It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; Ver. 1. _It pleased Darius._] Chald., _Pulchrum fuit coram Dario._ Order, he knew, must be observed, or the kingdom could not continue; himself also was old, and needed assistants. It wa... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _And over these three presidents._] _Triumviros sive tres rationales._ Three to whom the rest should audit and be accountable. _ And the king sho... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents._] Chald., He became a conqueror over those exarchs; so that he might have be... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 4. _Then the presidents and princes sought._] Chald., Were seeking; t... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _Then said these men._] But whatsoever they said, Daniel said, _Ego sic vivam ut nemo eis credat,_ My life shall be a real refutation of their lies. _ Aga... [ Continue Reading ]
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. Ver. 6. _Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king._] Or, Thronged tumultuously, as resolved to have that they came for. James and John, from the word here us... [ Continue Reading ]
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 God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into th... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 8. _Now, O king, establish the decree._] Confirm it, that it may receive the force of law. _ According to the law of the Medes and Persians, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Ver. 9. _Wherefore king Darius signed the writing._] As well enough content to be so dignified, yea, deified. So was Alexander, the Great; Antiochus, Yεος; Herod; Domitian; _Dominus Deus noster, Papa: Vah scelus!_ our Lord God, the pope, Ah w... [ Continue Reading ]
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 God, as he did aforetime. Ver. 10. _Now when Daniel knew that the writing was sig... [ Continue Reading ]
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Ver. 11. _Then these men assembled._] But for ill purpose: as did also our Saviour's enemies, Luk 22:6 and Stephen's, Act 6:9-15 the Popish counsels. At Rome they have a meeting weekly _de propaganda fide,_ f... [ Continue Reading ]
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 God 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, acc... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _That Daniel._] He was principal president, and deserved a better att... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 14. _Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself._] As good reason he had; b... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _Then thase men assembled unto the king._] Or, Kept a stir with the king, from Psalms 2:1. _Cong... [ Continue Reading ]
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 God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Ver. 16. _Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel._] Besides and against his conscience, _Rex rege... [ Continue Reading ]
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 lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Ver. 17. _And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den._] To make all sure, as they thou... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 18. _Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting._] As good reason he had, for the love and loss of such a counsellor, whom he... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. Ver. 19. _Then the king arose very early in the morning._] He had lain all night on a bed of thorns, through trouble of mind, and was glad to get up, especially since sleep (the parenthesis of men's griefs and c... [ Continue Reading ]
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 God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Ver. 20. _And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever._ Ver. 21. _O king, live for ever._] Daniel doth not curse the king (as some impatient spirits would have done, and as some think the damned in hell do God), but wisheth him a long and happy life, _voto amabili._ He useth the ordinary form, but... [ Continue Reading ]
My God 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. Ver. 22. _My God hath sent his angel._] Glad to be employed for the safety and service of the saints, Heb 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
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 God. Ver. 23. _And commanded that they should take Daniel up ant of the den._] Pull him... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 24. _And the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you._ Ver. 25. _Then king Darius wrote._] See on Daniel 4:1 .... [ Continue Reading ]
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end. Ver. 26. _I make a decree._] It is the honour o... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 27. _He delivereth and rescueth._] By this and the foregoing verse it may be evidently seen that Darius was acquainted with Nebuchadnezzar's two dreams, a... [ Continue Reading ]
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Ver. 28. _So this Daniel prospered._] And still solicited the Church's cause. _And in the reign of Cyrus the Persian._] Under whom he affronted the counsellors hired against the returned Jews. Ezra 4:5 _; cf. E... [ Continue Reading ]