Daniel 6:16-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 6:11-17

Here is 1. Proof made of Daniel's praying to his God, notwithstanding the late edict to the contrary (Dan. 6:11): These men assembled; the came tumultuously together, so the word is, the same that was used Dan. 6:6; borrowed from Ps. 2:1; Why do the heathen rage? They came together to visit Daniel, perhaps under pretence of business, at that time which they knew to be his usual hour of devotion; and, if they had not found him so engaged, they would have upbraided him with his faint-heartedness... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 6:18-24

Here is, I. The melancholy night which the king had, upon Daniel's account, Dan. 6:18. He had said, indeed, that God would deliver him out of the danger, but at the same time he could not forgive himself for throwing him into the danger; and justly might God deprive him of a friend whom he had himself used so barbarously. He went to his palace, vexed at himself for what he had done, and calling himself unwise and unjust for not adhering to the law of God and nature with a non obstante?a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:16

Then the king commanded ,.... Being overawed by his princes and fearing they would conspire against him, and stir up the people to rebel; and consulting his own credit lest he should be thought fickle and inconstant; he ordered the decree to be put in execution against Daniel, and delivered his favourite into their hands: and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions ; not the princes but proper officers employed by them: according to the additions to this book of Daniel,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:17

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den ,.... Not a heap of stones, but a single one, a very large one, sufficient to stop up the mouth of the den, that nothing might enter in at it, or be cast into it: this stone was brought by proper persons, and a sufficient number of them, according the order of the king, or his princes, or both; for what Jarchi says, of there being no stones in Babylon, only bricks, and of the angels bringing this stone out of the land of Israel, is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:18

Then the king went to his palace ,.... After he had accompanied Daniel to the den, and he was cast into it, the stone was laid to the mouth of it, and that sealed; this was after sunset, for he had laboured till then to serve him, Daniel 6:14 , perhaps it was late at night: and passed the night fasting ; vexed for what he had done, in signing the decree; fretting because he could not save Daniel, and his heart full of grief for him, and so had no stomach to eat; went to bed without his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:19

Then the king arose very early in the morning ,.... Or, "in the morning with light" F9 בשפרפרא־בנגהא "summa aurora cum luce", Junius & Tremellius; "in tempore aurorae cum luce", Piscator. as soon as ever light appeared, or the day broke: the word for morning is doubled, and one of the letters in it is larger than usual; and all which denote not only his very great earliness in rising, but his earnestness and solicitude for Daniel, to know whether he was alive or not: and went... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:20

And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel ,.... Expressing grief and sorrow his heart was full of; it was rather like howling than speaking; thus he cried before he saw Daniel, or heard him speak: when he was near to the den F11 במקרבה לגבא "cum appropinquasset ad foveam", Pagninus; "quumque appropinquaret ad foveam", Piscator. , as it may be rendered; and he was between hope and fear about Daniel's safety; when within sight of the den, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:21

Then said Daniel unto the king ,.... Whose voice he knew, though the tone of it was so much altered: O king, live for ever ; he does not reproach him for delivering him into the hands of his enemies, and suffering him to be cast into that place, which he might have prevented, had he had more resolution; he knew it was done with reluctance, though with weakness; which he does not upbraid him with, but freely forgives him, and wishes him health, long life, and prosperity. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:22

My God hath sent his angel ,.... Daniel takes up the king's expression, and confirms it; he asserts God to be his God, of which he had given him a proof in sending his angel to him that night; either one of the ministering spirits about him, or the Angel of the covenant, the same with him, said to be like the Son of God, that was seen in the fiery furnace, even the Messiah in human form: and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me ; by taking away hunger from them, or by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:23

Then was the king exceeding glad for him ,.... For Daniel, because of his safety, because he was alive, and in health, and unhurt; and the speech he made was very acceptable to him, agreeable to his sentiments, and which he was satisfied was just and true: or "with", or "for himself" F12 עלוהי "apud se", Piscator; "apud illum", Michaelis. ; being now eased of a guilty and distracted conscience: and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den ; that is, he ordered... read more

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