Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 6
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Daniel 6
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Daniel 6
"It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;" — Daniel 6:1 (ASV)
Princes.— See Excursus A. The Septuagint makes the number 127, so as to agree with Esther 1:1.
"and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage." — Daniel 6:2 (ASV)
Three presidents.— See Note on Daniel 5:7. If there had been a triumvirate in Babylon, Darius continued the form of government which he found already existing, and retained Daniel in the official post to which he had been promoted by Belshazzar.
"Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm." — Daniel 6:3 (ASV)
Was preferred.— Literally, he outshone the others. The pronoun “this” is prefixed to Daniel's name to point him out as the favored one already mentioned (Daniel 6:28).
"Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him." — Daniel 6:4 (ASV)
Concerning the kingdom— that is, in his official capacity. The plan of the conspirators was to place Daniel in such a situation that his civil and religious duties might be forced to clash with each other.
"Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God." — Daniel 6:5 (ASV)
This conspiracy was evidently the result of jealousy on the part of the other officers at the advancement of Daniel.
Jump to: