*H It seemed good to Darius, and he appointed over the kingdom a hundred and twenty governors, to be over his whole kingdom.
Ver. 1. Kingdom. Josephus, &c. say Darius had returned into Media, where he made these regulations. But if this did not take place at Babylon, it would be rather at Susa. C. viii. Josephus counts 300 or 360 governments, though when the monarchy was increased there were only 127. Est. i. C. — He may therefore speak here of large towns, which had each a magistrate. Such regulations easily vary. H. — Darius acts as master of the whole empire.
*H And Daniel excelled all the princes, and governors: because a greater spirit of God was in him.
Ver. 3. Princes. Th. "regulators." Chal. sarecin, (H.) may be put for (C.) seranim, (H.) the usual title (C.) of the highest officers, the surenas of Persia. Ammian 30.
*H And the king thought to set him over all the kingdom; whereupon the princes, and the governors, sought to find occasion against Daniel, with regard to the king: and they could find no cause, nor suspicion, because he was faithful, and no fault, nor suspicion was found in him.
Ver. 4. Kingdom, as prime minister, to whom the three princes should be accountable, as the inferior governors were to them. H. —The king was now advanced in years, and wished to ease himself of part of the burden, (C.) as he could entirely confide in Daniel. H. — He reigned only one year. C. xiii. 65. W. — King. Chal. "kingdom," (H.) to accuse him of treason, (Grot.) or to get him removed. C. — This is an old and malignant trick, to call religion treason, and to get laws made for that purpose. W. — In him a great proof of integrity! M.
*H Then the princes, and the governors, craftily suggested to the king, and spoke thus unto him: King Darius, live for ever:
Ver. 6. Craftily. Chal. "came tumultuously to," &c. C. — They hoped thus to convince the king, as they were so unanimous. He would not perceive the drift of their petition, and was flattered with the idea of being like a god. Daniel was not consulted, though on other occasions the king reposed such confidence in him, as the deputies so impudently asserted that the wish was universal! So easily are princes deceived! H.
*H Now, therefore, O king, confirm the sentence, and sign the decree: that what is decreed by the Medes and Persians may not be altered, nor any man be allowed to transgress it.
Ver. 8. It, when it is confirmed both by the king and his nobility. Est. viii. 8.
* Footnote * Esther 1 : 19
If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of the Medes, which must not be altered, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place.*H So king Darius set forth the decree, and established it.
Ver. 9. It. Nabuchodonosor of Babylon, and of Ninive, had both pretended to be gods; (C. iii. 15. Judith v. 29. C.) and Curtius (8.) remarks, "that the Persians follow the dictates of prudence as well as of piety, in worshipping their kings among the gods, the majesty of empire being its best protection." H.
*H Now, when Daniel knew this, that is to say, that the law was made, he went into his house: and opening the windows in his upper chamber towards Jerusalem, he knelt down three times a day, and adored and gave thanks before his God, as he had been accustomed to do before.
Ver. 10. Before. He did not open the windows that he might be seen, as that would have been rashness; nor did many perceive what he was doing, (v. 11. W.) as it was in an upper room, but only those who rushed in. H. — It was the usual practice of the Jews, (C.) to pray turning towards the temple, as Solomon had directed, (3 K. viii. 48. S. Jer. in Ezec. viii. 16.) though it was now in ashes. H. — Daniel observed the third, sixth, and ninth hours, as the Church still does. Acts ii. 15. and x. 9. S. Jer.
*H Wherefore those men carefully watching him, found Daniel praying and making supplication to his God.
Ver. 11. Carefully. Chal. "came in a tumultuous manner." as v. 6. & 15. C.
*H But those men perceiving the king's design, said to him: Know thou, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree which the king hath made, may be altered.
Ver. 15. Perceiving. Chal. "assembled," (Prot. H.) or "came quickly in a body." C.
*H And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel.
Ver. 17. Own ring, that none of his enemies might injure Daniel. The nobles also affixed their seal, (H.) that the king might not liberate him. M. — All this shews that aristocracy was mixed with the monarchical form of government. Nothing of importance is done without the nobles.
*H And the king went away to his house, and laid himself down without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep departed from him.
Ver. 18. Meat. Chal. "music," (C.) or "incense." De Dieu. — He was tired of his godship, to which he had unguardedly opened his heart. v. 6. H.
*H My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath been found in me: yea, and before thee, O king, I have done no offence.
Ver. 22. Offence, as I neglected thy decree to obey a higher Master. C. — The king had sense enough to approve of this distinction. H.
* Footnote * 1_Machabees 2 : 60
Daniel, in his innocency, was delivered out of the mouth of the lions.*H Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of the den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his God.
Ver. 23. Believed, or trusted. C. — S. Paul alludes to this miracle. Heb. xi. 33. W.
*H And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that had accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and their children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces.
Ver. 24. Accused. They were punished as false witnesses; (C.) and the king justly made them suffer what they would have inflicted on the innocent, being convinced that Daniel had only acted according to his devotion. W. — These wretches deserved to perish, though they had spoken nothing but the truth. H. — Wives. Many examples of such punishments occur, (C.) as it was presumed the children and wives were infected by the bad example, and would imitiate it, (Jun.) if they had not concurred already. M. — This must have been the case, to make it just. H. See Jos. vii. — Abominand leges, says Ammianus, (23) speaking of the customs of Persia, per quas ob noxam unius omnis propinquitas perit. C.