Daniel 2:24-26

24-26. Daniel’s first thought was to save the Babylonian wise men, so he hurries to Arioch (see Daniel 2:14), who obtains for him an audience with the king. Arioch’s speech would indicate that he did not know of Daniel’s previous visit or “petition” to the king. (See Daniel 2:16, LXX.) The absence of Daniel in Daniel 2:2, and all the later circumstances, would suggest that at this time the Hebrew children were not “standing before the king” in their old place of honor (Daniel 1:19) while the forgetfulness of Daniel shown by Nebuchadnezzar (compare Daniel 1:20) is surprising. Does this lend color to our previous suggestion, that the king wanted a chance to frighten the magicians into a position of subordination more than he wanted to hear his dream? (note Daniel 2:5.) This might also account for the additional humiliation placed upon the Magi when he appointed this youth to be the head of their order (Daniel 2:48).