
to do it; he applied his mind to it; he turned his thoughts wholly
that way
and contrived all ways and means to effect it: R. Mattathiah
in
Saadiah
interprets the phrase of his offering money as a ransom for his life:
and he laboured till the going down of the sun to save him; from the will
of the princes
and from the jaws of the lions: very probably it was early in
the morning these princes found Daniel at prayer
who went immediately to the
king with their accusation; so that he was all day labouring with all his might
and main to find out ways and means to save his darling favourite; he studied
to put such a sense upon his decree
that it might not reach Daniel's case; he
strove to make the princes easy
and to persuade them to drop the affair
and
not insist on the execution of the decree.
Daniel 6:15 15 Then
these men approached the king
and said to the king
“Know
O king
that it
is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the
king establishes may be changed.”
YLT
15Then these men have
assembled near the king
and are saying to the king
`know
O king
that the
law of Media and Persia [is]: That any interdict and statute that the king doth
establish is not to be changed.'
Then these men assembled to the king
.... Who had
left him for a while to consider of the case; or they departed to consult among
themselves about the king's proposals to them; or went home to their own houses
to dinner
and returned in a body; they came in a tumultuous way
as the word
signifies; see Daniel 6:6
they
cluttered about him
and were very rude and noisy
and addressed him in an
authoritative and threatening manner:
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; they perceived that he was desirous of altering or nullifying
the decree he had made
which to have done would have been to his reputation;
and to this they oppose a fundamental law of the realm
that no decree ratified
by the king could be altered; to attempt to do this would be a breach of their
constitution
and of dangerous consequence; it would lessen the king's
authority
and be a means of his subjects rising up in rebellion against him:
for that there was such a law
the king knew as well as they; nor do they say
this by way of information
but to urge him to the execution of the decree; and
there is no doubt to be made that there was such a fundamental law
though a
foolish one
and which afterwards continued
Esther 1:19
but
the instance which some writers give out of Diodorus SiculusF6Bibliothec.
Hist. l. 17. p. 510.
concerning Charidemus
a general of the Athenians
whom
another Darius king of Persia condemned to die for the freedom of speech he
used with him and afterwards repented of it
but in vain; for his royal power
as the historian observes
could not make that undone which was done; this is
no proof of the immutability of the laws of the Persians
since the king's
repentance was after the general's death
which then was too late.
Daniel
6:16 16 So
the king gave the command
and they brought Daniel and cast him into the
den of lions. But the king spoke
saying to Daniel
“Your God
whom you
serve continually
He will deliver you.”
YLT
16Then the king hath said
and they have brought Daniel
and have cast [him] into a den of lions. The king
hath answered and said to Daniel
`Thy God
whom thou art serving continually
Himself doth deliver thee.'
Then the king commanded
.... Being overawed by
his princes and fearing they would conspire against him
and stir up the people
to rebel; and consulting his own credit lest he should be thought fickle and
inconstant; he ordered the decree to be put in execution against Daniel
and
delivered his favourite into their hands:
and they brought Daniel
and cast him into the den of lions; not the
princes but proper officers employed by them: according to the additions to
this book of Daniel
there were seven lions in this den
in the Apocrypha:
"And
in the den there were seven lions
and they had given them every day two
carcases
and two sheep: which then were not given to them
to the intent they
might devour Daniel.' (Bel and the Dragon 1:32)
but
according to Joseph ben GorionF7Hist. Heb. l. 1. c. 10. p. 34.
there were ten
who used to devour ten sheep
and as many human bodies every
day; but this day they had no food
and ate nothing
that they might be more
greedy
and devour Daniel the sooner:
now the king spake and said unto Daniel; being brought
into his presence
in his palace
before he was cast into the den; or at the mouth
of the den whither the king accompanied him:
thy God whom thou servest continually
he will deliver thee; he calls the
Lord Daniel's God
not his own
as he was not
he served other gods; yet he
suggests that Daniel was right in serving him continually
in praying to him
daily
the very thing for which he was cast to the lions; and expresses his
confidence that his God he served would deliver him from being devoured by
them; which he might conclude
from
the innocency
integrity
and faithfulness
of Daniel
and from his being such a peculiar favourite of God as to be
indulged with the knowledge of future things; and perhaps he might have heard
of the deliverance of his three companions from the fiery furnace: though the
words may be rendered
as they are by some
as a wish or prayer
"may thy
God &c. deliver thee"F8ישזבנך
"liberet te"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
Grotius
Cocceius
Michaelis. ; I cannot
I pray he would; it is my hearty desire that so it might
be.
Daniel 6:17 17 Then
a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den
and the king sealed it
with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords
that the purpose
concerning Daniel might not be changed.
YLT
17And a stone hath been
brought and placed at the mouth of the den
and the king hath sealed it with
his signet
and with the signet of his great men
that the purpose be not
changed concerning Daniel.
And a stone was brought
and laid upon the mouth of the den
.... Not a
heap of stones
but a single one
a very large one
sufficient to stop up the
mouth of the den
that nothing might enter in at it
or be cast into it: this
stone was brought by proper persons
and a sufficient number of them
according
the order of the king
or his princes
or both; for what Jarchi says
of there
being no stones in Babylon
only bricks
and of the angels bringing this stone
out of the land of Israel
is all fabulous: but for what end it should be
brought and laid is not easy to say; if it was laid here by the order of the
princes
it could not surely be to keep any of his friends from going in to
deliver him
for who would venture himself there? nor to keep Daniel in it
since it might be concluded
that
as soon as ever he was cast in
he would be
seized upon by the lions and devoured at once; unless it can be thought
that
these men saw
that when he was thrown in
the lions did not meddle with him;
which they might attribute to their having been lately fed
and therefore
that
he might be reserved till they were hungry
they did this: if it was by the
order of the king
which is very likely
the reason might be
he believed
or
at least hoped
that God would deliver him from the lions; but lest his
enemies
seeing this
should throw in stones or arrows
and kill him
the mouth
of the den was stopped
so Jarchi and Saadiah: no doubt but this was so ordered
by the providence of God
as well as the sealing of it
that the miracle of the
deliverance might appear the more manifest:
and the king sealed it with his own signet
and with the signet of
the lords; that none might dare to remove it; so the stone that was laid at
the door of Christ's sepulchre was sealed with a seal
Matthew 27:66
the
reason of sealing it follows
that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel: the view the
lords had in it was
that the king might not change the sentence passed on
Daniel
or take any methods to deliver him; and the view the king had in it
might be
that should he be saved from the lions
as he hoped he would
that no
other sentence might pass upon him
or he be delivered to any other kind of
death.
Daniel 6:18 18 Now
the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians[b] were
brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.
YLT
18Then hath the king gone to
his palace
and he hath passed the night fasting
and dahavan have not been
brought up before him
and his sleep hath fled [from] off him.
Then the king went to his palace
.... After he had
accompanied Daniel to the den
and he was cast into it
the stone was laid to
the mouth of it
and that sealed; this was after sunset
for he had laboured
till then to serve him
Daniel 6:14
perhaps it was late at night:
and passed the night fasting; vexed for what he had done
in signing the decree; fretting because he could not save Daniel
and his heart
full of grief for him
and so had no stomach to eat; went to bed without his
supper
lay all night fasting
and would not eat a bit nor drink a drop of
anything:
neither were instruments of music brought before him; as used to be
after supper
and played upon; his heart was too full
and his mind and
thoughts so intent on Daniel's case
that he could not listen to music
or bear
the sound of it. Jarchi interprets it a "table"
to sit down at
and
eat
being furnished and well served
as was usual; but this is implied in the
preceding clause. Aben Ezra
Saadiah
and Jacchiades
explain by songs and
musical instruments
harps and psalter and Saadiah adds
girls to sing and dance.
De Dieu
from the use of the word in the Arabic language
thinks that incense
is meant
which was used at feasts
and in the palaces of princes.
And his sleep went from him; while he was up he could
take no pleasure in eating and drinking
and hearing music; and when he was in
bed
he could not sleep for thinking what he had done
and what was the case of
Daniel.
Daniel 6:19 19 Then
the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
YLT
19Then doth the king rise in
the early morning
at the light
and in haste to the den of lions he hath gone;
Then the king arose very early in the morning
.... Or
"in the morning with light"F9בשפרפרא־בנגהא
"summa aurora cum luce"
Junius & Tremellius; "in tempore
aurorae cum luce"
Piscator. as soon as ever light appeared
or the day
broke: the word for morning is doubled
and one of the letters in it is larger
than usual; and all which denote not only his very great earliness in rising
but his earnestness and solicitude for Daniel
to know whether he was alive or
not:
and went in haste unto the den of lions; he did not
send a servant
but went in person
and with as much expedition as possible
though a king
and an old man; this shows the great love and strong affection
he had for Daniel
and his concern for his good and welfare.
Daniel 6:20 20 And
when he came to the den
he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The
king spoke
saying to Daniel
“Daniel
servant of the living God
has your God
whom you serve continually
been able to deliver you from the lions?”
YLT
20and at his coming near to
the den
to Daniel
with a grieved voice
he crieth. The king hath answered and
said to Daniel
O Daniel
servant of the living God
thy God
whom thou art
serving continually
is He able to deliver thee from the lions?'
And when he came to the den
he cried with a lamentable voice unto
Daniel
.... Expressing grief and sorrow his heart was full of; it was
rather like howling than speaking; thus he cried before he saw Daniel
or heard
him speak:
when he was near to the denF11במקרבה לגבא "cum appropinquasset ad
foveam"
Pagninus; "quumque appropinquaret ad foveam"
Piscator.
as it may be rendered; and he was between hope and fear about Daniel's
safety; when within sight of the den
and hearing of Daniel
should he be alive
to speak: but when he came nearer and saw him
then
the king spake and said to Daniel
O Daniel
servant of the living
God; art thou alive? this is a plain case
that the God whom thou servest is the
living God
since he has saved thee; and that thou art a true and faithful
servant of his
seeing he has wrought such deliverance for thee:
is thy God
whom thou servest continually
able to deliver thee
from the lions? has he made it to appear that he is able to deliver from them?
has he really done the thing? he could scarcely believe for joy
being filled
with amazement; for these words are not to be considered as expressive of any
doubt or hesitation he had of the power of God to save him; for he had declared
he had before
yea; his confidence that he would deliver him; but of his wonder
and admiration at it
the thing being so extraordinary and amazing.
Daniel 6:21 21 Then
Daniel said to the king
“O king
live forever!
YLT
21Then Daniel hath spoken
with the king: `O king
to the ages live:
Then said Daniel unto the king
.... Whose voice he knew
though the tone of it was so much altered:
O king
live for ever; he does not reproach him
for delivering him into the hands of his enemies
and suffering him to be cast
into that place
which he might have prevented
had he had more resolution; he
knew it was done with reluctance
though with weakness; which he does not upbraid
him with
but freely forgives him
and wishes him health
long life
and
prosperity.
Daniel 6:22 22 My
God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths
so that they have not hurt me
because I was found innocent before Him; and also
O king
I have done no wrong
before you.”
YLT
22my God hath sent His
messenger
and hath shut the lions' mouths
and they have not injured me:
because that before Him purity hath been found in me; and also before thee
O
king
injury I have not done.'
My God hath sent his angel
.... Daniel takes up the
king's expression
and confirms it; he asserts God to be his God
of which he
had given him a proof in sending his angel to him that night; either one of the
ministering spirits about him
or the Angel of the covenant
the same with him
said to be like the Son of God
that was seen in the fiery furnace
even the
Messiah in human form:
and hath shut the lions' mouths
that they have not hurt me; by taking
away hunger from them
or by striking terror into them; so that they had either
no inclination to hurt him
or were afraid of him:
forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; either before
God
or before his Angel
Daniel appeared to be an innocent and righteous
person; therefore the Lord pleaded his cause
and made it to appear that he was
just
and his cause good; for this is not to be understood of the merits of his
works
and the causality of them to justify and save; for here he is speaking
not of the righteousness of his person
but of his cause; and not of eternal
but temporal salvation:
and also before thee
O king
have I done no hurt: either to his
person or government; nothing that was criminal and sinful
but what was just
and right
serving daily his God; and this was plain to the king
what he knew
and owned; and though he had acted contrary to the decree the lords had
craftily obtained
yet it was not out of disrespect to the king
but in
obedience to his God; and in doing of which he had done nothing prejudicial to
the king's interest.
Daniel 6:23 23 Now
the king was exceedingly 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 injury
whatever was found on him
because he believed in his God.
YLT
23Then was the king very glad
for him
and he hath commanded Daniel to be taken up out of the den
and Daniel
hath been taken up out of the den
and no injury hath been found in him
because he hath believed in his God.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him
.... For
Daniel
because of his safety
because he was alive
and in health
and unhurt;
and the speech he made was very acceptable to him
agreeable to his sentiments
and which he was satisfied was just and true: or "with"
or "for
himself"F12עלוהי "apud se"
Piscator; "apud illum"
Michaelis. ; being now eased of a guilty and
distracted conscience:
and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den; that is
he
ordered those that were with him
his servants that attended him
either to
roll away the stone
and so let him out; or to let down ropes
and draw him
out
or ladders by which he might ascend; for one would think it would not have
been safe for them to have gone down into it
to take him up: these orders the
king gave without the consent of his lords
being animated to it by the miracle
wrought:
so Daniel was taken up out of the den
and no manner of hurt was
found upon him; no bruise by throwing him into the den
no wound was made by the
lions
or his flesh in the least torn by them:
because he believed in his God; served and worshipped
him; of which service and worship faith is a particular branch
and is put for
the whole
and without which it is not pleasing and acceptable to God; he
trusted the Lord
he committed himself to his power and providence; he left himself
wholly in the hands of the Lord
to dispose of him
whether for life or death
as he pleased; he believed he was able to deliver him
but he was not anxious
about it: for this seems not to design any particular act of faith
with
respect to this miracle wrought for him
but his general trust and confidence
in God; and the apostle seems to have reference to this
when among other
things he ascribes to faith the stopping of the mouths of lions
Hebrews 11:33.
Daniel 6:24 24 And
the king gave the command
and they brought those men who had accused Daniel
and they cast them into the den of lions—them
their children
and their
wives; and the lions overpowered them
and broke all their bones in pieces
before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
YLT
24And the king hath said
and
they have brought those men who had accused Daniel
and to the den of lions
they have cast them
they
their sons
and their wives; and they have not come
to the lower part of the den till that the lions have power over them
and all
their bones they have broken small.
And the king commanded
and they brought those men which had
accused Daniel
.... Not all the hundred and twenty princes
and the two
presidents; but the chief of them
who were most busy in getting the decree
signed; watched Daniel's house
and what he did there; brought the charge
against him to the king
and were most solicitous and urgent to have the decree
put in execution against him:
and they cast them into the den of lions; the servants
of the king
who were sent to fetch them
and who brought these by the king's
orders
cast them into the same den of lions that Daniel had been in: thus
often the pit wicked men dig for others
they fall into themselves; so Haman
man was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai:
them
their children
and their wives; which might
be according to the laws of this monarchy in capital offences
relating to
affairs of state
as this was for an accusation of a prime minister of state
to take away his life; though such things were common with arbitrary princes
for the terror of others; so Haman and his sons were hanged up by Ahasuerus:
this may seem cruel and inhuman
though it might be that the wives and children
of these men advised them to do what they did
and were encouragers and
approvers of it. JosephusF13Antiqu. l. 10. c. 11. sect. 6. relates
that the enemies of Daniel
when they saw no hurt came to him
would not ascribe
it to the providence of God
but to the lions being full of food; upon which
the king ordered much meat to be given them
and then the men to be cast in to
them
to see whether because of their fulness they would come unto them or not:
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; the lions
seized them at once; and though they did all they could to defend themselves
fighting with them; yet the lions were too powerful for them
and overcame
them
and not only tore off their flesh
but broke their bones in pieces
and
that as they were falling
before they came to the bottom
or the lower part of
the den; this was a plain proof that it was not through fulness
or want of
appetite
that the lions did not fall upon Daniel and devour him: this affair
happened in the first year of Darius
which
according to Bishop UsherF14Annales
Vet. Test. A. M. 3466.
and Dean PrideauxF15Connexion
&c. part
1. p. 125
128.
and Mr. WhistonF16Chronological Tables
cent. 10.
was in the year of the world 3466 A.M.
and 538 B.C.; Mr. BedfordF17Scripture
Chronology
p. 711. places it in 537 B.C.
Daniel 6:25 25 Then
King Darius wrote: To all peoples
nations
and languages that dwell in all the
earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
YLT
25Then Darius the king hath
written to all the peoples
nations
and languages
who are dwelling in all the
land: `Your peace be great!
Then King Darius
.... Being thoroughly convinced of the
miracle
and of the powerful interposition of divine Providence in it
and of
the omnipotence of God
and of his concern in the government of the world; that
all might be acquainted with the same
wrote unto all people
nations
and languages
that dwell in all
the earth; he being at the head of the Babylonish monarchy
which included
many nations and people of various languages; and which was increased
and
still increasing
by the victories of Cyrus
who was partner with him in the
empire; see Daniel 3:4
peace be multiplied unto you; an increase of all kind
of prosperity; an usual salutation or wish with the eastern people.
Daniel 6:26 26 I
make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and
fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God
And steadfast
forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed
And His
dominion shall endure to the end.
YLT
26From before me is made a
decree
that in every dominion of my kingdom they are trembling and fearing
before the God of Daniel
for He [is] the living God
and abiding to the ages
and His kingdom that which [is] not destroyed
and His dominion [is] unto the
end.
I make a decree
that in every dominion of my kingdom
.... In every
province of his large empire; this explains who are meant by all people
nations
&c. before mentioned; namely
such as were within his dominions;
for to no other could his decree reach: this decree is very different from that
he had made a few days before
forbidding any man to ask anything of any god or
man for the space of a month; but now his order is
that men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; that they
would serve with fear and trembling
and reverence and adore the God that
Daniel served and worshipped; and who manifestly appeared to be his God
and to
be the true God
by his wonderful deliverance of him:
for he is the living God
and steadfast for ever; that has life
in himself
and is the author and giver of life to others
and ever remains so
without any variation or shadow of turning; he is everlasting and unchangeable
permanent and immutable in his nature; steady and steadfast in his purposes and
promises
in his conduct in the government of the world
and in the course of
his providence:
and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed
and his
dominion shall be even unto the end; unto the end of time;
other kingdoms will he destroyed
but his will not; all other rule
dominion
and authority will be at an end but his will continue for ever; his kingdom is
an everlasting one: this doctrine Darius had learned from Daniel
as
Nebuchadnezzar before had done; see Daniel 2:44.
Daniel 6:27 27 He
delivers and rescues
And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth
Who
has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
YLT
27A deliverer
and rescuer
and
doer of signs and wonders in the heavens and in earth [is] He who hath
delivered Daniel from the paw of the lions.'
He delivereth and rescueth..... As he did the three
companions of Daniel from the fiery furnace
and now Daniel himself from the
lions' den:
and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth; which are out
of the common course of nature
and not according to the laws of it; such as
hindering the natural force of fire from burning
as in the case of the three
children; and stopping the mouths of lions from devouring Daniel as follows:
who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions; or "from
the hand"F18מן יד
"de manu"
Montanus
Cocceius. of them; from their destroying paws
and devouring jaws; which was nothing less than a miracle
and a proof of the
divine omnipotence and of his power of doing wonders.
Daniel 6:28 28 So
this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the
Persian.
YLT
28And this Daniel hath
prospered in the reign of Darius
and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius
.... This
Daniel
of whom so much has been said all the preceding chapters
and who had
been so lately and so wonderfully delivered from the lions' den
the same
flourished throughout the reign of Darius the Mede; continued a favourite with
the king; retained his honour and dignity; and kept his posts and places of
trust and profit. Darius the Mede reigned two years; though Jarchi says he
reigned but one
and was slain in war; for which he refers to Joseph ben
Gorion
who has not a word of it.
And in the reign of Cyrus the Persian; who
as
Jacchiades says
was the son-in-law of Darius
and inherited the kingdom after
him; which is true
for he married the daughter of Cyaxares or Darius who was
his uncle
and succeeded him as sole monarch of the empire: he reigned with him
the two years he had the government of the Babylonish monarchy; and when he
died
it solely devolved on him
who reigned seven years after
as XenophonF19Cyropaedia
l. 8. c 45. relates; but the canon of Ptolemy ascribes nine years to his reign
which includes the two years he was partner with Darius. Daniel was in the same
favour with this prince as the former
who in the first year of his reign
proclaimed liberty to the Jews to return to their country
and build their
temple; whether Daniel lived throughout his reign is not certain; he was alive
in the third year of it
as appears from Daniel 10:1
some
take Darius and Cyrus to be one and the same person
and render this last
clause as explanative of the former
"even"
or
"that is
in
the reign of Cyrus the Persian"F20Vid Nicolai Abram. Pharus
Vet. Test. l. 12. c. 24. p. 338. .
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)