I added some Blondie-like comments this week. Kind of fun. My comments are in red ... and I highlighted the points in the paragraphs.
Chapter Eight:
Rescued From the Jaws of Lions!
BABYLON had fallen! Its century-long splendor as a world power had been snuffed out in just a few hours. A new era was beginning—that of the Medes and the Persians. As successor to Belshazzar’s throne, Darius the Mede now faced the challenge of organizing his expanded empire.
2 One of the first tasks undertaken by Darius was to appoint 120 satraps. It is believed that those who served in this capacity were sometimes selected from among the king’s relatives. In any event, each satrap governed a major district or a smaller subdivision of the empire. (Daniel 6:1) His duties included collecting taxes and remitting the tribute to the royal court. Though subject to periodic scrutiny by a visiting representative of the king, the satrap had considerable authority. His title meant “protector of the Kingdom.” In his province the satrap was regarded as a vassal king, with all but sovereign power.
It is believed: WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
3 Where would Daniel fit into this new arrangement? Would Darius the Mede retire this aged Jewish prophet who was now in his nineties? By no means! Darius no doubt realized that Daniel had accurately foretold the downfall of Babylon and that such a prediction required superhuman discernment. In addition, Daniel had decades of experience in dealing with the varied captive communities in Babylon. Darius was intent on keeping peaceful relations with his newly conquered subjects. Therefore, he would certainly want someone with Daniel’s wisdom and experience close to the throne. In what capacity?
Would Darius the Mede retire this aged Jewish prophet who was now in his nineties?: The WT has to say "in his nineties to make it fit in with Jerusalem being destroyed in 607 BC.
no doubt: WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
he would certainly want:WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
4 It would have been startling enough if Darius had appointed the Jewish exile Daniel to be a satrap. But just imagine the commotion when Darius announced his decision to make Daniel one of the three high officials who would oversee the satraps! Not only that but Daniel was “steadily distinguishing himself,” proving himself superior to his fellow high officials. Indeed, “an extraordinary spirit” was found in him. Darius was even intent upon giving him the position of prime minister.—Daniel 6:2, 3.
just imagine the commotion :WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
5 The other high officials and the satraps must have been seething with anger. Why, they could not stand the thought of having Daniel—who was neither Mede nor Persian nor a member of the royal family—in a position of authority over them! How could Darius elevate a foreigner to such prominence, bypassing his own countrymen, even his own family? Such a maneuver must have seemed unfair. Moreover, the satraps evidently viewed Daniel’s integrity as an unwelcome restraint against their own practices of graft and corruption. Yet, the high officials and satraps did not dare to approach Darius about the matter. After all, Darius held Daniel in high esteem.
must have been,must have seemed,the satraps evidently viewed:WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
6 So these jealous politicians conspired among themselves. They tried “to find some pretext against Daniel respecting the kingdom.” Could anything be amiss about the way he handled his responsibilities? Was he dishonest? The high officials and satraps could find no negligence or corruption whatsoever in the way that Daniel handled his duties. “We shall find in this Daniel no pretext at all,” they reasoned, “except we have to find it against him in the law of his God.” And so it was that these devious men hatched a plot. They thought it would finish Daniel off once and for all.—Daniel 6:4, 5.
A MURDEROUS PLOT SET IN MOTION
7 Darius was approached by an entourage of high officials and satraps who “entered as a throng.” The Aramaic expression here carries the idea of a thunderous commotion. Apparently, these men made it appear that they had a matter of great urgency to present to Darius. They may have reasoned that he would be less likely to question their proposal if they presented it with conviction and as something that required immediate action. Hence, they came right to the point, saying: “All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high royal officers and the governors, have taken counsel together to establish a royal statute and to enforce an interdict, that whoever makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days except to you, O king, should be thrown to the lions’ pit.”—Daniel 6:6, 7.
Apparently,They may have reasoned:WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
8 Historical records confirm that it was common for Mesopotamian kings to be viewed and worshiped as divine. So Darius undoubtedly was flattered by this proposal. He may also have seen a practical side to it. Remember, to those living in Babylon, Darius was a foreigner and a newcomer. This new law would serve to establish him as king, and it would encourage the multitudes living in Babylon to avow their loyalty and support to the new regime. In proposing the decree, though, the high officials and the satraps were not at all concerned about the king’s welfare. Their true motive was to entrap Daniel, for they knew that it was his custom to pray to God three times a day before the open windows of his roof chamber.
undoubtedly,He may also have:WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
Historical records confirm: I wonder if these historical records also talk about the reigns of the neo-babylonian kings and/or the destruction of Jerusalem?
9 Would this restriction on prayer create a problem for all the religious communities in Babylon? Not necessarily, especially since the prohibition was to last only for a month. Furthermore, few non-Jews would view directing their worship to a human for a time as a compromise. One Bible scholar notes: “King-worship made no strange demands upon the most idolatrous of nations; and therefore the Babylonian when called upon to pay to the conqueror—Darius the Mede—the homage due to a god, readily acceded to the demand. It was the Jew alone who resented such a demand.”
One Bible scholar notes:Uh-oh ... quoting anonymous bible scholars again. I wonder if you asked this Bible Scholar when Jerusalem was destroyed what they would say? 607 or 586?
10 In any event, Darius’ visitors urged him to “establish the statute and sign the writing, in order for it not to be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which is not annulled.” (Daniel 6:8) In the ancient East, the will of a king was often regarded as absolute. This perpetuated the notion that he was infallible. Even a law that could cause the death of innocent people had to remain in effect!
11 Without thinking of Daniel, Darius signed the decree. (Daniel 6:9) In doing so, he unknowingly signed the death warrant of his most valued official. Yes, Daniel was sure to be affected by this edict.
DARIUS FORCED TO RENDER ADVERSE JUDGMENT
12 Daniel soon became aware of the law restricting prayer. Immediately, he entered into his house and went to his roof chamber, where the windows were open toward Jerusalem. There Daniel began praying to God “as he had been regularly doing prior to this.” Daniel may have thought that he was alone, but the conspirators were watching him. Suddenly, they “crowded in,” no doubt in the same excited manner in which they had approached Darius. Now they were seeing it with their own eyes—Daniel was “petitioning and imploring favor before his God.” (Daniel 6:10, 11) The high officials and satraps had all the evidence they needed to accuse Daniel before the king.
may have thought:WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
13 Daniel’s enemies slyly asked Darius: “Is there not an interdict that you have signed that any man that asks a petition from any god or man for thirty days except from you, O king, he should be thrown to the lions’ pit?” Darius answered: “The matter is well established according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which is not annulled.” Now the conspirators quickly got to the point. “Daniel, who is of the exiles of Judah, has paid no regard to you, O king, nor to the interdict that you signed, but three times in a day he is making his petition.”—Daniel 6:12, 13.
14 It is significant that the high officials and satraps referred to Daniel as being “of the exiles of Judah.” Evidently, they wanted to emphasize that this Daniel whom Darius had elevated to such prominence was in reality no more than a Jewish slave. They believed that as such, he was certainly not above the law—no matter how the king felt about him!
Evidently: WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
15 Perhaps the high officials and satraps expected the king to reward them for their astute detective work. If so, they were in for a surprise. Darius was sorely troubled by the news they brought him. Rather than becoming enraged at Daniel or immediately consigning him to the lions’ pit, Darius spent all day striving to deliver him. But his efforts proved futile. Before long, the conspirators returned, and in their shameless spirit, they demanded Daniel’s blood.—Daniel 6:14, 15.
Perhaps :WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
16 Darius felt that he had no choice in the matter. The law could not be annulled, nor could Daniel’s “transgression” be pardoned. All that Darius could say to Daniel was “your God whom you are serving with constancy, he himself will rescue you.” Darius seemed to respect Daniel’s God. It was Jehovah who had given Daniel the ability to foretell the fall of Babylon. God had also given Daniel “an extraordinary spirit,” which distinguished him from the other high officials. Perhaps Darius was aware that decades earlier this same God had delivered three young Hebrews from a fiery furnace. Likely, the king hoped that Jehovah would now deliver Daniel, since Darius was unable to reverse the law he had signed. Hence, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ pit. Next, “a stone was brought and placed on the mouth of the pit, and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet ring of his grandees, in order that nothing should be changed in the case of Daniel.”—Daniel 6:16, 17.
seemed to respect , Perhaps , Likely :WT-speak for: "We don't really know so we are making it up" or "We are guessing."
[Footnotes]
The existence of a “lions’ pit” in Babylon is supported by the testimony of ancient inscriptions showing that Oriental rulers frequently had menageries of wild animals.
The roof chamber was a private room to which a person could retire when he wished to be left undisturbed.
The lions’ pit may have been a subterranean chamber with a mouth at the top. Likely it also had doors or gratings that could be raised to allow the animals to enter.
Sweet! They even speculate in their footnotes!
[Study Questions]
1, 2. (a) How did Darius the Mede organize his expanded empire? (b) Describe the duties and authority of the satraps.
3, 4. Why did Darius favor Daniel, and to what position did the king appoint him?
5. How must the other high officials and the satraps have reacted to Daniel’s appointment, and why?
6. How did the high officials and satraps try to discredit Daniel, and why did this effort prove futile?
7. What proposal did the high officials and satraps make to the king, and in what manner did they do so?
8. (a) Why would Darius find the proposed law appealing? (b) What was the true motive of the high officials and satraps?
9. Why would the new law not pose a problem for most non-Jews?
10. How did the Medes and the Persians view a law enacted by their king?
11. How would Daniel be affected by Darius’ edict?
12. (a) What did Daniel do as soon as he found out about the new law? (b) Who were watching Daniel, and why?
13. What did Daniel’s enemies report to the king?
14. Evidently, why did the high officials and satraps refer to Daniel as being “of the exiles of Judah”?
15. (a) How did Darius react to the news that the high officials and satraps brought him? (b) How did the high officials and satraps further show their contempt for Daniel?
16. (a) Why did Darius respect Daniel’s God? (b) What hope did Darius have regarding Daniel?