Daniel 6:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

NIV: Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

NASB: Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

CSB: Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.

NLT: Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.

KJV: Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

NKJV: Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.

Darius respected Daniel enough to promote him to an extremely high position (Daniel 6:1–3). Jealous rivals tricked the king into signing an irrevocable law banning Daniel's prayers (Daniel 6:4–10). The king was devastated when he realized what his unwise law would do, and that he could not change it (Daniel 6:11–14). His sincerity is shown, in part, by his desperate attempt to find a loophole to save Daniel. It's further shown here as Darius spends a sleepless night in worry. Scripture is not clear what Darius thought would happen, but he seems anxious: a sign that he hopes, faintly, that Daniel's God will provide rescue.

For now, Darius was so disturbed that he could neither sleep nor take advantage of the normal pleasures of royalty. Food did not appeal to him, because he was so upset. The word "diversions" may refer to musical entertainment. Some commentators think this means dancing ladies or concubines were not to be brought in. His foolish law had—so he thought—led someone whom he respected into a gruesome death. The unjust and terrible loss of an honorable advisor has locked his mind beyond comfort. Darius's state of mind affirmed the truth of Isaiah 57:20¬–21: "'But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the wicked.'" The king later discovers Daniel had spent the night in peace and calm (Daniel 6:21–22).

Daniel 6:10–18 relates what Daniel did when he learned about Darius's law outlawing prayer to the Lord. This passage also shows Darius's reaction when he learned Daniel had violated the law, and that he had been trapped by legalism and his own ego. Daniel demonstrates his loyal, faithful character (Acts 5:29) and fearless devotion to God (Daniel 1:8, 17, 20). He maintains this even as he is convicted—correctly—of violating the law and is sealed into a pen with lions.

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.