The Mystery of Ephraim

In Daniel 12:4 “but thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days,” and so we are trying to understand this prophecy in the last days.

Daniel 5

¹ Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. — Belshazzar, the king, the son of Nabonidus,

— apparently the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, made a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand, the banquet becoming a drunken orgy. He was in command of the capital at that time and excelled in most of the vices for which ancient rulers were known.

² Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, that the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines might drink therein.

— Belshazzar, while he tasted his wine, sitting on a platform or dais, when he had just gotten under the influence of the wine’s intoxicating power, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father, or grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple which was in Jerusalem, Cf Jeremiah 52:19; II Kings 25:14-17;

— that the king, his princes and governors, the foremost nobles of the realm, their wives and concubines, whose presence at the royal banquets is mentioned also by secular historians, might drink therein, using them to parade their drunken mockery.

³ Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his princes, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.

— then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of God’s Temple which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, drank in them. This act can in no wise be excused or condoned, not even as an act of religion, as a libation to the God of the Jews: it was a deed of reckless profanity.

⁴ They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. — they drank wine and, in their intoxication, praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone. It was thus essentially an exaltation of their idols above Yehovah of whom they thought that they had conquered in battle.

⁵ In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote opposite the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

— in the same hour, suddenly, while they were still in the midst of their drunken revelry came forth fingers of a man’s hand and wrote, or were writing, over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, which had no paneling or tapestry;

— and the king saw the part of the hand, the extremity of the moving fingers, that wrote upon a spot of the wall which was particularly exposed to the light from the lamp above the king, he suddenly beheld the mysterious and terrifying phenomenon of the hand engaged in writing.

⁶ Then the king’s countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another.

— then the king’s countenance was changed, literally, then the king, his color was changed unto him and his thoughts troubled him as his guilty conscience filled him with terror so that the joints of his loins were loosed, they no longer possessed the strength to hold the body together firmly and his knees smote one against another.

⁷ The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whosoever shall read this writing and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

— the king cried aloud, his terror causing him to raise his voice with might, to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, that is, all the wisest men of the realm;

— and the king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, as many as followed his summons at once, Whosoever shall read this writing and show me the interpretation thereof, explaining its meaning and applying its significance;

— shall be clothed with scarlet with the costly purple garments worn by Oriental rulers and have a chain of gold about his neck, this golden necklace serving as the mark of special favor from the king, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom, occupying the highest position in the realm, next to its emperor and regent;

— and be the third ruler in the kingdom; as it was considered the king the first, the king’s son as the second, and the interpreter of the vision to be the third.

⁸ Then came in all the king’s wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. — then came in all the wise men, one after the other appearing in agreement with his summons; but they could not read the writing nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. In other words, they had to confess their complete failure.

⁹ Then was King Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were dismayed. — then, on account of the utter inability of the wise men to give him the desired information, was King Belshazzar greatly troubled,

— he was filled with deepest apprehension and trepidation and his countenance was changed in him and his lords were astonied, not only being filled with alarm but also with confusion which showed itself in excited movements.

¹⁰ Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house. And the queen spoke and said, “O king, live for ever! Let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.

— now the queen, the queen mother, or dowager, very likely the wife of Nebuchadnezzar, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, the sound of which as they raised their voices in their excitement;

— came into the banquet house; and the queen spake and said, O king, live forever! the customary address in her mouth detracting in no way from the quiet dignity of her coming. Let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed by the terror inspired by the mysterious writing on the wall.

¹¹ There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. And in the days of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him whom King Nebuchadnezzar thy father — the king, I say, thy father — made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

— there is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, the queen-mother thus repeating the very language of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:8; 9:18;

— and in the days of thy father, or grandfather, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods was found in him; whom the King Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, the king, I say, thy father, the repetition serving to give her words greater emphasis, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers, Daniel 4:9.

¹² Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and interpreting of hard sentences and dissolving of doubts were found in the same Daniel whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called and he will show the interpretation.”

— forasmuch as an excellent spirit, a most extraordinary talent, and knowledge and understanding, interpreting of dreams and showing of hard sentences, giving the explanation of riddles and conundrums, and dissolving of doubts, literally “untying knots” that is, finding the solutions of the most intricate problems;

— were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now, let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation; for Daniel was probably deprived of the office to which Nebuchadnezzar had promoted him; or Belshazzar might easily have been forgotton of his services.

¹³ Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto Daniel, “Art thou that Daniel who art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

— then was Daniel brought in before the king; and the king spoke unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king, my father, brought out of Jewry? The question was intended merely to fix the identity of Daniel beyond the slightest doubt and as such required no answer.

¹⁴ I have even heard of thee that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in thee.

— I have even heard of thee that the spirit of the gods is in thee, the king omitting the adjective “holy” which the queen-mother had used, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

¹⁵ And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.

— and now the wise men, the astrologers, the soothsayers only being mentioned as representing the entire class of wise men of the kingdom, have been brought in before me that they should read this writing and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing, they could not give the explanation of the words on the wall.

¹⁶ And I have heard of thee that thou canst make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Now if thou canst read the writing and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

— and I have heard of thee that thou can make interpretations and dissolve doubts, untie the hardest knots; now, if thou can read the writing and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet and have a chain of gold about thy neck and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom;

— like Belshazzar, the unbelievers are often troubled by the terrors of an evil conscience and readily have recourse to almost any solution which offers in order to know their fate or to gain peace of mind.

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

— then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards, the presents which he intended as a fee to Daniel, to another, the prophet of Yehovah rejecting everything which might afterwards be construed as having influenced him in his message;

— yet I will read the writing unto the king and make known to him the interpretation, as an act of loyalty to both the earthly ruler and the heavenly Sovereign; for he intended to speak without reservation, no matter whether the result would please or displease the king.

¹⁸ O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty and glory and honor.

— O thou king, the formal and solemn address bringing out the importance of the message from the outset and placing its entire import into direct relation to the king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, a kingdom, majesty, glory and honor, far above that enjoyed by Belshazzar.

¹⁹ And for the majesty that He gave him, all people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he would he slew; and whomever he would he kept alive; and whomever he would he set up; and whomever he would he put down.

— and for the majesty that God gave him, the imperial authority and supremacy which he enjoyed, all people, nations and languages trembled and feared before him, were in a constant state of fear and trepidation lest they incur his displeasure;

— whom he would he slew and whom he would he kept alive, being the absolute master of life and death; and whom he would he set up and whom he would he put down for both the advancement and the demotion of the subjects of his realm were matters of his whim.

²⁰ But when his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.

— but that is in spite of this unexampled position of power, when his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened in pride, so that he thought he could deal proudly with an utter disregard of the will of the Lord, he was deposed from his kingly throne and they took his glory from him as related earlier.

²¹ And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that He appointeth over it whomsoever He will.

— and he was driven from civilization, excluded from their society, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses, this picturesque item being added for the sake of further embellishment of the narrative;

— they fed him with grass like oxen and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men and that he appoints over it whomsoever he will, that is, until he gave all honor and glory to the true God alone; this lesson is now driven home.

²² And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart though thou knewest all this,

²³ but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven. And they have brought the vessels of His house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines have drunk wine from them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not nor hear nor know. And the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.

— but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven in blasphemous pride; and they have brought the vessels of his house of the Temple of the one true God before thee and thou and thy lords, thy wives and thy concubines have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold,

— of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear nor know, Cf Deuteronomy 4:28; Psalms 115:5, Psalms 135:15 and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, the one Creator and Ruler of the universe hast thou not glorified as was the solemn duty resting upon him.

²⁴ “Then was the part of the hand sent from Him, and this writing was written. — then was the part of the hand, the outstretched fingers of the writing hand sent from Him and this writing was written to announce the doom which was now inevitable.

²⁵ And this is the writing that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. — and this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, literally, “numbered, numbered, weighed and divided.”

²⁶ This is the interpretation of the thing. Mene: God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

— Mene, Mene: God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it; God had fixed the number of years, how long that monarchy should last and also the number of years that he should reign over; and both these numbers were now completed;

— for that very night Belshazzar was slain and the kingdom translated to another nation: and a dreadful thing it is to be numbered to the sword, famine and pestilence or any sore judgement of God for sin so more especially to be appointed to everlasting wrath and to be numbered.

²⁷ Tekel: Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

— Tekel: thou art weighed in the balances, namely, in those of God’s justice and judgement, his character analyzed according to the demands of God’s holiness, and art found wanting, below weight in moral worth and capacity.

²⁸ Peres: Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

— Peres: thy kingdom is divided, severed, cut into two pieces, should be broken up and separated from him: and given to the Medes and Persians; to Cyrus the Persian who was a partner for a while with his uncle Darius in the reign of the empire: there is also an elegant play of words in “Peres” and “Persians.”

²⁹ Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

— then commanded Belshazzar, in accordance with his promise and they clothed Daniel with scarlet with royal purple and put a chain of gold about his neck and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom, next in power to Nabonidus and Belshazzar.

³⁰ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. — that night was Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, slain; that when his city was taken by the victorious armies of the enemy, who took the city, who led Darius’ army up the river Euphrates into the city of Babylon, its course being turned;

— the inhabitants of which being revelling while the gates open, these men went up to the king’s palace, the doors of which being opened by the king’s orders to know what was the matter, they rushed in and finding him standing up with his sword drawn in his own defence, they fell upon him and slew him.

³¹ And Darius the Mede took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. — and Darius, the Median, took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years ol;

— there is evidence from secular sources that Darius the Mede whose other name was Gobryas was an uncle of Cyrus. It was known that Darius reigned not long, two years and not alone, but Cyrus with him and that Cyrus would reign thirty years, for he lived until he was seventy years of age, that is, he began to reign when he was forty;

— most authorities recognized that year, the fall of Babylon, as 539 BC; but in the Jewish calendar, the writing on the wall, as 3389 (or 372 BCE; a difference of 167 years); which is also the year Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den; which seems events were moving very fast!

— Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den, as spelt out in the next chapter, chapter 6, should be a year or two later! More likely, the fall of Babylon was earlier for the Jewish date, making the difference of 167 smaller; but Cyrus was prophecised to free the Jews, allowing them back to Jerusalem; which happened the next year in 371 BCE, which makes sense!

Daniel 6

¹ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, who should be over the whole kingdom;

— when Darius had fully taken over the kingdom of Persia, it pleased him to set an hundred and twenty princes, called satraps in secular history and divided the kingdom into twenty provinces and set governors over each, which should be over the whole land as governors of the smaller sections or provinces into which the empire was divided.

² and over these, three presidents, of whom Daniel was first, that the princes might give account unto them and the king should have no damage.

— and over these three presidents, chief prefects, or ministers of whom Daniel, now an old man was first, not higher in rank but first in dignity, that the princes might give accounts unto them, the satraps thus being responsible to their superiors chiefly in financial matters and the king should have no damage, his interests being taken care of by virtue of this statesmanlike arrangement.

³ Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

— then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, that is, he showed himself superior to them because an excellent spirit was in him (Daniel 5:12); and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. This intention the king very likely made known with the result that it stirred up the jealousy of the other presidents.

⁴ Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no occasion nor fault, inasmuch as he was faithful; neither was there any error or fault found in him.

— then the presidents and princes, actuated by an envy which caused them to disregard the best interests of the kingdom sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, that is, they tried to find some delinquency in the work of his official position;

— but they could find none occasion nor fault, no reason for impeachment, no ground for an accusation, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him, he was beyond reproach in his entire administration.

⁵ Then said these men, “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” — after conferring with one another concerning ways and means of removing the hated rival, then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel;

— except we find it against him concerning the law of his God, regarding the practice of his religion. This is the course which is often followed by the enemies of the believers: if they cannot discredit in any matter pertaining to his duty, they try to show that the observance of his religious worship is dangerous to the state.

⁶ Then these presidents and princes assembled together before the king, and said thus unto him, “King Darius, live for ever!

⁷ All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors and the princes, the counselors and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

— all the presidents of the kingdom, a statement which stretched the truth rather dangerously, the governors and the princes or satraps, the counselors and the captains, the lower officials; have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree,

— rather, “that the king ought to establish a statute and issue an interdict,” that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, within the next thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. The request was cleverly worded to flatter the king, particularly since it seemed to be the desire of all the officials of the realm.

⁸ Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.”

— now O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, recording the proclamation by stamping it with his official seal, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alter not, it could not be repealed in the Medo-Persian Empire.

⁹ Therefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree. — signed the writing and the decree, placing his royal seal upon the interdict and thus establishing it for his entire realm.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did formerly.

— now when Daniel knew that the decree was signed, when he found out that the edict was established by the affixing of the king’s seal, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber in the upper story of his house, toward Jerusalem where he couldn’t be disturbed in his prayers;

— he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, according to ancient Jewish custom, Psalms 55:17, and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime, the royal decree changing his custom of daily worship not one bit.

¹¹ Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

¹² Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any god or man within thirty days, except of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.”

— then they came, they arranged for an audience immediately and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree, reminding him of it, insisting on calling it to his remembrance; hast thou not signed a decree that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?

— the king answered without hesitancy and guile, for he was not aware of their hidden intention, and said, the thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alter not, thereby indicating the certain punishment of anyone who might transgress the royal edict.

¹³ Then answered they and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.”

— then answered they and said before the king, full of joyful satisfaction over the fact that the king’s answer suited their design so well, That Daniel, to whom they refer with sneering contempt, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom one might always reasonably suspect of an act of rebellion against the king’s authority;

— regard not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, the intimation being that Daniel maliciously spurned the edict and thereby openly challenged the king’s authority, but make his petition three times a day.

¹⁴ Then the king, when he heard these words, was sorely displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

— then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, literally “sorrow came on him” he was deeply grieved and troubled by this turn of events and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him for he prized Daniel’s ability and faithfulness very highly;

— and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him, he pondered over the matter and held the conspirators off in the hope that some way of escape might be found before morning.

¹⁵ Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, “Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is: that no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.”

— then these men assembled unto the king, pressing in a most importunate and tumultuous manner and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed. The success of their entire infamous plan, in fact, was based upon this tradition.

¹⁶ Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.”

— then the king, unable to find an excuse or to hold out against the conspirators, commanded and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions, the execution following the sentence at once as custom required;

— now the king spake and said unto Daniel, since he was powerless to help him in this extremity, thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. This did not amount to a confession of the true God, but was merely a pious wish that the God of the Jews might prove equal to this emergency.

¹⁷ And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

— and a stone was brought, probably one used for similar executions and laid upon the mouth of the den over the opening through which the condemned were cast down; and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords of the highest officers in his realm;

— that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel, that is, that no one might interfere, either by attempting to liberate him or by working his evil will upon him. It is significant that Daniel made no effort to have his execution delayed or suspended but calmly placed the outcome in God’s hands.

¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him.

— then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting, unable to sleep or eat for worry about the fate of Daniel; neither were instruments of music brought before him, rather “neither were concubines brought to him” and his sleep went from him, he was in genuine distress, decidedly ill at ease on account of the course into which he had been drawn.

¹⁹ Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste unto the den of lions.

²⁰ And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel; and the king spoke and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”

— and when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice which testified to the sorrow possessing his heart, unto Daniel; and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, whom he was ready to acknowledge as such in accordance with Daniel’s confession is thy God whom thou servest continually, with constant unflagging devotion able to deliver thee from the lions?

²¹ Then said Daniel unto the king, “O king, live for ever!

²² My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me, inasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”

— my God hath sent his angel who may even have been visible to the eye of Daniel and hath shut the lions’ mouths that they have not hurt me, forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me, God had declared him not guilty by preserving him so wonderfully;

— and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt, that is, by transgressing the edict of the king he had not become guilty of rebellion against the person of the king as the king’s personal interest in his case also demonstrated.

²³ Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

— then was the king exceeding glad for him on account of the miraculous deliverance which Daniel had experienced and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den through an opening which made it convenient for him to be removed;

— so Daniel was taken up out of the den and no manner of hurt was found upon him, not so much as a scratch from the paw of one of the ravening beasts because he believed in his God and this firm confidence was rewarded by the Lord in this manner.

²⁴ And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions — them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they came to the bottom of the den.

— and the king who now realized that the enemies of Daniel had used him as their instrument in trying to vent their jealous spite, commanded and they brought those men which had accused Daniel and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children and their wives according to the custom of the country and since they were guilty of the same wickedness as the men;

— and the lions had the mastery of them, fell upon them and overwhelmed them and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den; they were reduced to a pulp before their bodies reached the bottom of the pit.

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied unto you.

— then King Darius, still under the influence of the miraculous deliverance which he had witnessed, wrote unto all people, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth, in issuing a solemn proclamation, Peace be multiplied unto you.

²⁶ I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and steadfast for ever, and His Kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end.

— I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom, as far as his kingly power extended, men tremble and fear, in reverent awe before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God and steadfast forever, eternal and unchanging, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed and his dominion shall be even unto the end, outlasting all earthly kingdoms.

²⁷ He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

— he delivers and rescues, literally “He is a Deliverer and Rescuer” and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth such as are outside the laws of nature who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions who would ordinarily have torn him to pieces in the twinkling of an eye.

²⁸ So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. — so this Daniel, the same one of whom the princes had spoken so contemptuously, prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus, the Persian for the Persian monarchy followed shortly after the Median;

— the miracles which the Lord performs in the interest of his children are intended to serve, among other things, for the unbelievers so that they also may realize that the God of Israel is the true living God, the only Savior and Redeemer.

~ by Joel Huan on April 6, 2023.

Posted in Daniel