Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 6

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  Daniel is made chief of the presidents.
4  They, conspiring against him, obtain an idolatrous decree.
10  Daniel, accused of the breach thereof, is cast into the lion's den.
18  Daniel is saved;
24  his adversaries devoured;
25  and God magnified by a decree.
Verse 1

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
Darius
5:31, 1 Peter 2:14
an
Exodus 18:21,22, Esther 1:1
Verse 2

And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
of
2:48,49, 5:16,29, 1 Samuel 2:30, Proverbs 3:16
that
Matthew 18:23, Luke 16:2
and the
Ezra 4:22, Esther 7:4, Proverbs 26:6, Luke 19:13-27, 1 Corinthians 4:2
Verse 3

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
was preferred
Proverbs 22:29
an
5:12,14, 9:23, Genesis 41:38-41, Nehemiah 7:2, Proverbs 3:3,4, 17:27, Ecclesiastes 2:13
thought
Intended to make him grand vizier or emiru'l umra. Daniel had now been employed full sixty-five years as prime minister under the kings of Babylon; and was justly entitled, from his acknowledged wisdom, to this preference.
Verse 4

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Cir
A.M. 3467. B.C. 537. sought.
3:8, Genesis 43:18, Judges 14:4, Psalms 37:12,13,32,33, Proverbs 29:27, Ecclesiastes 4:4, Jeremiah 18:18,23, 20:10, Matthew 26:4, 27:18, Luke 20:20, 22:2
but
1 Samuel 18:14, 19:4,5, 22:14, Luke 23:14,15, John 19:4, 2 Corinthians 11:12, Philippians 2:15, 1 Timothy 5:14, Titus 2:8, 1 Peter 2:12, 3:16, 4:14-16
Verse 5

Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
1 Samuel 24:17, Esther 3:8, John 19:6,7, Acts 24:13-16,20,21
Verse 6

Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
assembled together
or, came tumultuously.
11, Psalms 56:6, 62:3, 64:2-6, Matthew 27:23-25, Luke 23:23-25, Acts 22:22,23
King
21, 2:4, 3:9, 5:10, Nehemiah 2:3, Acts 24:2
Verse 7

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
All
2,3, 3:2,27
have consulted
Psalms 2:2, 59:3, 62:4, 83:1-3, 94:20, Micah 6:5, Matthew 12:14, 26:4, Mark 15:1, John 12:10, Acts 4:5-7,26-28
decree
or, interdict. he shall.
3:6,11, Psalms 10:9, Nahum 2:12
Verse 8

Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
establish
Esther 3:12, 8:10, Isaiah 10:1
according
12,15, Esther 1:19, 8:3
altereth not
Chal. passeth not.
Matthew 24:35
Verse 9

Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
signed
Psalms 62:9,10, 118:9, 146:3, Proverbs 6:2, Isaiah 2:22
Verse 10

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
when
Luke 14:26, Acts 4:17-19
his windows
1 Kings 8:30,38,44,48-50, 2 Chronicles 6:38, Psalms 5:7, Jonah 2:4, Hebrews 4:16
he kneeled
1 Kings 8:54, 2 Chronicles 6:13, Ezra 9:5, Psalms 95:6, Luke 22:41, Acts 7:60, 9:40, 20:36, Acts 21:5, Ephesians 3:14
three
13, Psalms 55:17, 86:3; *marg:; Acts 2:1,2,15, 3:1, 10:9
gave
Psalms 34:1, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18, Hebrews 13:15
as he
Nehemiah 6:11, Psalms 11:1,2, Matthew 10:28-33, Luke 12:4-9, Acts 4:18,19,29, Acts 5:20,29,40-42, 20:24, Philippians 1:14,20, Revelation 2:10,13
Verse 11

Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
assembled
6, Psalms 10:9, 37:32,33
Verse 12

Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; 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 and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
they
3:8-12, Acts 16:19,24, 24:2-9
the den
It is probable that these lions were kept for the purpose of devouring certain criminals, whom the laws might consign to that kind of death.
The thing
8, Esther 1:19
Verse 13

Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
That Daniel
1:6, 2:25, 5:13
regardeth
3:12, Esther 3:8, Acts 5:29, 17:7
Verse 14

Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
was sore
The king now clearly perceived for what purpose the decree had been solicited; and was exceedingly displeased with himself that he had suffered himself to be so deluded.
3:13, Matthew 27:17-24, Mark 6:26, Luke 23:13-21, John 19:7-12
and he
He strove during the whole day, by every means, to evade or annul the edict; but the foolish constitution of his government (exactly the reverse of the happy rule for the conduct of our gracious monarch) did not allow them to pardon any person who had broken one of their decrees, however arbitrary and unreasonable.
2 Samuel 3:28,29
Verse 15

Then these men assembled unto the king, 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.
Know
8,12, Esther 8:8, Psalms 94:20,21
Verse 16

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
the king
2 Samuel 3:39, Proverbs 29:25, Jeremiah 26:14, 38:5, Matthew 14:8-10, 27:23-26, Mark 6:25-28, 15:14,15, John 19:12-16, Acts 24:27, 25:9,11, Romans 13:3
Thy God
20, 3:15,17,28, Job 5:19, Psalms 37:39,40, 91:14-16, 118:8,9, Isaiah 43:2, Acts 27:23,24
Verse 17

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
a stone
Lamentations 3:53, Matthew 27:60-66, Acts 12:4, 16:23,24
Verse 18

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
and passed
2 Samuel 12:16,17, 19:24, 1 Kings 21:27, Job 21:12, Psalms 137:2, Ecclesiastes 2:8, Isaiah 24:8,9, Amos 6:4-6, Jonah 3:3-9, Revelation 18:22
instruments
or, table. and.
2:1, Esther 6:1, Psalms 77:4
Verse 19

Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, 2 Corinthians 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 3:5
Verse 20

And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
is
16,27, 3:15,17,28,29
servest
1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalms 71:14-18, 73:23, 119:112, 146:2, Proverbs 23:17,18, Hosea 12:6, Luke 18:1, Acts 6:4, Romans 2:7, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18, James 1:25
able
3:17, Genesis 18:14, Numbers 11:23, 14:15,16, Jeremiah 32:17, Luke 1:37, 2 Corinthians 1:10, 2 Timothy 1:12, 4:16-18, Hebrews 7:25, Jude 1:24
Verse 21

Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
O king
6, 2:4, Nehemiah 2:3
Verse 22

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
My God
20, 2 Samuel 22:7, Psalms 31:14, 38:21, 118:28, Micah 7:7, Matthew 27:46, John 20:17, John 20:18
hath sent
3:28, Numbers 20:16, 2 Chronicles 32:21, Psalms 34:7, Isaiah 63:9, Acts 12:11, 27:23
hath shut
1 Samuel 17:37, Psalms 91:11-13, 2 Timothy 4:17, Hebrews 11:33
forasmuch
23, Psalms 18:19-24, 26:6, 84:11, Isaiah 3:10, Acts 24:16, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 1 John 3:19-21
and also
Genesis 40:15, 1 Samuel 24:9-11, 26:18, Psalms 7:1-4, Acts 25:8-11
Verse 23

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
was
14,18, Exodus 18:9, 1 Kings 5:7, 2 Chronicles 2:11,12
because
3:25,27,28, 1 Chronicles 5:20, 2 Chronicles 20:20, Psalms 37:40, 118:8,9, 146:3-6, Proverbs 18:10, Isaiah 26:3, Mark 9:23, Hebrews 11:33
Verse 24

And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
and they brought
Deuteronomy 19:18-20, Esther 7:10, 9:25, Proverbs 11:8
them
This savage act accorded with the customs of those times; contrary to the Divine law which enacted that "the fathers should not be put to death for the children, nor the children for the fathers."
their children
Deuteronomy 24:16, Joshua 7:24,25, 2 Kings 14:6, Esther 9:10
the lions
3:22, Psalms 54:5, Isaiah 38:13
Verse 25

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
king
4:1, Ezra 1:1,2, Esther 3:12, 8:9
Peace
Ezra 4:17, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Peter 1:2, Jude 1:2
Verse 26

I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
make
3:29, Ezra 6:8-12, 7:12,13
tremble
Psalms 2:11, 99:1-3, 119:120, Isaiah 66:2, Jeremiah 10:10, Luke 12:5, Hebrews 12:29
for
4:34, Deuteronomy 5:26, 1 Samuel 17:26,36, Hosea 1:10, Acts 17:25, Romans 9:26, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 4:10, 5:14
and stedfast
Psalms 93:1,2, 146:10, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 6:17,18, James 1:17
and his kingdom
2:44, 4:3,34, 7:14,27, Psalms 29:10, 145:12,13, Isaiah 9:7, Matthew 6:13, Luke 1:33, Revelation 11:15
Verse 27

He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
delivereth
Job 36:15, Psalms 18:48,50, 32:7, 35:17, 97:10, Luke 1:74,75, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2 Timothy 4:17,18
and he
4:2,3,34, Jeremiah 32:19,20, Mark 16:17,18, Acts 4:30, Hebrews 2:4
power
Chal. hand.
Verse 28

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
and in
1:21, 2 Chronicles 36:22,23, Ezra 1:1,2, Isaiah 44:28, 45:1

Comments

Back to Top

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first!

Add Comment

* Required information
Powered by Commentics
Back to Top