Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 6:4-9
2. The conspiracy against Daniel 6:4-9 read more
2. The conspiracy against Daniel 6:4-9 read more
Under Persian law, the king was bound by the authority of a royal edict (Daniel 6:8; Daniel 6:12; Daniel 6:15; cf. Esther 1:19; Esther 8:8). This made his power less than it was under an absolute dictator such as Nebuchadnezzar (cf. Daniel 2:39)."The action of Darius was both foolish and wicked. What led him to yield to the request of the ministers can only be conjectured, but probably he was greatly influenced by the claim of deity which many of the Persian kings made." [Note: Young, p. 134.] read more
The Den of LionsDarius the Mede divides his kingdom into 120 satrapies, the whole being superintended by three higher officials, of whom Daniel was one (Daniel 6:1-2). Daniel is in special favour, and Darius meditates giving him a still higher office (Daniel 6:3). This rouses the jealousy of his colleagues, who plot his ruin (Daniel 6:4-5). They persuade Darius to make a decree that no one shall ask anything for 30 days from God or man, save from the king, on pain of being cast into the den of... read more
Daniel 6:3-4 Whatever the world thinks, he who hath not much meditated upon God, the human soul, and the sum-mum bonum , may possibly make a thriving earthworm, but will most indubitably make a sorry patriot and a sorry statesman. Berkeley. Daniel 6:4 That we have little faith is not sad, but that we have but little faithfulness. By faithfulness faith is earned. When, in the progress of a life, a man swerves, though only by an angle infinitely small, from his proper and allotted path (and this... read more
CHAPTER 6 Under Darius the Mede and Daniel in the Lion’s Den 1. The decree of Darius (Daniel 6:1-9 ) 2. Daniel’s faith and steadfastness (Daniel 6:10-15 ) 3. Daniel cast into the lion’s den and the deliverance (Daniel 6:16-24 ) 4. The Decree of Darius (Daniel 6:25-28 ) Daniel 6:1-9 . From the opening of this chapter we learn that Daniel also held a very high position in the beginning of the second monarchy, which had conquered Babylonia. He was preferred above all the other presidents... read more
6:9 Wherefore king Darius {d} signed the writing and the decree.(d) In this is condemned the wickedness of the king, who would be set up as a god, and did not care what wicked laws he approved for the maintenance of it. read more
FROM NEBUCHADNEZZAR TO CYRUS The effect of the interpretation of his dream on Nebuchadnezzar is the inflation of his pride. To be sure, he was grateful to Daniel (Daniel 2:46-49 ), to whom he offered worship, although the latter rejected it no doubt, as did Paul later (Acts 14:11-18 ). His apprehension of Daniel’s God, however, is yet only as one amongst the national or tribal gods, although greater than they. This is clear from what follows in Daniel 3:1-7 , which is an attempt “to unify... read more
The Promotion of Daniel Dan 6:1-14 "Of whom Daniel was first." That is the explanation of all that follows. Do not let us lose ourselves in the details of a story which has entranced us since our childhood. When we began to hear the story we did not listen to such words as these "Of whom Daniel was first"; we were then taken up with the lions, the den, the night spent in great trouble and danger: now we have had time to look away to reasons, to first thoughts, to beginnings and causes. Here... read more
I think it would be wrong to swell the Commentary by unnecessary observations here. The plan was evil; and the intention evil; though as we shall find by the sequel, the Lord overruled it for good. Think, Reader! what must his wisdom be that makes good to spring out of evil; and so arrangeth orders and events, as to make men the unconscious ministers of bringing about the very reverse of what they intended. Such was the history of Joseph's brethren, when from the pit, and the prison, all the... read more
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:9
9. Such a despotic decree is quite explicable by remembering that the king, as the incarnation of Ormuzd, might demand such an act of religious obedience as a test of loyalty. Persecuting laws are always made on false pretenses. Instead of bitter complaints against men, Daniel prays to God. Though having vast business as a ruler of the empire, he finds time to pray thrice a day. Daniel's three companions ( :-), are not alluded to here, nor any other Jew who conscientiously may have disregarded... read more