John Gill Commentary Daniel 6:20

"And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" — Daniel 6:20 (ASV)

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 , as it may be rendered; and he was between hope and fear about Daniel's safety; when within sight of the den, and hearing of Daniel, should he be alive to speak:

but when he came nearer and saw him, then the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God; are you alive?

this is a plain case, that the God whom you serve is the living God, since he has saved you; and that you are a true and faithful servant of his, seeing he has wrought such deliverance for you:

is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?

has he made it to appear that he is able to deliver from them? has he really done the thing? he could scarcely believe for joy, being filled with amazement; for these words are not to be considered as expressive of any doubt or hesitation he had of the power of God to save him; for he had declared he had before, yea; his confidence that he would deliver him; but of his wonder and admiration at it, the thing being so extraordinary and amazing.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F11: (abgl hbrqmb) "cum appropinquasset ad foveam", Pagninus; "quumque appropinquaret ad foveam", Piscator.