וְדָרְיָוֶשׁ (מָדָיָא) [מָדָאָה] קַבֵּל מַלְכוּתָא כְּבַר שְׁנִין שִׁתִּין וְתַרְתֵּין׃ 6:1
Dani. 6:1 And Darius, the Mede, received the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.
That is, the Persian kingdom, which was conquered by the Medes. The period seems to be around the 540’s BCE to the 500’s BCE. The Temple was rebuilt during this time interval. In addition, as we shall soon see, Darius must have known about Daniel’s abilities and his favor with the Lord as well, and had a great admiration for him.
שְׁפַר קֳדָם דָּרְיָוֶשׁ וַהֲקִים עַל־מַלְכוּתָא לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא מְאָה וְעֶשְׂרִין דִּי לֶהֱוֹן בְּכָל־מַלְכוּתָא׃ 6:2
Dani. 6:2 It seemed good before Darius so he set up one hundred and twenty to be satraps over the kingdom who were to be throughout the whole kingdom.
וְעֵלָּא מִנְּהֹון סָרְכִין תְּלָתָא דִּי דָנִיֵּאל חַד־מִנְּהֹון דִּי־לֶהֱוֹן אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא אִלֵּין יָהֲבִין לְהֹון טַעְמָא 6:3
וּמַלְכָּא לָא־לֶהֱוֵא נָזִק׃
Dani. 6:3 And three presidents were over them (one of whom was Daniel) that these satraps were to be giving report to them so the king would not be suffering damage.
אֱדַיִן דָּנִיֵּאל דְּנָה הֲוָא מִתְנַצַּח עַל־סָרְכַיָּא וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי רוּחַ יַתִּירָא בֵּהּ וּמַלְכָּא עֲשִׁית 6:4
לַהֲקָמוּתֵהּ עַל־כָּל־מַלְכוּתָא׃
Dani. 6:4 Now this Daniel became distinguished above the presidents and satraps because of the surpassing spirit in him, and the king was planning to appoint him over the entire realm.
אֱדַיִן סָרְכַיָּא וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא הֲוֹו בָעַיִן עִלָּה לְהַשְׁכָּחָה לְדָנִיֵּאל מִצַּד מַלְכוּתָא וְכָל־עִלָּה וּשְׁחִיתָה 6:5
לָא־יָכְלִין לְהַשְׁכָּחָה כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי־מְהֵימַן הוּא וְכָל־שָׁלוּ וּשְׁחִיתָה לָא הִשְׁתְּכַחַת עֲלֹוהִי׃
Dani. 6:5 Thereupon the presidents and satraps began seeking something to find about Daniel against the kingdom. But they were not able to find any matter or fault, inasmuch as he was so trustworthy. Nor any neglect or corruption was found concerning him.
אֱדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ אָמְרִין דִּי לָא נְהַשְׁכַּח לְדָנִיֵּאל דְּנָה כָּל־עִלָּא לָהֵן הַשְׁכַּחְנָה עֲלֹוהִי בְּדָת אֱלָהֵהּ׃ 6:6
Dani. 6:6 Whereupon these men were saying this: “We will not find anything regarding this Daniel, unless we find against him in the law of his God.”
אֱדַיִן סָרְכַיָּא וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא אִלֵּן הַרְגִּשׁוּ עַל־מַלְכָּא וְכֵן אָמְרִין לֵהּ דָּרְיָוֶשׁ מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי׃ 6:7
Dani. 6:7 Thereupon these presidents and satraps came tumultuously to the king and were saying to him thus: “Darius, the king, live forever!”
אִתְיָעַטוּ כֹּל סָרְכֵי מַלְכוּתָא סִגְנַיָּא וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא הַדָּבְרַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא לְקַיָּמָה קְיָם מַלְכָּא וּלְתַקָּפָה 6:8
אֱסָר דִּי כָל־דִּי־יִבְעֵה בָעוּ מִן־כָּל־אֱלָהּ וֶאֱנָשׁ עַד־יֹומִין תְּלָתִין לָהֵן מִנָּךְ מַלְכָּא יִתְרְמֵא לְגֹב אַרְיָוָתָא׃
Dani. 6:8 “All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and satraps, the ministers and governors, advise the king to establish a statute and to make a strong decree that anyone who might seek a petition from any god or person during thirty days, unless from you, the king, shall be cast into a den of lions.”
כְּעַן מַלְכָּא תְּקִים אֱסָרָא וְתִרְשֻׁם כְּתָבָא דִּי לָא לְהַשְׁנָיָה כְּדָת־מָדַי וּפָרַס דִּי־לָא תֶעְדֵּא׃ 6:9
Dani. 6:9 “You, O king, should now establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it is not to be altered as the law of the Medes and of Persia, so it cannot be removed.”
כָּל־קֳבֵל דְּנָה מַלְכָּא דָּרְיָוֶשׁ רְשַׁם כְּתָבָא וֶאֱסָרָא׃ 6:10
Dani. 6:10 Because of this, king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
וְדָנִיֵּאל כְּדִי יְדַע דִּי־רְשִׁים כְּתָבָא עַל לְבַיְתֵהּ וְכַוִּין פְּתִיחָן לֵהּ בְּעִלִּיתֵהּ נֶגֶד יְרוּשְׁלֶם וְזִמְנִין תְּלָתָה 6:11
בְיֹומָא הוּא בָּרֵךְ עַל־בִּרְכֹוהִי וּמְצַלֵּא וּמֹודֵא קֳדָם אֱלָהֵהּ כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי־הֲוָא עָבֵד מִן־קַדְמַת דְּנָה׃
Dani. 6:11 And Daniel, when he knew that the writing had been signed, went in to his house. Now his open windows in his upper chamber were facing Jerusalem, and three times every day he had been kneeling on his knees and praying and giving thanks before His God accordingly as he had been doing from before this.
This is fascinating. Daniel kneeled while he prayed. Probably other exiled faithful Jews did so as well. When did this become a practice? Was it a result of the exile? Was it something learned from the Babylonians? The latter is unlikely. More likely that it came about as a personal sign of humility and submission to the Lord’s will. I believe this should be our practice today as well. We should kneel facing toward Jerusalem (east in the USA) and pray three times daily to the good Lord, our God, as Daniel did, and ask for forgiveness of our sins and salvation for the Jews of the world. O Great and Mighty and Merciful Lord in heaven! Bring understanding and discernment to me and my people!
אֱדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ הַרְגִּשׁוּ וְהַשְׁכַּחוּ לְדָנִיֵּאל בָּעֵא וּמִתְחַנַּן קֳדָם אֱלָהֵהּ׃ 6:12
Dani. 6:12 Therefore these men came tumultuously and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
They must have known of Daniel’s activities and had planned this trap for him.
בֵּאדַיִן קְרִיבוּ וְאָמְרִין קֳדָם־מַלְכָּא עַל־אֱסָר מַלְכָּא הֲלָא אֱסָר רְשַׁמְתָּ דִּי כָל־אֱנָשׁ דִּי־יִבְעֵה 6:13
מִן־כָּל־אֱלָהּ וֶאֱנָשׁ עַד־יֹומִין תְּלָתִין לָהֵן מִנָּךְ מַלְכָּא יִתְרְמֵא לְגֹוב אַרְיָותָא עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר יַצִּיבָא
Dani. 6:13 Whereupon they approached and were saying before the king about the king's decree, “Have you not signed a decree that anyone who might seek petition from any god or person during thirty days, unless from you, the king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and he said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persia, which cannot be removed.”
בֵּאדַיִן עֲנֹו וְאָמְרִין קֳדָם מַלְכָּא דִּי דָנִיֵּאל דִּי מִן־בְּנֵי גָלוּתָא דִּי יְהוּד לָא־שָׂם (עֲלַיִךְ) [עֲלָךְ] מַלְכָּא 6:14
טְעֵם וְעַל־אֱסָרָא דִּי רְשַׁמְתָּ וְזִמְנִין תְּלָתָה בְּיֹומָא בָּעֵא בָּעוּתֵהּ׃
Dani. 6:14 Whereupon they responded by saying before the king that, “Daniel, who is from the children of the captivity of Judah, sets no judgment by you, the king, or on the decree that you signed, but he has been making his petition three times every day.”
אֱדַיִן מַלְכָּא כְּדִי מִלְּתָא שְׁמַע שַׂגִּיא בְּאֵשׁ עֲלֹוהִי וְעַל דָּנִיֵּאל שָׂם בָּל לְשֵׁיזָבוּתֵהּ וְעַד מֶעָלֵי שִׁמְשָׁא 6:15
הֲוָא מִשְׁתַּדַּר לְהַצָּלוּתֵהּ׃
Dani. 6:15 Then the king, when he heard the thing, was greatly displeased over it, and set his heart on Daniel for his delivery, and until the setting of the sun was striving to extricate him.
בֵּאדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ הַרְגִּשׁוּ עַל־מַלְכָּא וְאָמְרִין לְמַלְכָּא דַּע מַלְכָּא דִּי־דָת לְמָדַי וּפָרַס דִּי־כָל־אֱסָר 6:16
וּקְיָם דִּי־מַלְכָּא יְהָקֵים לָא לְהַשְׁנָיָה׃
Dani. 6:16 Whereupon these men came tumultuously upon the king and were saying to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law for the Medes and Persia that any decree or statute that the king might establish is not changeable.”
בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא אֲמַר וְהַיְתִיו לְדָנִיֵּאל וּרְמֹו לְגֻבָּא דִּי אַרְיָוָתָא עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל אֱלָהָךְ 6:17
דִּי (אַנְתָּה) [אַנְתְּ] פָּלַח־לֵהּ בִּתְדִירָא הוּא יְשֵׁיזְבִנָּךְ׃
Dani. 6:17 Thereupon the king spoke, and they brought Daniel and cast into the den of lions. The king responded, and he said to Daniel, “Your God Whom you are worshipping continually, He will deliver you.”
וְהֵיתָיִת אֶבֶן חֲדָה וְשֻׂמַת עַל־פֻּם גֻּבָּא וְחַתְמַהּ מַלְכָּא בְּעִזְקְתֵהּ וּבְעִזְקָת רַבְרְבָנֹוהִי דִּי לָא־תִשְׁנֵא 6:18
צְבוּ בְּדָנִיֵּאל׃
Dani. 6:18 And one stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his signet and with the signet of his nobles so that nothing could be changed because of Daniel.
אֱדַיִן אֲזַל מַלְכָּא לְהֵיכְלֵהּ וּבָת טְוָת וְדַחֲוָן לָא־הַנְעֵל קָדָמֹוהִי וְשִׁנְתֵּהּ נַדַּת עֲלֹוהִי׃ 6:19
Dani. 6:19 Then the king went off to his palace and he passed the night fasting and he had no concubines brought before himself, although his sleep had fled off of him.
בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא בִּשְׁפַּרְפָּרָא יְקוּם בְּנָגְהָא וּבְהִתְבְּהָלָה לְגֻבָּא דִי־אַרְיָוָתָא אֲזַל׃ 6:20
Dani. 6:20 Whereupon the king could arise bright at dawn, and immediately went to the den of lions.
וּכְמִקְרְבֵהּ לְגֻבָּא לְדָנִיֵּאל בְּקָל עֲצִיב זְעִק עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל דָּנִיֵּאל עֲבֵד אֱלָהָא חַיָּא 6:21
אֱלָהָךְ דִּי (אַנְתָּה) [אַנְתְּ] פָּלַח־לֵהּ בִּתְדִירָא הַיְכִל לְשֵׁיזָבוּתָךְ מִן־אַרְיָוָתָא׃
Dani. 6:21 And when he was coming near to Daniel's den, cried out in a pained voice. The king spoke, and he said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, your God Whom you have been worshipping continually, was He able to deliver you from the lions?”
אֱדַיִן דָּנִיֶּאל עִם־מַלְכָּא מַלִּל מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי׃ 6:22
Dani. 6:22 Then Daniel, together with the king, spoke: “O king, live forever!”
אֱלָהִי שְׁלַח מַלְאֲכֵהּ וּסֲגַר פֻּם אַרְיָוָתָא וְלָא חַבְּלוּנִי כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי קָדָמֹוהִי זָכוּ הִשְׁתְּכַחַת לִי 6:23
וְאַף (קָדָמַיִךְ) [קָדָמָךְ] מַלְכָּא חֲבוּלָה לָא עַבְדֵת׃
Dani. 6:23 “My God sent an angel and he shut the mouth of the lions that they have not eaten me, for the reason that before Him innocence was found in me, as well as before you, O king, I had done nothing wrong.”
בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא שַׂגִּיא טְאֵב עֲלֹוהִי וּלְדָנִיֵּאל אֲמַר לְהַנְסָקָה מִן־גֻּבָּא וְהֻסַּק דָּנִיֵּאל מִן־גֻּבָּא 6:24
וְכָל־חֲבָל לָא־הִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּהּ דִּי הֵימִן בֵּאלָהֵהּ׃
Dani. 6:24 Whereupon the king was exceedingly glad on his behalf, and to Daniel he said to come up from the den, and Daniel was taken up from the den. And no injury was found on him, because he trusted in his God.
וַאֲמַר מַלְכָּא וְהַיְתִיו גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ דִּי־אֲכַלוּ קַרְצֹוהִי דִּי דָנִיֵּאל וּלְגֹב אַרְיָוָתָא רְמֹו אִנּוּן בְּנֵיהֹון 6:25
וּנְשֵׁיהֹון וְלָא־מְטֹו לְאַרְעִית גֻּבָּא עַד דִּי־שְׁלִטוּ בְהֹון אַרְיָוָתָא וְכָל־גַּרְמֵיהֹון הַדִּקוּ׃
Dani. 6:25 And the king spoke, and they brought those men who had so maliciously slandered Daniel, and they, their children, and their wives were cast into the den of lions. And they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions assaulted them and shattered all their bones.
בֵּאדַיִן דָּרְיָוֶשׁ מַלְכָּא כְּתַב לְכָל־עַמְמַיָּא אֻמַיָּא וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא דִּי־ (דָאֲרִין) [דָיְרִין בְּכָל־אַרְעָא שְׁלָמְכֹון 6:26
יִשְׂגֵּא׃
Dani. 6:26 At that time Darius, the king, wrote to all the peoples, the nations, and the languages that were dwelling on all the earth “May your well-being increase!”
מִן־קֳדָמַי שִׂים טְעֵם דִּי בְּכָל־שָׁלְטָן מַלְכוּתִי לֶהֱוֹן (זָאֲעִין) [זָיְעִין] וְדָחֲלִין מִן־קֳדָם אֱלָהֵהּ 6:27
דִּי־דָנִיֵּאל דִּי־הוּא אֱלָהָא חַיָּא וְקַיָּם לְעָלְמִין וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ דִּי־לָא תִתְחַבַּל וְשָׁלְטָנֵהּ עַד־סֹופָא׃
Dani. 6:27 “A decree is set from before me that in all the dominion of my reign there shall be trembling and fearfulness from before the God of Daniel, as He is the living and forever enduring God, that His kingdom is one which cannot be destroyed, and His dominion shall be until the end.”
מְשֵׁיזִב וּמַצִּל וְעָבֵד אָתִין וְתִמְהִין בִּשְׁמַיָּא וּבְאַרְעָא דִּי שֵׁיזִיב לְדָנִיֵּאל מִן־יַד אַרְיָוָתָא׃ 6:28
Dani. 6:28 “He delivers and rescues, and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who is Daniel's Deliverer from the power of the lions.”
וְדָנִיֵּאל דְּנָה הַצְלַח בְּמַלְכוּת דָּרְיָוֶשׁ וּבְמַלְכוּת כֹּורֶשׁ (פָּרְסָיָא) [פָּרְסָאָה]׃ 6:29
Dani. 6:29 And Daniel therefore prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus, the Persian. [Return to Dani. 10:2]
This last verse is an inverted description of a sequence in time. This phenomenon seems to happen in the Aramaic as well as in the Hebrew. so it must have been a cultural habit among the Jews. The reign of Cyrus preceded the reign of Darius.
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