Daniel 6:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

NIV: So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

NASB: So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

CSB: So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

NLT: So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

KJV: So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

NKJV: So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Chapter 6 concludes by noting how Daniel experienced continued success during the reigns of Darius and Cyrus. Scholars debate the exact identity of the "Darius the Mede" mentioned in this story (Daniel 5:31). According to the traditional timeline, Daniel would have been nearing ninety years old when he survived a night among lions (Daniel 6:19–23). He would live until shortly into the reign of Cyrus, delivering important prophecy in those final years.

The day Daniel was cast into the lions' den was dark and foreboding, but God turned the darkness into bright light by rescuing Daniel and turning the tables on his jealous enemies. God continued to bless Daniel to the end of Darius's reign. According to some identifications of this Darius, that reign lasted two years. Daniel also prospered in the reign of Cyrus. It cannot be determined how long into the reign of Cyrus Daniel lived. By that time, he was very old, but he was still alive in the third year of Cyrus's reign (Daniel 10:1). God sometimes grants longevity to his servants. The apostle John is said to have been in his nineties when he wrote the book of Revelation. One thing is certain, the believer's years, whether brief or long, should be lived to God's glory.

It has been observed that God's servant is immortal until his life's work is done. This is not an excuse for carelessness, but a reminder that God, not man, is in ultimate control of our fate.

Daniel 6:19–28 concludes Daniel's encounter in the lions' den. This passage includes Daniel's fate and Darius's reaction. The story comes to a joyful conclusion, rather than the messy end intended for Daniel by his conspiring enemies. They, instead, suffer the fate they planned for an innocent man. The last verses include an endorsement of Daniel's faith, coming directly from Darius.

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.