It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
King Darius is the new king over Babylon. He takes charge of Babylon after Persia’s capture. Who is Darius though? There is no secular history of this king, but there are theories to who he may be.
1.Darius could be another name for Cyrus: Cyrus was the official king of the Persian Empire, but he didn’t rule over each city he conquered, so this theory is weak. Darius means holder of the scepter, so it may likely be this name refers to title rather than an exact name.
2.Possibly Cambysses: He was Cyrus’ son, who later ruled over the entire kingdom.
3.Most likely Gubaru: This king was appointed over Babylon after its capture.
Daniel is appointed as one of the three ruers of Babylon, over all the satraps (governors). Because of Daniel’s character, the king plans to make him the ultimate authority over all the governors.
4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
We see the treachery in these Persian officials right away. They are jealous that Daniel is gaining momentum with the king. They want to bring him down, but cannot find any cause to do so. He is beyond reproach, a truly benevolent and corrupt-free ruler. So they devise a plan to take him down. It can’t be based on anything in his conduct; they have to attack the very fabric of his foundation: his relationship with God.
The plan goes like this: they know Daniel prays regularly to God. So they come up with a weird new law that says if anyone is caught praying to anyone, besides the king, within the next 30 days, they will be put to death. The object, of course, is to immediately fling this ordinance right at Daniel and get rid of him.
King Darius puts the decree into law without knowing their true motives. They already have the means to arrest and convict Daniel, and they also know Persian law that says once a decree is made, it is irrevocable. They’ve got him. They can restore power to themselves and get rid of the man who stands in their way.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
You can easily see how the group of satraps execute their plan. They know Daniel’s schedule and are there when he is praying. They frame it as if it is a slap against the king. What they don’t understand is that Daniel is loyal to God and is not disrespecting the king. Daniel understands God’s protection and provision. He understands how this provision has worked h=in his life and is not afraid.
The other item to note in this passage is Darius’ reaction. The king realizes he was duped and wants to help Daniel. But he is bound by the decree. He has no choice.
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, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
Daniel’s faith is an example to Darius. he has been changed by him, in a similar way to how Nebuchadnezzar was changed by Daniel throughout his reign. He is greatly troubled but has, in a sense, put faith in Daniel’s God to work it out.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
The king rushes to the lion’s den after a night of worry. Ad when he calls to Daniel, Daniel says an angel protected him. Daniel’s trust, obedience and courage are all tested here, but he is a man of great faith and is found innocent by God. You’ll notice too how Darius refers to God. “The living God,” he says, further evidence that Daniel has again changed the heart and mind of a king during his long tenure at the castle.
The king exacts revenge on those who falsely accused Daniel. In the Persian culture, when someone is guilty to die, the entire family dies with that person. Like Nebuchadnezzar decades before, the king protects and promotes Daniel. Why? Because Daniel is steadfast. He never fails in his trust, despite the very real circumstances of horror and death. He knows who is in charge.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27
He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b] the Persian.
The entire idea of this chapter, as well as the first six chapters int he book of Daniel is this: When we stand firm, God delivers us and others who see God’s strength. Chapter 4 told us about how God restores the man who is willing to submit. Chapter 5 reveals to us how God judges those who will not submit. And chapter 6 tells us about God’s protection to those who faithfully serve.
King Darius is the new king over Babylon. He takes charge of Babylon after Persia’s capture. Who is Darius though? There is no secular history of this king, but there are theories to who he may be.
1.Darius could be another name for Cyrus: Cyrus was the official king of the Persian Empire, but he didn’t rule over each city he conquered, so this theory is weak. Darius means holder of the scepter, so it may likely be this name refers to title rather than an exact name.
2.Possibly Cambysses: He was Cyrus’ son, who later ruled over the entire kingdom.
3.Most likely Gubaru: This king was appointed over Babylon after its capture.
Daniel is appointed as one of the three ruers of Babylon, over all the satraps (governors). Because of Daniel’s character, the king plans to make him the ultimate authority over all the governors.
4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
We see the treachery in these Persian officials right away. They are jealous that Daniel is gaining momentum with the king. They want to bring him down, but cannot find any cause to do so. He is beyond reproach, a truly benevolent and corrupt-free ruler. So they devise a plan to take him down. It can’t be based on anything in his conduct; they have to attack the very fabric of his foundation: his relationship with God.
The plan goes like this: they know Daniel prays regularly to God. So they come up with a weird new law that says if anyone is caught praying to anyone, besides the king, within the next 30 days, they will be put to death. The object, of course, is to immediately fling this ordinance right at Daniel and get rid of him.
King Darius puts the decree into law without knowing their true motives. They already have the means to arrest and convict Daniel, and they also know Persian law that says once a decree is made, it is irrevocable. They’ve got him. They can restore power to themselves and get rid of the man who stands in their way.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
You can easily see how the group of satraps execute their plan. They know Daniel’s schedule and are there when he is praying. They frame it as if it is a slap against the king. What they don’t understand is that Daniel is loyal to God and is not disrespecting the king. Daniel understands God’s protection and provision. He understands how this provision has worked h=in his life and is not afraid.
The other item to note in this passage is Darius’ reaction. The king realizes he was duped and wants to help Daniel. But he is bound by the decree. He has no choice.
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, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
Daniel’s faith is an example to Darius. he has been changed by him, in a similar way to how Nebuchadnezzar was changed by Daniel throughout his reign. He is greatly troubled but has, in a sense, put faith in Daniel’s God to work it out.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
The king rushes to the lion’s den after a night of worry. Ad when he calls to Daniel, Daniel says an angel protected him. Daniel’s trust, obedience and courage are all tested here, but he is a man of great faith and is found innocent by God. You’ll notice too how Darius refers to God. “The living God,” he says, further evidence that Daniel has again changed the heart and mind of a king during his long tenure at the castle.
The king exacts revenge on those who falsely accused Daniel. In the Persian culture, when someone is guilty to die, the entire family dies with that person. Like Nebuchadnezzar decades before, the king protects and promotes Daniel. Why? Because Daniel is steadfast. He never fails in his trust, despite the very real circumstances of horror and death. He knows who is in charge.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27
He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b] the Persian.
The entire idea of this chapter, as well as the first six chapters int he book of Daniel is this: When we stand firm, God delivers us and others who see God’s strength. Chapter 4 told us about how God restores the man who is willing to submit. Chapter 5 reveals to us how God judges those who will not submit. And chapter 6 tells us about God’s protection to those who faithfully serve.