Daniel 6: 1-9 HCSB
1 Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. 3 Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. 4 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, "We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God." 6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, "May King Darius live forever. 7 All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions' den. 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed." 9 So King Darius signed the document.
Just as he did in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar, God has once again blessed his servant Daniel in court of a foreign king. I think it says a lot about the character and talents of Daniel that he rises so high in different governments and positions. In Nebuchadnezzar's court he was head of the diviner's and wise men, as Nebuchadnezzar put such a great stock in portents and dreams. In Darius kingdom we see him in a governmental management as over site role, which I think implies that Darius may have been a more practical ruler than Nebuchadnezzar was. Here we see Once again we also have jealous and deceitful administrators and a narcissistic king willing for others to worship him as well.
Daniel 6: 10-18 HCSB
10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king and asked about his edict: "Didn't you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable." 13 Then they replied to the king, "Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day." 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him. 15 Then these men went to the king and said to him, "You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed." 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.
Daniel is not being boastful about defying the king by praying in his window, he is just continuing to do what he has always done. Daniel answers to a higher authority than Darius, and trusts his God to protect him. We see here that Darius considers Daniel more than just an effective state manager, but personally cares about him. In verse 18, different translations dance around "diversions" in different ways The phrase in ancient Aramaic actually means " Musical instruments, dancing girls, and concubines", and usually means "harem", though most English translations say just musical instruments, entertainment or diversions. We know from historical records that this king was notorious for his pursuit of "diversions", so his behavior shows how concerned he was for his friend.
Daniel 6: 19-28 HCSB
19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. "Daniel, servant of the living God," the king said, "has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?" 21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: "May the king live forever. 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths. They haven't hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king." 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions' den-they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 25 Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: "May your prosperity abound. 26 I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end. 27 He rescues and delivers; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
The phrase "Living God" may be a refernce to the fact that there are no idols or graven images of Jehovah God. It is interesting how Daniel states his rescue, pointing out that God has searched him out and found him innocent, both of crimes against God and the king, therefore underscoring the unjust nature of the king's commandment. It may seem appaling by todays standards that the families of Daniel's accusers were also killed, but that was the common view of justice in the ancient world, which we see in other Old Testament examples as well. Families were considered responsible for paying the debts and sins of the family patriarch up to the third generation. Darius Gets the message of whom he should serve quicker that Nebuchadnezer did. Darius and Cyrus were Co-regents, the Medes and Persians had combined thier governments and armies in order to conquer the neihboring kingdoms.
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