Daniel 6:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.

NIV: with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.

NASB: and over them, three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not suffer loss.

CSB: and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.

NLT: The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests.

KJV: And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

NKJV: and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.

The man who took over Babylon (Daniel 5:30–31) governed through a series of officials. He appointed 120 high officers (Daniel 6:1), and over those three supervisors. The word referring to this role is sometimes translated as "president" or "commissioner." Daniel was one of these very high-level officials. His appointment to the highest office under Darius shows two things. First, that God was in control of Daniel's life, placing him in an office of great influence. Second, it showed that Daniel, though a Jewish exile (Daniel 1:1–7), was highly respected and trusted by a powerful Gentile ruler. Obviously, Daniel's character and work were unblemished during Nebuchadnezzar's reign (Daniel 1:17–21).

The appointment of the three commissioners was intended to make the 120 satraps accountable. Darius believed in delegating responsibility to others. The political structure was probably meant to relieve Darius of micro-management: control through supervision of details and scrutiny. Yet it was mostly a way to reduce political corruption which might weaken the kingdom and Darius's reputation. Darius did not want his satraps to steal and embezzle his tax revenue. In the Gospels we learn about unscrupulous tax collectors for Rome, sometimes called "publicans," who charged excessive taxes to line their own pockets.

Daniel 6:1–9 follows the demise of the Chaldean king Belshazzar (Daniel 5:30–31). Darius the Mede eventually became the ruler of Babylon and the king of the new empire, Medo-Persia. He placed three officials, including Daniel, in charge of 120 satraps. This passage forms a link between Daniel's appointment and his sentence to die in a den of lions. The rest of the chapter explains how Daniel came into—and through—this predicament.

Babylon's new ruler organizes his territory under 120 satraps and three governors. He intends to make Daniel the most powerful of these, but jealous rivals develop a plot. Knowing Daniel's only "weakness" is loyalty to God, they trick the king into passing an irrevocable law banning prayer. Daniel knows about the law but chooses obedience to God rather than to men. Darius is anguished yet he dutifully follows the law. When Daniel miraculously survives a night in a den full of lions, Darius is elated. He condemns the conspirators to death, and the same lions tear them apart. Darius then proclaims honor on behalf of Daniel's God.

At the end of chapter 5, Belshazzar has died and control over Babylon has come to someone identified as "Darius the Mede." Darius organizes his territory under 120 satraps and three governor-level officials. Daniel is identified as one of the three high administrators. After jealous rivals fail to kill Daniel, he continues to prosper in his role. The following chapter begins an extensive record of prophetic visions. The first is a flashback to something Daniel saw during the rule of Belshazzar.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.