Daniel 6

Daniel being preferred by Darius above all the governors and princes of the provinces, they maliciously contrive an accusation against him; upon which he is cast into the lions’ den, and from thence miraculously delivered. V er. 1. JLT pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty jwinces.] According to the number of the provinces which were subject to the Medo-Persian empire. These were afterward enlarged to a hundred and twentyseven by the victories of Cambyses and Darius Hystaspes. (See Esth. i. 1.) [chap. vir. was first.] He had been appointed one of the principal officers of stale by Belshazzar, v. 29. Darius came not to Babylon, but tarried at Ecbatane in Media, whither he sent for Daniel, that he might be always near him: see Joseph. Antiq. lib. x. cap. 12. (al. 11.) where it is likely ho received this new advancement. Josephus informs us, in the same place, that Daniel built an admirable structure at Ecbatane, probably by Darius’s direction, which was afterward made tho burial-place of the kings of Media and Persia, tho care of which place was always committed to a Jewish priest. Vcr.3. Because that an excellent spirit ivas in him.] Compare v. 11, 12. He had great experience in the public affairs, it being now sixty-five years ago since he was first advanced by Nebuchadnezzar, (ii.48.)

Daniel 6:2

And over these three presidents, of whom Daniel

Daniel 6:8

According to the law of the Medes and Persians, that alter ethnot. After it is once enacted by the king, with the consent of his counsellors. So Diodorus Siculus tells us (lib. iv.) of Darius, the last king of Persia, that he would have pardoned Charidemus after he was condemned to death, but could not reverse the law that had passed against him. We may observe the difference of style between this text and that of Esth. i. 19. Here the words are, the law of the Medes and Persians, out of regard to the king, who was a Mede: there it is styled the law of the Persians and Medes, the king being a Persian at that time.

Daniel 6:10

TJie windows being open in his chamber. In his upper chamber, as the Greek reads that text. It seems to have been customary among the devout persons of the Jewish nation, to set apart some upper room for their oratories, as places freest from noise and disturbance. So we readTobitiii. 17. that Sarah came down from her tipper chamber, when she had been at her devotions: and the apostles assembled together in an upper room, Acts i. 13. (See Bishop Pearson on that text, in his first Lecture upon the. Acts.) * Towards Jerusalem.] According to that petition in Solomon’s consecration-pTayer, (1 Kings viii. 48.) That if they were led away captive, and should pray to God towards the city which he had chosen, and the house which Solomon had built, then hear thou their prayer, &c. (Compare Psal v. 7. Jonah ii. 4.) Three times a day.] Some learned writers tell us, out of Maimonides, that upon solemn days, such as were the third and fifth days of the week, the evening sacrifice was killed at half an hour after twelve; so the hour of prayer, which on other days was the ninth hour, or three in the afternoon, was then about noon; and the third hour of prayer must then be towards bed-time. (See Thorndike of Religious Assemblies, chap. 8. and Dr. Prideaux’s DisseTt. upon the Synagogue Service, par. i. book vi. of his Script. Connex.)

Daniel 6:13

Tliat Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity ofJudah. Compare v. 13. This is added to aggravate his fault, that one who is a foreigner, and brought hither a captive, should offer a public affront to the laws of the king, whose favour and protection he enjoys.'

Daniel 6:14

Tlien the king, when he heard these words, ivas sore displeased with himself. Having too late discovered that the princes, in procuring him to sign this decree, had no other aim but to take advantage of it to tho prejudice of Daniel. Ver, 1G. Tliy God, whom thouservest continually, he will DiQitizQo by i deliver thee.] The words express the king’s hopes and good wishes, but no certain persuasion. (Sec ver. 20.)

Daniel 6:20

O Daniel, servant of the^ living God. God sometimes makes the mouths of infidels instrumental in setting forth his praises. (See ii. 47. iii. 28.) I make a decree, that — men fear and tremble before the God of Daniel, &c] He makes the same acknowledgment of the true God as Nebuchadnezzar had done before him. (See iii. 29. iv. 3. 34.)

Daniel 6:22

My God hath sent his angel. See iii. 28. And also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.] Though I disobeyed thy decree, it was not done out of contumacy or stubbornness, but purely to preserve a good conscience, which is the only truo principle of loyalty and obedience. (See Itom.xiii. 5.)

Daniel 6:24

Them, their children, and their wives. According to the cruel laws and customs which prevailed in some countries, of involving whole families in the punishment due to particular persons: in opposition to which, that equitable law was ordained by Moses, that the fathers should not be put to death for the children, nor the children for the fathers, Dcut. xxiv. 10. And the lions had the mastery of them, &c] To shew that their sparing Daniel was miraculous.

Daniel 6:25

Then Darius wrote to all people — that dwell on all the eartlu. See the note upon ii. 38.

Daniel 6:28

In the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Who upon Darius’s death took possession of the whole monarchy of the Medes and Persians, called from him the Persian monarchy. (See Ezra i, 2.)