Daniel 6

2 was first. Or, “was one” (R.V.).

3 was preferred, etc. This awakened the jealousy of his colleagues.

6 assembled together. This word, which recurs in vers. 11, 15, implies eager and even tumultuous haste. Luther has häufig, “often.”

7 to establish. That is, to advise the king to establish. The ostensible object of the decree was “probably to obtain from the Babylonians and other provinces a recognition of the king as the representative of the Supreme God, invested with his delegated power. The decree was for thirty days; for those who, for such a space, had so recognised that divinity of the king would have admitted the principle of submission to him as a Divine authority” (Pusey).

8 which altereth not. See Esther viii. 8, and note.

10 his chamber. Rather, “upper chamber”; an apartment used for retirement (2 Sam. xviii. 33), and therefore for prayer: see Acts i. 13; x. 9.

toward Jerusalem. It was customary with the Jews, in prayer, to turn the face toward Jerusalem, where were the symbols of God’s presence and favour toward His people: see 1 Kings viii. 30-48; Psa. v. 7; xxviii. 2; Jonah ii. 4.

three times a day. Cp. Psa. iv. 17.

as he did aforetime. He made no change in his religious habits on account of the king’s decree, though he knew that he exposed himself to the loss of office and dignity, and even to a dreadful death. He presents an instructive example not only of constancy in God’s service at all risks, but also of firm avowal of religious principle, as opposed to all subterfuge and concealment.

11 these men assembled. They evidently expected to find Daniel praying. “He was probably out of ordinary sight in his retirement; so that, while not even in appearance denying his faith for the sake of the king’s command, his devotion was unostentatious” (Pusey).

12. Hast thou not signed a decree, etc.? Daniel’s enemies follow up their plot with skill and determination. They obtain an acknowledgment of the edict from the king; they represent the disregard of it as a personal insult, aggravated by Daniel’s being a foreign captive; and, when the king hesitates, they vehemently urge the execution of the sentence.

14 he laboured till the going down of the sun. He tried earnestly to find some expedient, until the evening, beyond which the execution of the penalty could not be delayed.

16. He will deliver thee. The heathen believed in the interposition of the gods on behalf of their worshippers; and Darius had probably heard of the events recorded in ch. iii.

17 a stone was brought. Such stones were generally used for closing caves and sepulchres (Josh. x. 18; John xi. 38, 39), and when fastened, were sometimes sealed (Matt. xxvii. 66). The king’s seal kept Daniel’s enemies, and the lords’ signet his friends, from interfering.

18 instruments of music. The word here translated “instruments of music” is by some rendered “dancing girls.” Luther, following the older versions and the Septuagint, translates it “food.”

22 innocency was found in me. Daniel was conscious of uprightness before God and man. His disobedience to an impious law he declares to be “no hurt” or wrong.

24 their children and their wives. This extension of punishment to the children and other relatives of criminals was a widely-spread ancient custom. In the Mosaic law there is a merciful provision against it (Deut. xxiv. 16).

28. Cyrus the Persian. Cyrus conquered Babylon in 538 B.C.

punished, the Son of Man receives the kingdom, which, whatever be its vicissitudes, is never to pass away.

the Ancient of days. An expression equivalent to the Eternal. The Judge of these transitory monarchies is He whose dominion is “from everlasting to everlasting.”

whose garment was white as snow. The royal robe of the Hebrew sovereign was white; indicating purity and honour.