Daniel Notes - Chapter 6

I. Verses 1-4 "It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then 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. 4 Then 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."

1. Vs. 1: Darius was leader of the Medes and related to Cyrus. He had some power co-regent with Cyrus, probably over the Babylonian portion of the empire. He may have eventually ruled the entire Medo/Persian Empire. See Josephus Antiquities 10:11, 4.

2. Vs. 2-3: Compare this with Est. 8:9. It seems these princes and presidents represented different levels of government within the Persian Empire. The princes answered to the three presidents, who in turn answered to Darius. The design of this was to minimize corruption, to spare the king from suffering loss.

3. Vs. 2-3: Compare this provincial division with Esth. 1:1. Persia seems to have been near its zenith of power with this number of provinces. Presumably, these would have been divided equally and assigned to the oversight of the three presidents.

4. Vs. 2-4: If Daniel wasn’t the first in rank of the presidents, Darius was contemplating making him such. It appears others were jealous of Daniel’s favor and were eager to bring him down. It may have been they wanted to embezzle government funds. Daniel, being a man of integrity, would not allow such conduct under his charge. Thus, they sought to remove him.

II. Verses 5-9 "Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7 All 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. 8 Now, 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. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree."

1. Vs. 5: The integrity of Daniel is nothing short of remarkable. He is so determined to be fair and equitable in his dealings that even his enemies know that no fault can be found against him. Furthermore, they understand his ethics to be so strong that the only way he will violate the laws of man is for them to contradict with the laws of God.

2. Vs. 6-8: The nature of the plot was simple. They contrived to make a law against praying to God. They knew Daniel to be a praying man and knew he would violate this decree. In this way they would have him entrapped.

3. Vs. 6-9: It is difficult to understand how such a decree did not arouse suspicion with Darius. The reason he was so eager to accept this decree may have been for its base appeal to his ego. Or, it could have proposed as a matter of vigilance to test the loyalty of his subjects. In Antiquities 10:11, 5 Josephus proposes that it was a reprieve from the rigors of pagan worship for the people. Thus it may have seemed a prudent and charitable act in the people’s best interest. In either case, the king seemed to accept it without reservation.

4. Vs. 8-9: In the system of Persian government, royal decrees did not alter. See Esth. 1:19 and Esth. 8:8. This was a custom in eastern monarchies of that time. It was intended to perpetuate the idea the king was more than man, and was infallibly wise.

III. Verses 10-13 "Now 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. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then 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. 13 Then 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."

1. Vs. 10: Daniel prayed as he did before. It could be that did not go in his home in the past but did it this time as a precautionary measure. On the other hand, it seems more likely private prayer would have been his usual habit, rather than making an open show of his worship. His defiance of civil law was not tantamount to rebellion, but prioritizing God’s law above man’s. Compare Acts 5:29.

2. Vs. 11-13: The others were spying on Daniel, eager to catch him in their trap. Depending on the lay out of his home, it was likely difficult to see him in his upper chamber. The point being, looking from outside the home, they must have been going to some great effort to see him.

IV. Verses 14-17 " Then 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. 15 Then 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. 16 Then 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. 17 And 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."

1. Vs. 14: The king was noticeably displeased with the development of events. This shows his high regard for Daniel. Josephus says the king tried to pardon Daniel but could not because of the unalterable nature of his law. See Antiquities 10:11, 6. If this be the case, the words of the presidents and princes recorded here would be a rebuttal to the king, reminding him Daniel had to be put in the lions’ den.

2. Vs. 15-17: The king seemed to have some faith in God that he would deliver Daniel. He expressed his faith to Daniel in absolute terms, as if his deliverance were a certainty. No doubt this was intended to encourage Daniel in this bleak hour. Regarding Daniel’s faith in the matter, see Heb. 11:33.

V. Verses 18-23 "Then 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. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And 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? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 My 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. 23 Then 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."

1. Vs. 18-20: The king seems to harbor some degree of doubt regarding Daniel’s fate. The night before he had expressed absolute confidence in Daniel’s safety. Through the night he has been sleepless and without comfort. Now, the next morning, he questions whether or not Daniel has been saved.

2. Vs. 21-22: Daniel explains that God saved him because he regarded Daniel as innocent. Then Daniel insisted to the king he was innocent before him as well, yet the king had him thrown in the lion’s den. Given the fact Darius loved and trusted Daniel, this must have been a painful reminder.

VI. Verses 24-28 "And 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. 25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26 I 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. 27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian."

1. Vs. 24: The king fitly punishes those dishonorable souls who sought occasion against Daniel. Since they had worked so vigorously to entrap Daniel, it is fitting they should meet the fate they intended for him.

2. Vs. 25-27: Furthermore, Darius made a new decree that all in the kingdom must honor and respect the true God of heaven. Compare this with Dan. 3:28-29.

3. Vs. 25-27: Josephus says some questioned whether God actually saved Daniel. He says some who witnessed this maintained the lions just weren’t hungry. So the lions were fed a great deal of flesh and then the princes and presidents were cast in the den with their families to test the theory. Of course the lions tore them to pieces before they could hit the bottom of the den, showing beyond doubt it was God’s hand that had saved Daniel. See Antiquities 10:11, 6.