Daniel 6.25 [6.26]-The Greeting Of Darius' Proclamation Which Is Addressed To All The Nations, Ethnicities And Language Groups In His Kingdom
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday April 3, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 6:25 (6:26)-The Greeting of Darius’ Proclamation Addressed to All the Nations, Ethnicities and Language Groups in His Kingdom
Lesson # 195
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 6:1.
Daniel 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. 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 5 as a result, the supervisors as well as the satraps were attempting to cause a pretext to be found against Daniel with regards to governmental affairs. However, they were totally unable to cause any pretext in the form of corruption to be found because he was trustworthy. Indeed, no negligence in the form of corruption was found against him. 6 Therefore, these men concluded, “We will never be able to cause a pretext to be found against this Daniel unless we cause it be found in connection with the law originating from his God.” 7 Consequently, these supervisors as well as the satraps conspired together to the detriment of the king and said the following to the king, “King Darius, live forever! 8 Each and every one of the supervisors over the kingdom, namely the senior officials well as the satraps, that is the royal officials, in other words the governors are in agreement that the king should issue an edict. Specifically, an interdict, which should be enforced in order that whoever makes a request from any god or human being during a thirty day period except from you, O king, must be unceremoniously deposited into a lion’s den. 9 Now, please O king establish an interdict. Specifically, please sign the document into law in order that it can never be changed according to Medo-Persian law, which can never be revoked.” 10 Because of this, King Darius signed the document into law, that is, the interdict. 11 Now when Daniel was aware that the document was signed into law, he entered his home, which had windows in its upper room swung open toward Jerusalem. Then he worshipped on his knees three times during the day. Indeed, as was his custom, he prayed while giving thanks in the presence of his God just as he had been doing previously. 12 Then these men conspired together, namely, they found Daniel making request, specifically, making an earnest and urgent prayer request in the presence of his God. 13 Consequently they came into the king’s presence and posed a question with regards to the interdict issued by the king, “Did you not sign an interdict, namely that, any person who makes a request from any god or human being during a thirty day period except from you, O king, must be unceremoniously deposited into a lion’s den?” The king replied and said, “Absolutely, the decree is according to Medo-Persian law, which can never be revoked.” 14 Thus they replied in the presence of the king and said that, “Daniel, who is one of the deported people from Judah, has absolutely no respect for your command, O king, that is, for your interdict, which you signed into law. Instead, three times during the course of the day, he regularly makes his request.” 15 Consequently when the king heard the charge against him he was extremely upset. Thus, with regards to Daniel, he was determined to deliver him. Indeed, until sunset, he repeatedly made every effort to rescue him. 16 Then these men conspired together to the detriment of the king and said to the king, “Please remember, O king that with regards to Medo-Persian law, each and every interdict, specifically, edict, which the king does issue, is irrevocable.” 17 Therefore, the king issued an order for the purpose of causing Daniel to be brought in to be unceremoniously deposited into a lion’s den. The king encouraged Daniel and said, “Your God, because you yourself serve Him faithfully, will rescue you.” 18 Then a particular stone was brought for the purpose of being placed over the den’s mouth. Next, the king sealed it with his signet ring as well as with his nobles’ signet rings in order that this matter could never be altered. 19 Then the king returned to his palace. However, he spent the night fasting. Also, diversions were never ordered to be brought into his presence. Indeed, to his detriment, his sleep fled. 20 Afterward the king at dawn, at first light got up in order to return immediately to the lions’ den. 21 Consequently when he came near the den, he shouted out to Daniel with a distressed voice. The king asked a question and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, the immanent, eternal God’s servant, because you yourself serve Him faithfully, did He prevail so as to deliver you from the lion?” 22 Thus Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 23 My God dispatched His angel in order to shut the lions’ mouths so that they never harmed me because in my favor, I was found innocent in His judgment. Indeed, furthermore, in your judgment O king, I never committed a crime.” 24 As a result, the king was extremely delighted for him. Then, he issued an order for the purpose of extracting Daniel from the den. Thus, Daniel was extracted from the den. Indeed, absolutely no injury of any kind was found on him because he confidently relied upon his God. 25 Next the king issued orders for the purpose of causing those men to be brought in, who slanderously accused him, namely Daniel in order to unceremoniously cast into the lions’ den-they, their children as well as their wives. In fact, they had not even reached the den’s floor before the lions overpowered them. They even crushed each and every one of their bones. (My translation)
Daniel 6:25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: “May your peace abound! (NASB95)
“The peoples” is the masculine plural form of the noun ʿǎm (עַם) (am), which means “nations” in the sense of a large group based on various cultural, physical and geographical ties and refers to a large group that is larger than a tribe or clan but smaller than a race.
This word speaks of the national entities throughout the Babylonian kingdom.
“Nations” is the masculine plural noun ʾǔm∙mā(h) (אֻמָּה) (oom-maw´), which means “ethnicities” referring to an ethnic group, divided on the basis of constituting a unique entity and thus speaks of the various ethnicities in the Babylonian kingdom.
“Men of every language” is the masculine plural noun liš∙šān (לִשָּׁן) (lish-shawn´), which means “language groups” referring to a distinct, rational form of communication unique to a socio-linguistic group, i.e. national people. It speaks of those groups who share the same language.
“All” is the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כֹּל) (kole), which is modifying the nouns ʿǎm, “nations,” ʾǔm∙mā(h), “ethnicities” and liš∙šān, “language groups” and denotes totality but is used in a distributive sense meaning “each and every.”
Here it refers to the totality of these nations, ethnicities and language groups who were recipients of Darius’ decree.
This expression contains the figure of “synecdoche of the whole,” which means, that the nations, ethnicities and language groups are being put for the persons, who belong to each of these groups.
“In all the land” is composed of the preposition b- (בְּ־) (beh) “over” and then we have the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כֹּל) (kole) “all” which is modifying feminine singular noun ʾǎrǎʿ (אֲרַע) (ar-ah´), “the land.”
The noun ʾǎrǎʿ means “the land” referring to the geographical area of the Babylonian kingdom, which was now ruled over by Darius as a result of Cyrus, the Persian’s appointment.
The word is modified by the noun kōl, which denotes totality and means “the entire” geographical area of the Babylonian kingdom.
It is the object of the preposition b-, which is a marker of place indicating that the recipients of Darius’ decree are located “throughout” the entire geographical area of the Babylonian kingdom.
“May your peace abound” is composed of the masculine singular construct form of the noun šelām (שְׁלָם) (shel-awm´), “peace” which is modified by the second person masculine plural pronominal suffix -ḵōm (־כֹם) (khome), “your” and then we have the third person masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) jussive form of the verb śeḡā(ʾ) (שְׂגָא) (seg-aw´), “may abound.”
The verb śeḡā(ʾ) is a transitional discourse marker used to introduce a written communication with emphasis on the content to follow.
Formally it is expressing Darius’ desire that peace “be multiplied” to each and every one of the people belonging to the nations, ethnicities and language groups who live throughout the entire geographical area identified as the Babylonian kingdom, which he was made the king of by Cyrus the Persian.
The noun šelām refers to prosperity and total well-being of a person in the sense of the mind and body being in a healthy state.
The king is expressing his desire that everyone in his kingdom be of sound mind and body and prosper financially and materially as well.
Daniel 6:25 (6:26) Then Darius the king wrote to each and every one of the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups who are living throughout the entire land: “May your prosperity increase!” (My translation)
This verse presents to the reader the greeting to the proclamation which Darius issued in response to the God of Israel miraculously delivering Daniel from the lions.
It was addressed to each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities and language groups who were living in the Babylonian kingdom at that time.
Darius had been made the king over the Babylonian kingdom by Cyrus the Persian who was the head of the Medo-Persian Empire.
In this proclamation, Darius expresses his desire that the prosperity of these people increase in the sense that they prosper in physical health as well as prosper financially and materially.
Darius issued this proclamation as a regenerate person since the king’s praise is an expression of his faith in the God of Israel.
Darius’ actions here at the end of Daniel chapter six echo the actions of Nebuchadnezzar which are recorded in Daniel chapters three and four.
Like Darius, Nebuchadnezzar praised the God of Israel.
Nowhere in Scripture does it record a fallen angel, or an unregenerate human being praising the God of Israel, Jesus Christ or God the Father.
Just as Nebuchadnezzar issued a proclamation praising the God of Israel for miraculously delivering Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from his power, so Darius issued a proclamation praising the God of Israel for miraculously delivering Daniel from his power.
The fact that Darius published this proclamation throughout his kingdom about his experience with the God of Israel indicates how important he thought it was to make it known to those in his kingdom.
Doubtless, he was attempting to lead the subjects of his kingdom to exercise faith in the God of Israel and worship Him and forsake the worship of their gods.