---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Daniel 6:1. A hundred and twenty princes — A chief or satrap over every province which belonged to the Medo-Persian empire. Afterwards we find it en"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/daniel/6"
---

Verse [Daniel 6:1](../../../kjv/daniel/6/1). ***A hundred and twenty princes*** — A chief or *satrap* over every province which belonged to the Medo-Persian empire. Afterwards we find it enlarged to *one hundred and twenty-seven* provinces, by the victories of *Cambyses* and *Darius Hystaspes*. See [Esther 1:1](../../../kjv/esther/1/1). *Josephus* reckons *three hundred and sixty* satrapies or lordships; but this is most probably an exaggeration or mistake.

Verse [Daniel 6:2](../../../kjv/daniel/6/2). ***Three presidents*** — Each having *forty* of these presidents accountable to him for their administration.
***Daniel*****was*****first*** — As being established over that part where was the seat of government. He was confirmed in his offices by Darius.

Verse [Daniel 6:3](../../../kjv/daniel/6/3). ***The king thought to set him over the whole realm*** — Intended to make him *grand vizier* or *emir ul amrim*. This partiality of the king made Daniel the object of the other presidents, and the grandees of the kingdom.

Verse [Daniel 6:4](../../../kjv/daniel/6/4). ***Sought to find occasion against Daniel*** — But they found no blemish in his administration, for he was *faithful to his king*: this was a *virtue*. But he was also *faithful to his God*: this they hoped to construe into a *crime*, and make it the cause of his ruin.

Verse [Daniel 6:7](../../../kjv/daniel/6/7). ***Whosoever shall ask a petition*** — What pretense could they urge for so silly an ordinance? Probably to *flatter* the ambition of the king, they pretend to make him *a god* for *thirty* days; so that the whole empire should make prayer and supplication to him, and pay him Divine honours! This was the bait; but their real object was to destroy Daniel.

Verse [Daniel 6:8](../../../kjv/daniel/6/8). ***According to the law of the Medes and Persians*** — I do not think that this is to be understood so as to imply that whatever laws or ordinances the Medes or Persians once enacted, they never changed them. This would argue extreme folly in legislators in any country. Nothing more appears to be meant than that the decree should be enacted, written, and registered, according to the legal forms among the Medes and Persians; and this one to be made absolute for *thirty* days. The laws were such among this people, that, when once passed with the usual formalities, the *king* could not change them at his own will. This is the utmost that can be meant by the law of the Medes and Persians that could not be changed.

Verse [Daniel 6:10](../../../kjv/daniel/6/10). ***Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed*** — He saw *what* was *designed*, and he knew *whom* he *served*.
***His windows being open*** — He would not shut them to conceal himself, but "kneeled down with his face turned toward Jerusalem, and prayed thrice each day, giving thanks to God as usual." When the Jews were in distant countries, in prayer they turned their faces towards *Jerusalem*; and when in Jerusalem, they turned their faces towards the *temple*. Solomon, in his prayer at the dedication of the temple, [1 Kings 8:48](../../../kjv/1-kings/8/48), had entreated God to hear the prayers of those who might be in strange lands, or in captivity, when they should *turn their faces towards their own land*, which *God gave* *unto their fathers*; and towards *the city which he had chosen*, and *the house which was dedicated to his name*. It was in reference to this that Daniel turned his face towards Jerusalem when he prayed.

Verse [Daniel 6:12](../../../kjv/daniel/6/12). ***Shall be cast into the den of lions*** — Either this was the royal *menagerie*, like that place in the *Tower* of London, where wild beasts are kept for the king's pleasure, and the public amusement; or they were kept for the purpose of devouring certain criminals, which the laws might consign to that kind of death. This is most likely, from the case before us.

Verse 14. ***The king - was sore displeased with himself*** — And well he might, when through his excessive folly he passed a law that, for its ostensible object, would have been a disgrace almost to an idiot.
***And set*****his*****heart on Daniel*** — He strove by every means to get the law annulled. He had no doubt spoken to several of his lords in private, and had gone from *one* to *another* till the going down of the sun.

Verse 15. ***Then these men assembled*** — Having got favourable answers, as we may presume, from many individuals, he called a *parliament*; but they now collectively joined to urge the *execution* of the law, not its *repeal*.

Verse 16. ***Then the king commanded*** — With a heavy heart he was obliged to warrant this murderous conspiracy. But when passing sentence his last words were affecting: "Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee." He is *thy* God; *thou* *servest him*, not occasionally, but *continually*; therefore "he will deliver thee." Daniel had now the same kind of opportunity of showing his fidelity to God, as his *three* Hebrew companions before. The *lions* were not less terrible than the *fiery furnace*.

Verse 17. ***A stone was brought*** — All this *precaution* served the purposes of the Divine Providence. There could be no trick nor collusion here; if Daniel be preserved, it must be by the power of the Supreme God. The same precaution was taken by the Jews, in the case of the *burial of our blessed Lord*; and this very thing has served as one of the strongest proofs of the certainty of his resurrection and their unmixed wickedness.

Verse 18. ***Passed the night fasting*** — He neither ate nor drank, had no music to solace, nor sweet odours burnt or brought before him, and he passed the night without sleep. All this points out his great sincerity; and when it is considered that Darius could not be less than *sixty-two* or *sixty-three* years of age at this time, it shows more fully the depth of his concern.

Verse 19. ***The king arose very early*** — By the break of day.

Verse [Daniel 6:20](../../../kjv/daniel/6/20). ***He cried with a lamentable voice*** — His heart, full of grief, affected his speech.
***Servant of the living God*** — The king was convinced that, unless his God saved him, his destruction was inevitable.

Verse [Daniel 6:22](../../../kjv/daniel/6/22). ***My God hath sent his angel*** — Such a one as that who attended Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the fiery furnace, and blew aside the flames, so that they could not hurt them.
***Before him innocency was found in me*** — Because I was innocent God has preserved me; and now that I am preserved, my innocence is fully proved.

Verse [Daniel 6:23](../../../kjv/daniel/6/23). ***No manner of hurt was found upon him*** — And why? *Because* *he believed in his God*. How mighty is *faith*? It interests that power in the behalf of the believer by which the sea is dried up, the mountains removed, the dead raised to life, sin forgiven, the heart purified, Satan vanquished, death conquered, and God himself delighted and glorified! See [Hebrews 11:1-40](../../../kjv/hebrews/11/1-40).

Verse [Daniel 6:24](../../../kjv/daniel/6/24). ***They brought those men*** — It was perfectly just that they should suffer that death to which they had endeavoured to subject the innocent; but it was savage cruelty to destroy the *women* and *children* who had no part in the transgression.

Verse [Daniel 6:25](../../../kjv/daniel/6/25). ***Then king Darius wrote*** — And the substance of this *decree*, which was made by a heathen king, was to point out the *perfections* of the *true God*, and the *fidelity* of his devoted servant.

Verse [Daniel 6:26](../../../kjv/daniel/6/26). ***I make a decree that - men tremble and fear before the**********God of Daniel*** — As in the case of the *three* Hebrews, [Daniel 3:29](../../../kjv/daniel/3/29). The true God was known by his servants, and by the deliverances he wrought for them. See his characters in this decree.
1. He is the *living God*, the Author and Giver of life; all others are *dead* gods.
2. He is *steadfast for ever*. All things *change*; but he is unchangeable.
3. He has a *kingdom*; for as he made all things, so he *governs* all things.
4. His *kingdom shall not be destroyed*. No human power can prevail against it, because it is upheld by his omnipotence.
5. His *dominion* is without *end*. It is an everlasting dominion, under an everlasting rule, by an everlasting God.
6. He *delivereth* them that are in danger and bondage.
7. He *rescueth* those who have fallen into the hands of their enemies, and implore his succour.
8. He *worketh signs* in the *heavens*.
9. And *wonders* upon *earth*; showing that both are under his sway, and are parts of his dominion.
10. And to complete all, *He hath delivered Daniel*. Before our own eyes he has given the fullest proof of his *power* and *goodness*, in rescuing his faithful servant from the teeth of the lions. What a fine eulogium on the great God and his faithful servant!

Verse [Daniel 6:28](../../../kjv/daniel/6/28). ***So this Daniel prospered*** — He had served *five* kings: *Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach, Belshazzar, Darius*, and *Cyrus*. Few courtiers have had so long a reign, served so many masters without flattering any, been more successful in their management of public affairs, been so useful to the states where they were in office, or have been more owned of God, or have left such an example to posterity.
Where shall we find ministers like *Samuel* and *Daniel*? None so wise, so holy, so disinterested, so useful, have ever since appeared in the nations of the earth.

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