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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Daniel 2:49 - 2:49
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At Daniel's request the king made his three friends governors of the province. וּמַנִּי is not, with Häv. and other older writers, to be translated that he should ordain; this sense must be expressed by the imperfect. The matter of the prayer is not specially given, but is to be inferred from the granting of it. But this prayer is not, with Hitz. and older interpreters, to be understood as implying that Daniel entreated the king to release him from the office of vicegerent, and that the king entrusted that office to his three friends; for if Daniel wished to retain this dignity, but to transfer the duty to his friends, there was no need, as Hitz. thinks, for this purpose, for the express appointment of the king; his mere permission was enough. But whence did Hitz. obtain this special information regarding the state arrangements of Babylon? and how does he know that מַנִּי, to decree, means an express appointment in contradistinction to a royal permission? The true state of the matter Häv. has clearly explained. The chief ruler of the province had a number of ὕπαρχοι, under-officers, in the province for the various branches of the government. To such offices the king appointed Daniel's three friends at his request, so that he might be able as chief ruler to reside continually at the court of the king. עֲבִידְתָּא, rendering of service = הַמֶּלֶךְ עֲבֹדַת, service of the king, 1Ch 26:30, according as the matter may be: the management of business. מַלְכָּא בְּתְרַע, near the gate, i.e., at the court of the king, for the gate, the door, is named for the building to which it formed the entrance; cf. הַמֶּלֶךְ שַׁעַר, Est 2:19, Est 2:21; Est 3:2. Gesenius is in error when he explains the words there as meaning that Daniel was made prefect of the palace.