Daniel Chapter 6 Lesson

(Dan 6:2) And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

(Dan 6:3) Then 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.

(Dan 6:4) Then 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.

Cyrus the Great instituted a system of government with presidents and princes as reflected in the situation under Darius the Mede described in this chapter. There has been a great deal of discussion about the identity of Darius, and the lack of historical documents about him is the most important factor in doubt cast on the authenticity of the book of Daniel. But the description of this government system is so accurate, down to the detail of how one prince is played against another in a divide and rule policy, that in reality this passage rather proves than disproves the authenticity of the book of Daniel.

(Dan 6:5) Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his Eloah.

(Dan 6:6) Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

(Dan 6:7) All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, 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 eloah or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

(Dan 6:8) Now, 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.

(Dan 6:9) Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

Jealousy, conniving, manipulation and flattery are the natural results of the Medo-Persian ruling policy, but this all worked together to the benefit of the king, when he was wise enough to see through his courtiers. This time the king was deceived by the princes. From the point of view of Persian policy, his mistake was not to keep the princes divided against one another.

(Dan 6:10) Now 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 Eloah, as he did aforetime.

The practice of formal prayer in prostration was so important at that time that Daniel risked his life to continue it. The fact that the temple lay in ruins meant that most of the earlier ritual had to be abandoned. Formal prayer in prostration took its place, and that is doubtless why it was so important.

(Dan 6:11) Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his Eloah.

(Dan 6:12) Then 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 eloah 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.

(Dan 6:13) Then 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.

(Dan 6:14) Then 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.

The practice of praying three times a day is mentioned in Psalm 55:17. “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” The verse seems to require that prayer be spoken aloud on those occasions. The practice of praying toward the temple is also known in Psalm 5:7. “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.” This must have been especially precious, since it was all that was left when the youths were taken captive. They could no longer participate in the temple worship, but they could pray in the direction of the ruined temple three times a day. Those prayers for them were the temple. It is no wonder that they clung to them even at the threat on their very lives.

(Dan 6:15) Then 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.

(Dan 6:16) Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy Eloah whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

(Dan 6:17) And 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 princes; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

(Dan 6:18) Then 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.

Daniel reveals the extent of the importance of music. It was not only used to enforce heathen worship, but also for its therapeutic effect. Entertainment music is rather a modern thing, and clouds for us the fact that music is a powerful tool for good or for evil.

(Dan 6:19) Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

(Dan 6:20) And 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 Eloah, is thy Eloah, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

(Dan 6:21) Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

(Dan 6:22) My Eloah 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.

(Dan 6:23) Then 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 Eloah.

Daniel claimed that an angel had saved him. Doubtless his enemies scoffed at the idea and tried to say that he escaped by natural causes, either that he was adept at handling wild animals or that the lions were not hungry.

(Dan 6:24) And 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.

(Dan 6:25) Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

(Dan 6:26) I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the Eloah of Daniel: for he is the living Eloah, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

(Dan 6:27) He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

(Dan 6:28) So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

The destruction of Daniel’s enemies served to reinforce the fact that Daniel had been preserved miraculously. It was not merely an act of vindictiveness on Daniel’s part or on the part of the king. It was Yahuwah's plan to show His glory and power, and to strike down heathenism.