What does Daniel 6:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Darius the Median
The biblical order of the monarchs of Daniel's time, and of the period of the captivity and restoration of Judah, is as follows:

(1) Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 604-561) with whom the captivity of Judah and the "times of the Gentiles" , See Scofield " Revelation 16:19 ", began, and who established the first of the four world monarchies.; Daniel 2:37 ; Daniel 2:38 ; Daniel 7:4 .

(2) Belshazzar (prob B.C. 556), the Bel-shar-uzzar of the inscriptions, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, and son of the victorious general Nabonidus. Belshazzar seems to have reigned as viceroy.

(3) Darius the Mede Daniel 5:31 ; Daniel 6:1-27 ; Daniel 9:1 . Concerning this Darius secular history awaits further discoveries, as formerly in the case of Belshazzar. He has been conjectured to be identical with Gobryas, a Persian general. This Darius was "the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans" Daniel 9:1 "Ahasuerus," more a title than a name, the equivalent of the modern "Majesty," is used in Scripture of at least four personages, and is Persian rather than Median. That Darius the Mede was the "son" (or grandson) of an Ahasuerus proves no more than that he was, probably, through the seed of his mother, of the seed royal not only of Media, but also of Persia. There is but one Darius in Daniel. (See Daniel 9:1 .)

(4) Cyrus, with whose rise to power came fully into existence the Medo-Persian, second of the world-empires Daniel 2:39 ; Daniel 7:5

In Daniel's vision of this empire in "the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar" Daniel 8:1-4 the Median power of Darius is seen as the lesser of the two horns of the ram; the Persian power of Cyrus, under whom the Medo-Persian power was consolidated, as the "higher" horn which "came up last." Under Cyrus, who was prophetically named more than a century before his birth. Isaiah 44:28 to Isaiah 45:4 , the return to Palestine of the Jewish remnant began. Ezra 1:1-4 . See Daniel 11:2 , marg. ref.

trodden down of the Gentiles

The "times of the Gentiles" began with the captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 , since which time Jerusalem has been under Gentile overlordship.

three kings Ahasuerus, Ezra 4:6 , Artaxerxes, Ezra 4:7 , and Darius called "Hystaspes" Ezra 4:24 .

fourth Xerxes, who invaded Greece BC 483-480.

Context Summary

Though he was the most distinguished man of his day, and full of public business, Daniel managed to find time for prayer, in the evening, morning, and at noon, according to the Hebrew custom, Psalms 55:17. He was outwardly a great magnate of the Persian court, but inwardly he was as true as ever to the city of his fathers and to the Temple now in ruins, Daniel 6:10. What a marvelous tribute was afforded to his saintly character by his foes, when they could find no fault in him except as concerned his religious life! Time spent in prayer is not lost time to the suppliant. Luther used to say: "I have so much to do today that I cannot get through with less than three hours of prayer." It was customary for the Jews to turn the face toward the Holy City, which for so long had been the center of their great religious system, 1 Kings 8:44; Jonah 2:4. With us, the upturned face and the references we make to the great High Priest, are significant of a posture of soul analogous and yet superior to the open window. See to it that your windows are always open towards the New Jerusalem, of which you are a citizen, but from which for a little while you are exiled. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 6

¹  Daniel is made chief of the presidents
⁴  They, conspiring against him, obtain an idolatrous decree
¹⁰  Daniel, accused of the breach thereof, is cast into the lion's den
¹⁸  Daniel is saved;
²⁴  his adversaries devoured;
²⁵  and God magnified by a decree