Daniel 6: The Plot Against Daniel
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 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.
Babylon was taken by the Persians, and Darius the Median placed upon the throne, B.C. 538. The king 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 Herodotus; to these hundred and twenty provinces seven more were afterwards added, through the victories of Cyrus and Cambyses, and Darius Itystaspes, Esther 1:1… which should be over the whole kingdom;… or, ‘in the whole kingdom’; 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.” (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)
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. 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. 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.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 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. 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.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
“This heathen king preferred Daniel a stranger to all his nobles and those he was familiar with, because the graces of God were more excellent in him than in others.” (Geneva Study Bible) Daniel… being a captive from a nation then in ruins, might have been despised and set at naught, was not treated in either of these ways; but to the credit of Darius be it said, Daniel was preferred over all the others, because the discerning king saw in him an excellent spirit. And the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then was the envy of the other rulers raised against him, and they set about to destroy him. But Daniel's conduct was perfect so far as related to the kingdom. He was faithful and true. They could find no ground for complaint against him on that score. Then they said they could find no occasion to accuse him, except as concerning the law of his God. So let it be with us. A person can have no better recommendation.” (Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith)
“The first man that ever died, died for religion, and still, ‘All that will live godly in Christ Jesus (if they will needs do it, and be set upon it), ‘shall suffer persecution.’” (Trapp’s Commentary) “The accusers' plan was similar to that of the Babylonian officials who had tried to topple Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (ch. 3). They knew that Daniel was a God-fearing man who did not worship pagan idols. So they set a trap for him believing that he would remain faithful to his faith. When Daniel had to choose between obeying his God or his government, his God came first (cf. Daniel 6:10; Acts 5:29).” (Constable's Expository Notes)
Here is the difference between chapters 3 and 6: This was against Daniel; and the prior accusations were brought against his three friend. AND “The Babylonians burned criminals alive (ch. 4), but the Persians, who worshipped fire, threw them to the lions.” (Olmstead)
“The adversaries' exaggerated their claim that all the rulers of the kingdom had concurred with their proposal. Obviously Daniel had not agreed to it… Perhaps the antagonistic rulers also aimed at impressing the Babylonians with the importance of remaining loyal to their new Persian king. In any case, they promoted humanism, the philosophy that puts man in the place of God.” ‘. . . this one king was to be regarded for the time being as the only representative of Deity.’ [Montgomery…]..." (Constable's Expository Notes)
“Mark the subtlety of these men -- the length to which people will go to accomplish the ruin of the good. If they had made the decree read that no petition should be asked of the God of the Hebrews, which was the real design of the matter, the king would at once have divined their object, and the decree would not have been signed. So they gave it a general application, and were willing to ignore and heap insult upon their whole system of religion, and all the multitude of their gods, for the sake of ruining the object of their hatred.” (Uriah Smith).
The government “had passed a law, that no law that they made could be changed. In other words they felt they could never make any mistakes. They thought they were infallible, like God Himself! So the king couldn’t just pass another law and not put Daniel in with the lions.” But in fact only God and His Law, which Daniel obeyed, is perfect. Yet: “There is another power today that claims to be infallible. Do you know who it is? Yes, it is the Pope of Rome. He thinks he is ‘like God’ also. But was Darius really infallible? Hadn’t he just made a terrible mistake? Yes indeed! And so will the popes of Rome find out someday that they have made a terrible mistake by persecuting God’s faithful people.” [http://understanding-daniel-revelation.com/Dan/D-6.html] This has occurred over the course of history and, to a greater extent, it will occur again in the end-time. A one-world government / religion, will issue laws that conflict with the Law of God.
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.
“When the Jews were in distant countries, in prayer they turned their faces towards Jerusalem; and when in Jerusalem, they turned their faces towards the temple. Solomon, in his prayer at the dedication of the temple, 1 Kings 8:48, had entreated God to hear the prayers of those who might be in strange lands, or in captivity, when they should turn their faces towards their own land, which God gave unto their fathers; and towards the city which he had chosen, and the house which was dedicated to his name. It was in reference to this that Daniel turned his face towards Jerusalem when he prayed.” (Clarke's Commentary)
In these days of his tribulation, Daniel could have prayed within the walls of his home, but he rather prayed "as was his custom since early days." And that particular day, he was more deliberate. “Because he would not by his silence show that he consented to this wicked decree, he set open his windows toward Jerusalem when he prayed: both to stir up himself with the remembrance of God's promises to his people, when they should pray toward that temple, and also that others might see that he would neither consent in heart nor deed for these few days to anything that was contrary to God's glory.” (Geneva Study Bible)
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 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.”
“Their design being laid, they watched narrowly, and found, as they expected, Daniel upon his knees, making supplication, not to Darius, but to Jehovah, in flat opposition to the law signed by the king, and not to be violated without suffering its penalty. Then they came near, and spake before the king — Having now got what they wanted, an unanswerable plea against Daniel, they came with open mouth, and urged that the king’s law was broken, a law which he had solemnly signed and ratified, and so rendered unalterable; pleading that the king’s authority, and the honour of the nation, lay at stake. The king answered, The thing is true, &c. — He owned such a law had been made, and signed by him, and that therefore it must be put in force." (Benson)
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives 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.” 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. 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.” 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.”
After Daniel's crime was reported to King Darius, the king himself worked on his behalf. “According to Eastern custom, the sentence was generally executed on the day when it was pronounced. This explains why the king’s efforts to commute the sentence were prolonged till sunset (Daniel 6:14).” (Ellicott’s Commentary) Darius was, no doubt, a heathen king with what seems to be fertile heart- or at least one inclined towards Yahweh's prophet.
The king believed that the gods helped their subjects. "Darius recognized Daniel's God as a god, but not the only true God. He had heard of the deliverance of the three youths in Da 3:26, 27 and hence augurs Daniel's deliverance. [BUT OF HIMSELF HE DECLARED] I am not my own master, and cannot deliver thee, however much I wish it... Kings are the slaves of their flatterers...” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) and of the system of government itself. Promises by government officials cannot always be kept, no matter the intent or desire of the promiser.
“Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” “Rather, may he (emph.) deliver thee! The king hopes, even against hope, that Daniel may by some means or other be spared his fate. Throughout the narrative Darius shews solicitude for Daniel (cf. Daniel 6:14; Daniel 6:18-20). He does not willingly consign him to death: he has been entrapped by his courtiers; and in acting as he has done, he has merely, like Herod (Matthew 14:9), yielded to what he supposes to be the necessities of his position.” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)
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.
I am to share my faith in the workplace, the market, as well as social settings, even in social media. But there are civil laws against it and corporate laws that prohibit it, even the unwritten law of social etiquette. As it was in my early days, when I first learned of our common salvation as the Lord applied it to me, let it be even until my last days, regardless of man’s laws. It is required of us not only to believe in our hearts but also to to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord (Rom 10:9-10) to the glory of the God the Father. Yea, we are to revere Christ as Lord in our hearts, as well as to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us for the reason for the hope within us with gentleness and respect. (1 Pet 3:15) Lord help me to be faithful when the laws of the land are in conflict with your Commandments, as found in your Word.
18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 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?"
“Darius spent a fitful night without food, entertainment, or sleep. Normally, prayer accompanied fasting among the Israelites. [AND] Darius may have prayed too, but the point of this description is that he felt extremely anxious over the welfare of his friend. Evidently, one night in the lions' den was the minimum sentence the law required, because early the next morning Darius set out to free Daniel-if he had survived.” (Constable’s Notes)
“Then the king arose very early in the morning,.... Or, ‘in the morning with light’ 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.” (Gill's Exposition)
"Uncertain about the prophet's fate, the king called to Daniel, whom he could not see, hoping that he might still be alive. Daniel had apparently told Darius previously that he worshipped the living God. Now Darius wanted to know if this God had been able to save His servant from the lions (cf. Daniel 6:16; Daniel 3:17).” (Constable’s Notes) "It is made clear here that the king was genuinely concerned for Daniel. In many ways a king’s life is a lonely life. He can trust few. He has close relations with few. So that when he finds someone whom he likes and trusts a strong bond can be built up. And that would seem to be the case here.” (Pett’s Commentary) “The faith of this king is very weak. In Daniel 6:16 he expressed a vague hope that God would protect His servant. That hope seems now to have died out, though afterwards (Daniel 6:26) it appears stronger than that of Nebuchadnezzar. (cf. Daniel 4:37.) The phrase ‘living God’ is remarkable, coming as it does from a heathen king. (See 1 Samuel 17:36.)” (Ellicott’s Commetary)
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 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.”
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.
“My just cause and uprightness in this thing in which I was charged, is approved by God. For he disobeyed the kings's wicked commandment in order to obey God, and so he did no injury to the king, who ought to command nothing by which God would be dishonoured.” (Geneva Bible)
Daniel “sermonized a bit from his unlikely chapel amid his subdued animal companions. After greeting the king courteously, he explained that his God had sent His angel who had shut the lions' mouths (cf. Hebrews 11:33). This may have been the same angel, or the Angel of the Lord, who had visited Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:28). Daniel believed that God had had mercy on him because he had not sinned against God or Darius in what he had done. True, he had violated the king's edict, but he had not done anything that really harmed the king. God had rewarded Daniel's trust (Daniel 6:23), which Daniel demonstrated by obeying God's will. Darius had Daniel extracted from the den, and undoubtedly marveled that he had sustained no injuries whatsoever (cf. Daniel 3:27).” (Constable’s Notes)
The angel of Yahweh had stopped the mouths of lions. “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.” (Hebrews 11:32:35)
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.
25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 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. 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. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
“Then the king applied the lex talionis (law of retaliation) and cast his friend's accusers into the very den in which they had placed Daniel (cf. Genesis 12:3; Esther 7:9-10; Galatians 6:7). Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered and crushed them.”
This chapter ends as before with a hymn of praise to Yahweh for His goodness and mercy.“This expression of praise, however, surpasses the others (cf. Daniel 3:28-29; Daniel 4:3; Daniel 4:34-35; Daniel 4:37). Not only did Darius personally praise God, but he ordered his subjects to do the same thing (cf. Daniel 3:29; Daniel 4:1). It is as though God was giving two witnesses to His people Israel: Nebuchadnezzar and Darius. Both monarchs testified to the living and eternal God's unshakable sovereignty, grace, and power in heaven and on earth (cf. Daniel 4:3; Daniel 4:34-35)… Once again, during this time of Israel's helplessness with her survival in doubt, Yahweh of hosts acted redemptively to strengthen his people's faith in him.” (Constable’s Note) And Darius, unlike his predecessor, seems to allow religious liberty going no threat of temporal harrm— only warning of the Eternal Judgment.