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Daniel a Victim of Jealousy
v. 1. It pleased Darius, when he had fully taken over the government of the kingdom, to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, called satraps in secular history, which should be over the whole kingdom, as governors of the smaller sections, or provinces, into which the empire was divided,
v. 2. and over these three presidents, chief prefects, or ministers, of whom Daniel was first, not higher in rank, but first in dignity, that the princes might give accounts unto them, the satraps thus being responsible to their superiors chiefly in financial matters, and the king should have no damage, his interests being taken care of by virtue of this statesmanlike arrangement.
v. 3. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, that is, he showed himself superior to them, because an excellent spirit was in him, 5:12; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. This intention the king very likely made known, with the result that it stirred up the jealousy of the other presidents.
v. 4. Then the presidents and princes, actuated by an envy which caused them to disregard the best interests of the kingdom, sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, that is, they tried to find some delinquency in the work of his official position; but they could find none occasion nor fault, no reason for impeachment, no ground for an accusation, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him, he was beyond reproach in his entire administration. "Fidelity is the leading political virtue of the servant or officer of a government, in like manner as justice and mercy should be the ornament of rulers. " (Lange. )
v. 5. Then said these men, in conferring with one another concerning ways and means of removing the hated rival, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God, regarding the practice of his religion. This is the course which is often followed by the enemies of the believers: if they cannot discredit the Christians in any matter pertaining to their duties, they try to show that the observance of their religious worship is dangerous to the state.
v. 6. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, running to him in stormy haste, with fierce impetuousness, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever!
v. 7. All the presidents of the kingdom, a statement which stretched the truth rather dangerously, the governors, and the princes, or satraps, the counselors and the captains, the lower prefects, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, rather, "that the king ought to establish a statute and issue an interdict," that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, within the next thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. The request was cleverly worded to flatter the king, particularly since it seemed to be the desire of all the officials of the realm.
v. 8. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, recording the proclamation by stamping it with his official seal, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not, it could not be repealed in the Medo-Persian Empire.
v. 9. Wherefore King Darius, carried away by the suddenness and the fervor of the request, which hardly gave him time for reflection, signed the writing and the decree, placing his royal seal upon the interdict and thus establishing it for his entire realm.
v. 10. Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, when he found out that the edict was established by the affixing of the king's seal, he went into his house, and, his windows being open in his chamber, in the upper story of his house, toward Jerusalem, where he could be undisturbed in his devotions, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, according to ancient Jewish custom, Psa_55:17, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime, the royal decree changing his custom of daily worship not one whit. He did not indulge in stormy protests, but quietly ignored a law which virtually, if not actually, demanded from him a denial of the true God. Such passive resistance is often the most effective protest against laws interfering with the service of the true God.
v. 11. Then these men assembled, they came together frequently for hasty and tumultuous meetings, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God, the open windows of Daniel's l enabling them to spy upon him without trouble.
v. 12. Then they came near, they arranged for an audience immediately, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree, reminding him of it, insisting on calling it to his remembrance, Hast thou not signed a decree that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered, without hesitancy and guile, for he was not aware of their hidden intention, and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not, thereby indicating the certain punishment of anyone who might transgress the royal edict.
v. 13. Then answered they and said before the king, full of joyful satisfaction over the fact that the king's answer suited their design so well, That Daniel, to whom they refer with sneering contempt, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom one might always reasonably suspect of an act of rebellion against the king's authority, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, the intimation being that Daniel maliciously spurned the edict and thereby openly challenged the king's authority, but maketh his petition three times a day.
v. 14. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, literally, "sorrow came on him," he was deeply grieved and troubled by this turn of events, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, for he prized Daniel's ability and faithfulness very highly; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him, he pondered over the matter and held the conspirators off in the hope that some way of escape might be found before morning.
v. 15. Then these men assembled unto the king, they pressed upon him in a most importunate and tumultuous manner, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. The success of their entire infamous plan, in fact, was based upon this tradition.
v. 16. Then the king, unable to find an excuse or to hold out against the conspirators, commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions, the execution following the sentence at once, as custom required. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, since he was powerless to help him in this extremity, Thy God, whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. This did not amount to a confession of the true God, but was merely a pious wish that the God of the Jews might prove equal to this emergency.
v. 17. And a stone was brought, probably one used for similar executions, and laid upon the mouth of the den, over the opening through which the condemned were cast down; and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, of the highest officers in his realm, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel, that is, that no one might interfere, either by attempting to liberate him or by working his evil will upon him. It is significant that Daniel made no effort to have his execution delayed or suspended, but calmly placed the outcome in God's hands. True faith in God rests upon His will, no matter what may come, knowing God's ways are always good and right, and all things work together for good to them that love God.