Daniel6
New Living Translation
1Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province.
2The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests.
3Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
4Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
5So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
6So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius!
7We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.
8And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
9So King Darius signed the law.
10But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
11Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.
12So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
13Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
14Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
15In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”
16So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.
18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
19Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den.
20When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
21Daniel answered, “Long live the king!
22My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
23The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
24Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.
25Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you!
26“I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.
27He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Daniel 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The malice of Daniel's enemies. (1-5). His constancy in prayer. (6-10). He is cast into the lion's den. (11-17). His miraculous preservation. (18-24). The decree of Darius. (25-28).
vv1-5
We notice to the glory of God, that though Daniel was now very old, yet he was able for business, and had continued faithful to his religion. It is for the glory of God, when those who profess religion, conduct themselves so that their most watchful enemies may find no occasion for blaming them, save only in the matters of their God, in which they walk according to their consciences.
vv6-10
To forbid prayer for thirty days, is, for so long, to rob God of all the tribute he has from man, and to rob man of all the comfort he has in God. Does not every man's heart direct him, when in want or distress, to call upon God? We could not live a day without God; and can men live thirty days without prayer? Yet it is to be feared that those who, without any decree forbidding them, present no hearty, serious petitions to God for more than thirty days together, are far more numerous than those who serve him continually, with humble, thankful hearts. Persecuting laws are always made on false pretences; but it does not become Christians to make bitter complaints, or to indulge in revilings. It is good to have hours for prayer. Daniel prayed openly and avowedly; and though a man of vast business, he did not think that would excuse him from daily exercises of devotion. How inexcusable are those who have but little to do in the world, yet will not do thus much for their souls! In trying times we must take heed, lest, under pretence of discretion, we are guilty of cowardice in the cause of God. All who throw away their souls, as those certainly do that live without prayer, even if it be to save their lives, at the end will be found to be fools. Nor did Daniel only pray, and not give thanks, cutting off some part of the service to make the time of danger shorter; but he performed the whole. In a word, the duty of prayer is founded upon the sufficiency of God as an almighty Creator and Redeemer, and upon our wants as sinful creatures. To Christ we must turn our eyes. Thither let the Christian look, thither let him pray, in this land of his captivity.
vv11-17
It is no new thing for what is done faithfully, in conscience toward God, to be misrepresented as done obstinately, and in contempt of the civil powers. Through want of due thought, we often do that which afterwards, like Darius, we see cause a thousand times to wish undone again. Daniel, that venerable man, is brought as the vilest of malefactors, and is thrown into the den of lions, to be devoured, only for worshipping his God. No doubt the placing the stone was ordered by the providence of God, that the miracle of Daniel's deliverance might appear more plain; and the king sealed it with his own signet, probably lest Daniel's enemies should kill him. Let us commit our lives and souls unto God, in well-doing. We cannot place full confidence even in men whom we faithfully serve; but believers may, in all cases, be sure of the Divine favour and consolation.
Key Words
דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ: {Darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings}
קוּם: {to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)}
עַל: {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications}
מַלְכוּ: dominion (abstractly or concretely)
אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן: {a satrap or governorof amain province (of Persia)}
הָוָא: to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words)
כֹּל: {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)}
עֵלָּא: above
תְּלָת: three or third
סָרֵךְ: an emir
Cross References
Daniel 6Uses identical phrasing ('excellent spirit') from the queen's description of Daniel under Belshazzar.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Solomon's prayer dedicating the temple, commanding captives to pray toward Jerusalem and their land.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
New Testament summary of faithful saints who 'through faith... stopped the mouths of lions.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illustrates the unalterable nature of the laws of the Medes and Persians.
Supported by JFB
David's practice of praying three times a day (evening, morning, noon) echoed by Daniel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Nebuchadnezzar's challenge to God's saving power in the fiery furnace narrative.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the sending of God's angel to deliver his faithful servants from pagan executions.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Haman's plot targeting Jewish laws that differ from those of the king.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Typological parallel of a stone placed and sealed over a pit containing God's servant.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul's testimony of God delivering him out of the mouth of the lion.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Darius's praise matches Nebuchadnezzar's praise of God's everlasting, indestructible dominion.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Proverb regarding a man diligent in business standing before kings rather than mean men.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The apostolic principle of obeying God rather than men when laws conflict.
Supported by John Calvin
Darius acknowledges the kingdom of God that shall never be destroyed, fulfilling Daniel's vision.
Supported by JFB