Dan. 6 Daniel is made chief of the presidents and princes of the realm, Dan. 6:1–3. They conspire against him, and obtain an insnaring decree, Dan. 6:4–9. Daniel, excused of the breach thereof, against the king’s will is east into the lions’ den, Dan. 6:10–17.

Of whom Daniel was first: this was Belshazzar’s promise to Daniel, he should be the third ruler in the kingdom, Dan. 5:7, Dan. 5:16, Dan. 5:29; the first was general of the army, the second president of the palace, the third of the land and provinces.

There were three things that made Darius greatly favour Daniel. 1. Because he prophesied the destruction of Belshazzar and his reign, for which cause the king of Babylon favoured Jeremiah the prophet, Jer. 39:11;c. 2. Because he saw so noble a spirit in him, the spirit of the holy gods. 3.

Sought to find occasion against Daniel; made diligent inquiry, and set their wits to work about it: who can stand before envy? This disease always reigns in princes’ courts, every one would be uppermost and chief favourite, and quarrel with all them that stand in their light; their eye is evil…

Pliny said of old, it is the custom of courtiers to study how to make innocent men faulty, and Scripture and experience tell us that the most religious are accounted most dangerous to the government, and that debauchery is loyalty; and that flatterers ought to be the best favourites.

The sum of all was this; they had a plot against Daniel and his people, to throw him out of place and favour; to effect that, they fall upon him in the point of religion, which they would make to be treason.

His windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem: this was, 1 Kings 8:47–49, according to Solomon’s prayer, which doubtless all the devout Jews in their captivity did observe.

This design being laid by them, they watched narrowly, and it took; they came and found all open. He feared not to be found praying, he prevented their breaking open doors, and rushing in, or making proof; he owned all, and freely offered himself.

They had enough now, they came with open mouth, they pleaded the breach of the king’s laws, they tell the king he had signed it, and it could not be disannulled; the king’s authority and the honour of the nation lay at stake. The king owned such a law, and it was unalterable.

Here they call him that Daniel, as, Dan. 6:5, this Daniel; both by way of contempt, when they had laid him low in their thoughts and words, intending the king should have the same thoughts of him too; hereby they should have the fairer blow at him.

He was not wroth with Daniel, as Nebuchadnezzar upon the accusation against the three young men, Dan. 3:19, but he was angry with himself, that he should be so moved by his courtiers, against an innocent person of so much honour and honesty. This made him labour to save Daniel till sun-set.

These were bold men, they were resolved to follow their blows, and would have their will rather than the king should have his in this case; which on the king’s part was honourable and royal, to retrieve an evil act, and to retract, or at least to mitigate, a rigid and, rash decree.

The king commanded: he had a good mind to do Daniel a kindness, but he could not stem the tide of his flatterers, who being crossed might machinate some mischief against him; having this plausible pretence for it, that they stood for the fundamental laws of the land, which the king endeavoured to…

They are resolved to make all fast and sure. So did the enemies of the three young men, by the hellish heat of the fiery furnace. So did the enemies of Christ, Matt. 27:66. So did Herod serve Peter, Acts 12:4;c. Thus Paul and Silas were made sure, Acts 16:23–24.

Passed the night fasting; yea, and without instruments of music and sleep. The king was in perplexity, he was under great conviction that he had done very dishonourably and cruelly, by hearkening to the counsel of his wicked courtiers; he should have rescinded his rash decree, and rated them for…

Watching, and grieving, and being between fear and hope, longing to be satisfied.

Servant of the living God: this was a commendation both of Daniel and his God, though he served both very coarsely. Is thy God able to deliver thee? is he omnipotent? surely if ever he will put forth his power, it will be in thy case, for thou servest him continually, thou wilt not be frightened…

He prays for the king’s prosperity, though he suffered under his hand.

My God hath sent his angel; he had his eye specially to Him whose cause and honour was concerned in this matter. The Lord either took the lions’ hunger away from them, or made Daniel appeared terrible to them; or, literally, shut their mouths.

He trusted in God’s power and faithfulness, not to work a miracle, but committed himself to him as a righteous Judge, who would deliver here, or save him hereafter.

They cast them into the den of lions; thus they digged a pit for another, and fell into it themselves, which the heathens say was a very just law, the law of retaliation, which the Lord doth often observe, as in the case of Adonibezek, and Ahab, and many more.

In all the earth, i.e. of the known earth then, being chiefly that great empire; for what had he to do in all the world besides? It is usual with the Turk, Tartar, Chinese, to arrogate the same universality with the like pride.

Tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; take heed how they speak evil of this great God, but own and honour him as such; whereof he gives the reason following. He is the living God, & c.

See Dan. 1:21. Who was after Darius’s death, who was called, say some, Nabonnedus. Daniel continued all this time in great honour.