daniel-6:1-5,-daniel-6:19-23-niv

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:1

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom - Evidently over the kingdom of Babylon, now united to that of Media and Persia. As this was now subject to him, and tributary to him, it would be natural to appoint persons over it in whom he could confide, for the administration of justice, for the collection of revenue, etc. Others however, suppose that this relates to the whole kingdom of Persia, but as the reference here is mainly to what was the kingdom of Babylon, it is rather to be presumed that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:2

And over these, three presidents - סרכין sârekı̂yn. This word is found only in the plural. The etymology is uncertain, but its meaning is not doubtful. The word president expresses it with sufficient accuracy, denoting a high officer that presided over others. It is not improbable that these presided over distinct departments, corresponding somewhat to what are now called “secretaries” - as Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, of Foreign Affairs, etc., though this is not particularly... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:3

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes - That is, he was at their head, or was placed in rank and office over them. “Because an excellent spirit was in him.” This may refer alike to his wisdom and his integrity - both of which would be necessary in such an office. It was an office of great difficulty and responsibility to manage the affairs of the empire in a proper manner, and required the talents of an accomplished statesman, and, at the same time, as it was an office... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:4

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel - The word rendered “occasion” (עלה ‛illâh) means a pretext or pretence. “The Arabs use the word of any business or affair which serves as a cause or pretext for neglecting another business.” - Gesenius, Lexicon The meaning is, that they sought to find some plausible pretext or reason in respect to Daniel, by which the contemplated appointment might be prevented, and by which he might be effectually humbled. No one who is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:5

We shall not find any occasion ... - We shall not find any pretext or any cause by which he may be humbled and degraded. They were satisfied of his integrity, and they saw it was vain to hope to accomplish their purposes by any attack on his moral character, or any charge against him in respect to the manner in which he had discharged the duties of his office.Except we find it against him concerning the law of his God - Unless it be in respect to his religion; unless we can so construe his... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 6:1

Daniel 6:1. It pleased Darius That this Darius was the Cyaxares of Xenophon, as has been observed in note on Daniel 5:31, St. Jerome not only asserts, but proves by the testimony of Josephus, Trogus Pompeius, and other historians; so that it appears to have been the generally received opinion in his time, as it probably was also in the time of Josephus, which was not more than five or six hundred years after Cyrus. He was the son of Astyages, or Ahasuerus, or Assuerus, as he is called... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 6:2-3

Daniel 6:2-3. And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first He had been appointed one of the principal officers of state by Belshazzar, Daniel 5:29. The office to which he was now advanced seems to have been of the same sort with that conferred on Joseph by Pharaoh, Genesis 41:41. Grotius thinks these eparchs were like the præfecti prætorio in the latter part of the Roman empire. That the princes might give accounts unto them Might lay before them the state of the public... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 6:4-6

Daniel 6:4-6. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel We may judge, from what is here said, how blameless Daniel was in his conduct, and of how great advantage it is to act with virtue and integrity. All the spite and malice of his enemies could not so much as find out a pretence for accusing him, because he conducted himself in all affairs with uprightness, and established his credit by his virtuous behaviour. Then said these men, We shall not find, &c.... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:1-28

Daniel in the lion’s den (6:1-28)There had been no opportunity for Daniel to enjoy his return to high office, because Babylon fell the night he was reinstated (see 5:29-30). But the new rulers would have known of his record under Nebuchadnezzar, so they made him one of the three presidents appointed to administer the nation (6:1-2).Daniel had such obvious ability that the other two presidents soon became jealous of him. They wanted to get rid of him, but were unable to find any accusation of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 6:1

Darius . A careful study of App-57 will show that this "Darius the Median" of Daniel 5:31 is the Artaxerxes (the great king) of Nehemiah 2:1 and Ezra 6:14 , and the Ahasuerus of Esther 1:1 . These names are all used of one and the same person; and by comparison of the Median kings, according to Herodotus, compared with the genealogy of Cyrus in his Cuneiform Cylinder, the important fact becomes clear that this man was ASTYAGES; and the names ARSAMES = CAMBYSES, common to Herodotus, the... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 6:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 6:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 6:2-3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 6:4-6

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 6:1-28

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 6:1

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