Daniel 6.3 [6.4]-Darius Plans to Establish Daniel Over the Entire Kingdom as a Result of Distinguishing Himself Above the Other Supervisors and Satraps
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday February 13, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 6:3 (6:4)-Darius Plans to Establish Daniel Over the Entire Kingdom Because He Distinguished Himself Above the Other Supervisors and Satraps
Lesson # 174
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 5:31.
Daniel 5:31 (6:1) Now, Darius the Mede received the kingdom at sixty-two years of age. 2 It was considered a good idea by Darius to establish one hundred twenty satraps over the kingdom in order that they would be in authority over the entire kingdom 3 Also, out from, over them, three supervisors, of whom Daniel was one of them in order that these satraps would exist in the state of having to give an account to them so that the king would never be able to suffer loss. (My translation)
Daniel 6:3 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. (NASB95)
“Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps” tells the reader the next event that took place after Darius selected out from the one hundred twenty satraps Daniel along with two other individuals to serve as supervisors over the satraps.
“Began distinguishing himself” is composed of the third person masculine plural peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb ḥǎwā(h) (חֲוָה) (khav-aw´), “began” and then we have the masculine singular hitpaʿʿal (Hebrew: piel) participle form of the verb neṣǎḥ (נְצַח) (nets-akh´), “distinguishing himself.”
The verb hǎwā(h) denotes that Daniel existed in the state of distinguishing himself over the other two supervisors and satraps because of his extraordinary spirit.
The verb neṣǎḥ means “to distinguish oneself” as qualified, implying a reputation of excellence among a peer group.
It speaks of being preeminent among one’s peer group.
The word indicates that Daniel through his words and actions and decisions demonstrated himself to be superior or preeminent among the other satraps and supervisors.
The hitpaʿʿal (Hebrew: piel) stem of the verb denotes that Daniel caused himself to enter into the state of being distinguished above his fellow supervisors and satraps.
“Among the commissioners and satraps” is composed of the preposition ʿǎl (עַל) (al), “among” and its object is the masculine plural form of the noun sā·rǎḵ (סָרַךְ) (saw-rate´), “commissioners” which is followed by the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “and” which is followed by the masculine plural noun ʾǎḥǎš∙dǎr∙pǎn (אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן) (akh-ash-dar-pan´), “satraps.”
The noun sā·rǎḵ means “supervisor, superintendent” referring to an individual who would be in charge of the one hundred twenty satraps and would hold them accountable.
The noun ʾǎḥǎš∙dǎr∙pǎn were governors of certain types of provinces.
They were the highest officials in his kingdom, which is supported by the statement in Daniel 6:1 (6:2), which records that Darius appointed 120 satraps over his kingdom who would be in charge of the entire kingdom.
These two nouns are the object of the preposition ʿǎl, which is a marker of superiority indicating Daniel distinguished himself “above” or “over” the other supervisors and satraps because of his extraordinary spirit.
“Because he possessed an extraordinary spirit” is a causal clause since “because” is composed of the preposition k- which is employed with the prepositions lĕ and qǒḇēl and the relative particle dî to form a conjunctive clause which means “because.”
These four words are introducing a statement that presents the reason why Daniel distinguished himself above the other supervisors and satraps.
These four words are introducing a statement which says that Daniel possessed an extraordinary spirit.
Therefore, these four words denote that “because of” Daniel’s extraordinary spirit, he distinguished himself above his fellow supervisors and satraps.
“He possessed an extraordinary spirit” is composed of the feminine singular form of the noun rûaḥ (רוּחַ) (roo´-akh), “an spirit” which is modified by the feminine singular form of the noun yǎt∙tîr (יַתִּיר) (yat-teer´), “extraordinary” and then we have the preposition b- (בְּ־) (beh) and its object is the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), which are translated “he possessed.”
The noun rûaḥ means “spirit” in the sense of a special attitude or frame of mind or a disposition which characterizes a person.
The word is modified by the noun yǎt∙tîr, which means “extraordinary” in the sense that this spirit was exceptional or unusual in the sense that it deviated from the average person.
Therefore, these two words describe Daniel as having an extraordinary attitude or disposition in the sense that it was exceptional and unusual in that it deviated from the average person.
These two words denote that Daniel’s attitude or disposition was incomparable in the sense that it was unique among men.
These two words are used to describe Daniel in Daniel 5:12.
They imply that Daniel had extraordinary wisdom in the sense that it was exceptional and unusual in that it deviated from the average person.
These two words imply that Daniel’s wisdom was incomparable in the sense that it was unique among men.
The third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) means “him” referring of course to Daniel and it is the object of the preposition b-, which is a marker of state or condition indicating that Daniel existed in the state or condition of possessing an extraordinary spirit.
“And the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom” presents the result of Daniel distinguishing himself above his fellow satraps and supervisors because an extraordinary spirit was in him.
“The king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom” is composed of the masculine singular form of the noun mě∙lěḵ (מֶלֶךְ) (meh´-lek), “the king” and then we have the masculine singular peʿil (Hebrew: qal passive) participle form of the verb ʿǎšǎṯ (עֲשַׁת) (ash-eeth´), “planned” which is followed by the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) which is prefixed to the third person masculine singular hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil) infinitive construct form of the verb qûm (קוּם) (koom), “appoint” and then we have the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), “him” which is followed by the preposition ʿǎl (עַל) (al), “over” and then we have the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כֹּל) (kole), “all” which is modifying the feminine singular construct form of the noun mǎl∙ḵûṯ (מַלְכוּת) (mal-kooth), “the kingdom.”
The verb ʿǎšǎṯ means “to plan, to intend” indicating Darius’ intention to promote Daniel over the entire Babylonian kingdom, which the king communicated to others or intimated to others.
The verb qûm means “to establish” referring to Darius the Mede intending to “establish” Daniel over the Babylonian kingdom.
The preposition lĕ is prefixed to the infinitive construct form of this verb and governs it and together, they are used in a complementary sense meaning that they complete the meaning of the verb ʿǎšǎṯ, “planned.”
The noun mǎl∙ḵûṯ means “kingdom” referring to the Babylonian kingdom and this time it is modified by the noun kōl which means “entire” since it denotes totality.
This noun mǎl∙ḵûṯ is the object of the preposition ʿǎl, which is a marker of authority indicating Darius intended to establish Daniel in authority “over” each and every one of the inhabitants of the Babylonian kingdom because he distinguished himself above his fellow supervisors and satraps.
Daniel 6:3 (6:4) Then this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the supervisors as well as satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him. Consequently, the king intended to establish him over the entire kingdom. (My translation)
The fact that Daniel distinguished himself above the other satraps and supervisors because of his extraordinary spirit should not surprise the reader since Daniel chapter one documents Daniel’s unusual gifts.
Furthermore, Daniel demonstrated these unusual gifts during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar as demonstrated in Daniel chapters two and four.
The gifts and talents that Daniel possessed were refined and matured as a result of decades of service to Nebuchadnezzar.
When Daniel began to serve Darius he was in his late seventies or early eighties and so he was an old man.
Daniel’s spiritual maturity coupled with his refined use of his God-given talents and gifts serve to make him stand out among his contemporaries.
Thus, Daniel’s extraordinary performance in the Medo-Persian kingdom revealed that his talents and gifts and wisdom were supernatural and made him an easy choice for Darius to select to be in authority over the entire Babylonian kingdom.
The demonstration of Daniel’s godly character as well as the exercise of all of his God-given talents and gifts and his knowledge and application in various subjects and in addition his knowledge and application of the Word of God and his devotion to prayer comprised his extraordinary spirit.
No wonder Darius had every intention of installing Daniel in authority over the entire Babylonian kingdom making him subordinate to only the king.
All of this sets the stage for the conspiracy against Daniel which will be waged by the other satraps and supervisors out of jealousy and envy for Daniel.
It also helps the reader to understand Darius’ great concerned and respect for Daniel when this conspiracy is successful against Daniel.
Furthermore, Daniel was a Jewish captive.
He was not a Mede or a Persian or even a Babylonian.
This too contributed to the bad feeling toward him by his fellow satraps and supervisors.