Christian
Churches of God
No. F027vi
Commentary on Daniel
Chapter 6
(Edition 1.0 20200929-20200929)
The chapter deals with
change of power.
Christian
Churches of God
E-mail: secretary@ccg.org
(Copyright © 2020 Wade Cox)
This paper may be freely copied and distributed provided it
is copied in total with no alterations or deletions. The publisher’s name and
address and the copyright notice must be included. No charge may be levied on recipients of
distributed copies. Brief quotations may
be embodied in critical articles and reviews without breaching copyright.
This paper is available from the World Wide Web page:
http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org
Commentary on Daniel Chapter 6
Introduction
As we saw above
Chapter 6 deals with the first change of the power from the head of Gold to the
Silver of the Medes and Persians. When this happened it was set up to trap
anyone that worshipped other than the system that they had established in order
to punish anyone that served the One True God and other than as they dictated.
The Laws of the Medes and Persians could not be changed and thus clemency was
prevented in this application. Daniel was caught up in this matter as he prayed
three times a day (v. 13). By the visible
salvation of Daniel in the Lion’s Den those who sought to kill Daniel and his
people were themselves taken and killed as they sought to kill Daniel and as
indeed the following empires and their leaders were also killed and dealt with
in the subsequent judgment. The people who killed God’s prophets were usually
themselves killed and in fact right up to the end with the two Witnesses (Rev.
11:3 ff) we see that everyone that seeks to kill them will in like manner be
killed. It was by these trials that the power of the One True God was
established. In this way Daniel was also established in the reigns of Darius
(the Mede) and Cyrus the Persian
Note that it is a matter of faith that God saves the elect as he did
Daniel and those who sought his hurt were killed in his place. In this way
Daniel and his relationship with God grew in favour and respect in the eyes of
the King.
This matter also deals with the creation of the satraps under a system of
convenience to govern the kingdom under the three principal governors which
were seven with Astyages and up to 120 and then seven to a total of 127
(cf. Bullinger below).
Daniel Chapter
6
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty
princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2And over these
three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give
accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3Then 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. 4Then
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. 5Then
said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we
find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6Then these
presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him,
King Darius, live for ever. 7All the presidents of the kingdom, the
governors, and the princes, the counsellers, 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. 8Now, 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. 9Wherefore
king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10Now 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. 11Then
these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before
his God. 12Then 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. 13Then
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. 14Then 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. 15Then 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. 16Then
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. 17And 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. 18Then 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. 19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and
went in haste unto the den of lions.20And 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? 21Then said Daniel
unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22My 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. 23Then 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. 24And 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. 25Then
king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all
the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26I 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. 27He
delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in
earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28So
this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the
Persian. (KJV)
Bullinger’s Notes on Chapter 6
Verse
1
…an hundred and twenty. Darius Hystaspis, in
his inscription on the Behistun Rock (App-57), enumerates twenty-three names.
This number was continually altered according to historical changes and
conquests. In Esther 1:10, Esther 1:13, Esther 1:14, there were
seven when Astyages took the kingdom; but he added 120 more (Daniel 6:1), and made 127
(Esther 1:1; Esther 8:9; Esther 9:30).
princes = satraps. As
in Daniel 3:2.
Verse
18
passed the night fasting. Showing the long-standing affection
which Astyages had for Daniel.
instruments of musick. Some understand the word as referring
to "tables"; others, women
or dancing girls.
Verse
26
decree.
Chaldee. te"am = a decision, implying the pleasure or
approval with which it was made.
God.
Chaldee. "elaha (emphatic).
Verse
28
Cyrus the Persian. The son of Darius the Mede. He is the
young Darius, his father Astyages being the old Darius, "Darius" meaning "the
Maintainer". Compare Isaiah 45:1. See App-57.
q