Dan 6.1-28 gives us the story of why Daniel was cast into a lion’s den by Darius. Daniel was appointed as one of the three commissioners over the 120 provinces of the kingdom, and their governors. This appointment made the satraps jealous, so they looked for a reason to get rid of Daniel, using religious laws that they knew Daniel would not submit to. This story will allude to the conspiracy, arrest, trial, death and resurrection of Yeshua also.
v 1…It seemed good to Darius (when he began ruling) to appoint 120 satraps (princes) over the kingdom (of the Medes and Persians), that they should be in charge of the whole kingdom (the empire was divided into smaller sections),
v 2…and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the kingdom might not suffer loss (of revenues).
v 3…Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom (like Joseph, but this intent became known and stirred up the jealousy of the others, just like what happened between Gedaliah and Ishmael in Jer 40.1 to 41.1 and Yeshua with the religious leaders).
v 4…Then the commissioners and the satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel (like Yeshua in Luke 6.7) in regard to government affairs; but could find no corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him (Luke 23.4).
v 5…Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God (aware of his faith in Yehovah, they devise evil plans).
v 6…Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows, “King Darius, live forever (in this he will be a type of Pilate-Matt 26.1-4)!
v 7…All the commissioners (only two, with Daniel being the third) of the kingdom, the prefects, the high officials and the governors have consulted together (they are deceiving the king) that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction (prohibition) that anyone who makes a petition to any god besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lion’s den.
v 8…Now, O king, establish the injunction (no delay) and sign the document so that it may not be changed (no loopholes for Daniel to use), according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked (a well-known tradition-Est 8.8).”
v 9…Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction (prohibition).
v 10…Now, when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house. He had windows open toward Jerusalem in his upper chamber (not towards the king’s palace); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously (the Temple had been destroyed, but in respect to the prayer of Solomon in 1 Kings 8.46-48; Jonah looked and prayed toward the Temple in Jonah 2.4, David in Psa 5.7 and 28.1-2. You pray towards the Holy of Holies, and in the Holy of Holies you prayed towards the Ark, between the wings of the keruvim-Exo 25.22 and Psa 138.2. See also 1 Kings 18.29, 36; 2 Kings 3.20; Dan 9.21; Luke 1.10; Acts 2.15, 10.3).
v 11…Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God (knowing his times of prayer and his window was open so they could see him).
v 12..Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction (they were eager to tell Darius about Daniel’s transgression of his edict), “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lion’s den?” The king answered and said, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
v 13…Then they answered and spoke before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles of Judah (a captive Jew to make this even worse), pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you have signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.”
v 14…Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed (in himself) and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him (finding a way out for Daniel, like Pilate tried to do for Yeshua).
v 15…Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
v 16…Then the king gave orders (unable to hold out against these conspirators any longer), and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lion’s den (Pilate was reluctant to have Yeshua killed, but was unable to stop the conspirators, too-Psa 22.13).
v 17…And a stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den (a stone was over the mouth of Yeshua’s tomb-Matt 27.66); and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing might be changed in regard to Daniel (no one could interfere or try to free him, just like Pilate allowed guards at the door of Yeshua’s tomb and sealed it-Matt 27.62-66).
v 18…Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night in fasting (upset over what he did), and no entertainment (concubines-Keil and Delitzsch on 6.18) was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him (like Pilate’s wife in Matt 27.19).
v 19…Then the king arose with the dawn (like the women did in Matt 28.1; Mark 16.2), and went in haste to the lion’s den (hurriedly, in person, because he cared for Daniel).
v 20…And when he had come near the den of Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice (lamenting). The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
v 21…Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever (he is not upset with the king)!
v 22…My God sent his angel (like at Yeshua’s resurrection) and shut the lion’s mouth (by taking away their desire to injure him), and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before him (by preserving him); and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime (against him or the government, he was just serving his God not disrespecting the king).”
v 23… Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den (like Yeshua was resurrected out of the tomb) and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
v 24…The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children, and their wives into the lion’s den (this was in keeping with Persian custom); and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones (to show the lions were hungry).
v 25…Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language who were living in the land: “May your peace abound!
v 26…I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God (not like the idols they worship) and enduring forever, and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and his dominion forever (unlike the man-made idols and kingdoms).
v 27…He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth (outside of the natural laws), who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions (who should have torn Daniel apart).”
v 28…So Daniel enjoyed success (prospered) in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian (who succeeded him).
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