1. The events of this chapter were about 70 years after Daniel was carried to Babylon.
2. The events of his visions in chapters 7 and 8 actually occurred about 12
years before the fall of Babylon.
3. Nebuchadnezzer lived about 2 years after giving his testimony of chapter four, and his grandson’s fall came about 23 years after his death.
4. Daniel had become an aged statesman and remained a mighty man of
God, strong in the spirit at 85-90 years of age.
5. The might and glory of Babylon gave a false security to its leaders and people within the security of its mighty walls, (87’ thick, 350’ high with towers another 100’).
BABYLON BECAME EXCEEDINGLY WICKED BEFORE ITS FALL,
vs. 1-4
A. This is probably the case in the fall of nations, Proverbs 14:34.
B. Nebuchadnezzer had been succeeded by “Evil-Merodach,” his only son
in 651 B.C., II Kings 25:27, and Jeremiah 27:6, 7.
C. Because of his licentious, wicked rule, he was assassinated by Neriglisar, his brother-in-law (alias, Nergal-Sharezer) in 559 B.C.
D. At his death in 554 B.C., his very young son, Laborosoarchod, ruled for nine months, but he was beaten to death by a conspiracy by Nabonidus
(alias Nabonnedue & Nabunaid) husband of one of Nebuchadnezzer’s daughters, who made his son, Belshazzer, vice-regent.
E. Archeologists have found and translated a prayer Belshazzer’s father had recorded on a clay tablet, that: “My son, the offspring of my heart might honor his godhead and not give himself to sin.”
F. At this time Belshazzer’s father was in Borsippa being defeated and taken captive by Cyrus the Persian. Belshazzer thus had full charge of
the government in Babylon.
G. Soon the outlying provinces fell to the Persian armies, and Babylon was placed under siege.
H. With his father’s defeat, Belshazzer became the king, a signal fulfillment of Daniel 4:17 concerning God’s sovereign giving of
“…dominion unto whomsoever He will, and sitteth up…the
basest of men.” Belteshazzer was well qualified in the baser category.
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I. This was the setting of the great feast he called in vs. 1; it was intended to show his contempt to the threat of the sieging armies and
his confidence in the mighty walls of Babylon. Behind his walls flowed
the waters of the Euphrates and was stored a 20 year supply of food.
Is peace secured by military might? See Exodus 32:24.
BELSHAZZAR'S DRUNKEN FEAST
Verses 1-7: 1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and
drank wine before the thousand.
2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver
vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in
Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink
therein.
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house
of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his
concubines, drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of
wood, and of stone.
5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the
candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part
of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that
the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers.
And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this
writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have
a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
(KJV)
Next came the Babylonian Empire ruled by Nabopolasser which
began the Neo (new) Babylonian Empire. When Nabopolasser died his son, Nebuchadnezzar became the king and he is the king that invaded the southern nation of Judah and took it into captivity along with Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar ruled for forty three years and died at eighty three or four. After his death in 562 BC his son Evil-merodach, ruled for two years. He was succeeded by Neriglissar (559-555 BC), who was succeeded by Nabonidius (555-538 BC). Belshazzar seems to have been the eldest son of Nabonidus. For a time the Bible was the
only reference to this Babylonian ruler, however in 1854 Sir Henry Rawlinson, found an inscription with his name listed as the son of Nabonidus. Answers in Genesis has this report on Belshazzar;
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"Quite recently, however, the side of a ravine undermined by heavy rains fell at Hillah, a suburb of Babylon. A number of huge, coarse earthenware vases were laid bare. These were filled with tablets, the receipts and contracts of a firm of Babylonian bankers, which showed that Belshazzar had a household, with secretaries and
stewards. One was dated in the third year of the king Marduk-sar-uzur. As Marduk-sar-uzar was another name for Baal, this Marduk-sar-uzur was found to be the Belshazzar of Scripture. In one of these contract tablets, dated in the July after the defeat of the army of Nabonidus, we find him paying tithes for his sister to the temple of the sun-god at Sippara."
Belshazzar was a subordinate king, ruling the city of Babylon under his father Nabonidus, who had retired to Arabia. He was the ruler of the city when the Babylonian Empire fell in 539 BC. This places the events of Daniel 5 twenty three years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar.
[Garner]
Verse 1 begins the history of a cruel and impious king Belshazzar whose name means
"god of fire." History recounts that he killed one of his nobles who killed some game ahead of him one day while hunting. On another occasion he cruelly unmanned or castrated one of his courtiers, because one of his concubines thought he was handsome.
One day he made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine before them, a thing that a king normally did not do. He usually ate and drank apart from them.
Verse 2 relates that as Belshazzar "tasted the wine," at length, until inebriated, then he commanded his servants to bring into the festival hall the golden silver vessels which his father (or grandfather) had taken out of the temple at Jerusalem, at his first conquest of the city, Jeremiah 27:7. This was ordered by their god; it was ordered by the insolent king, as an act of contempt toward the captive Jews and their God. It was further ordered that further wine served to the king and his princes, and his concubines should be served out 146 those vessels of gold and silver, brought from the temple in Jerusalem. In times of drunkenness men and women stoop to do things they would not do while sober.
Verse 3 states that the cruel and insolent king's orders were obeyed and shortly he, his wives, his princes, and his concubines were again drinking their glut of wine, out of the sacred golden and silver vessels of the house or temple of God. Their actions were profane, as they wallowed in moral debauchery.
Verse 4 states that they drank wine, praising the gods of gold, and silver, and brass, and iron, and wood, and stone. In a drunken stupor they offered a toast, in derision, to each god.
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Verse 5 states that "in the same same hour," that or while they were drinking wine out of those sacred vessels of gold and silver, taken from the sacred temple in Jerusalem, as they were toasting their heathen gods, in bacchanalian revelry, the invisible living God appeared in that hall. He appeared in the form of the fingers of a man's hand (three fingers), the writing fingers. There was no man's body or hand, just the writing fingers, as they wrote on the plaster of that huge festival hall, just above the candlesticks, where it was clearly visible to king Belshazzar. The king "saw the (part) of fingers of the hand that wrote."
God warned Belshazzar, not by a dream or vision, as he had Nebuchadnezzar, but by
"writing fingers," perhaps three fingers only, that held the pen. The writing that appeared over the candlestick or candelabra was likely also the golden one taken from the temple in Jerusalem. This episode confirms that "pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall," as certified Proverbs 16:18; and in Herod's actions and death, Acts 12:1-23.
Verse 6 relates that the king's countenance was changed, his bright look suddenly turned ashen gray. His conscious thoughts troubled him, shook him up within, so- that the joints, his vertebrae or backbone of his loins loosed, he becomes so weak with fear that he could hardly stand on his feet. So loose were his joints and weak were his knees that they
"smote one another," knocked together.
Verse 7 continues that when he was sufficiently composed he cried with a mighty voice to bring in the magi or wise men in haste, the astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
Like Nebuchadnezzar in earlier life he trusted these fraudulent imposters to help him in this hour of terror. When these imposters entered that drunken festival hall King Belshazzar pointed to the writing on the plaster and vowed that any of them who would read to them the writing and give the meaning would be: 1) clothed in scarlet (or purple, a royal robe), and 2) have a chain of gold placed about his neck, and 3) be made the third ruler in the kingdom. The first place was to the king, the second to the son of the king, or his wife the queen, and the third to be given to the interpreter of this three finger writing from the invisible hand.
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The Book of Daniel
THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
8 Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make
known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in
him, and his lords were astonied.
10 Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the
banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy
thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the
days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods,
was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy
father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting
of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the
same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will
shew the interpretation.
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto
Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom
the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and
understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they
should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they
could not shew the interpretation of the thing:
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve
doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation
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thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck,
and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
(KJV)
[Garner]
Verses 8, 9 recount that all the king's wise men (imposters), one by one, conceded that they could neither read nor give the meaning of the writing--For "spiritual things are spiritually discerned," 1 Corinthians 2:14. This honor God reserved for Daniel. It is further explained that at this point of "no answer" or explanation of this message on the wall, Belshazzar was again "greatly troubled," with near convulsive fear. His countenance was again changed in him, as his lords saw deathly paleness come over his face again. They were all astonished, milled about that place in awe, aghast at the scene.
Verse 10 relates that the queen mother or grandmother, upon receiving the report of the king and his lords, hurried into the banquet hall. She offered comfort to the king who stood or now sat ashen pale, with fear, bordering on a heart attack. Her greeting was "O
king live forever," don't ever let your thoughts trouble you or your countenance be changed. She assured him that everything was going to be all right.
Verse 11 continues her testimony that there was (existed) in his kingdom nearby, right at hand, a man in whom existed the spirit of the holy gods; she remembered the words of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:8, 9, 18. And she reminded him that in the times of his father (or grandfather) v. 2, this man (Daniel) was made master of or over the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, over all the magi in the land, Daniel 4:9. She assured Belshazzar that it had been proven that this man had demonstrated that light and wisdom of the gods existed in him. Her memory of Daniel's former deeds was much like the testimony of Pilate's wife concerning Jesus in Matthew 27:19-25.
Verse 12 certifies that the aged queen-mother who knew of Daniel's former relating and interpreting dreams for Nebuchadnezzar, appealed to Belshazzar to send for him, call him in, and he would be able to do what the imposter magis could not do, either read or interpret the finger writing over the golden candlesticks upon the festival hall. She witnessed that she believed Daniel had: 1) an excellent spirit or attitude, 2) excellent knowledge, 3) excellent understanding, 4) could really interpret dreams, 5) could make known hard sentences, things hard to be understood, and 6) dissolve doubts, Daniel 6:3.
The Bible does not tell us who the queen is, but she was not in attendance at the feast and she enters and hails the king. Ryrie identifies her as being Belshazzar's mother, however it is possible that she was some other prominent queen in Babylon. Whitcomb suggests that this was Amytis, the aged widow of Nebuchadnezzar, for whom he had built the hanging gardens. She had detailed information about Nebuchadnezzar and of a Daniel and she called Nebuchadnazzar, Belshazzar's father three times.
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The queen relates to Belshazzar how that Daniel had interpreted the Nebuchadnezzar's dreams when all the wise men of Babylon had failed and that he had been made the master of all the wise men. She beckoned Belshazzar to call Daniel. Probably after the
death of Nebuchadnezzar Daniel had lost his high position in the kingdom and slipped in to obscurity. The Bible does not record any
events in which involved Daniel after the death of Nebuchadnezzar until now.
[Garner]
Verse 13 certifies that then, upon the testimony of the queen mother, Belshazzar had Daniel brought before him. Note, Daniel had acquired a good name (good reputation) even among the heathen, a thing more to be desired than silver or gold, Proverbs 22:1.
Belshazzar first inquired of Daniel's identity, whether or not he was that Daniel whom his father or grandfather, v. 2, had brought captive as a Jew, out of Judah. And he was.
Verses 14, 15 add that Belshazzar had heard (good reports), that the spirit of the gods was in him, so that he had light, wisdom, understanding, and ability to interpret dark matters, v. 10-12. Then he advised Belshazzar that the writing on the wall before him had not been read or interpreted by his own magi who had been brought in, and they could not, v.
8, 9.
Verse 16 continues to relate that he had heard that Daniel was or would be able to do this, v. 11. Belshazzar then proceeded to promise that if he could and would read to him those finger-written words on the plaster, above the golden candlestick, he would grant him: 1) to be clothed with scarlet or purple, a royal robe, 2) place a gold chain about his neck, and 3) make him third in power of administration over the kingdom of Babylon, quite a lucrative and elevated matter. And why should Daniel not interpret the writing? For it was his Father's own handwriting? And it was to be spiritually discerned.
THE WRITING INTERPRETED Verses 17-31:
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give
thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to
him the interpretation.
18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and
majesty, and glory, and honour:
19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled
and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and
whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed
from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts,
and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his
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body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the
kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou
knewest all this;
23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the
vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines,
have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass,
iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand
thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom,
and finished it.
27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain
of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be
the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years
old.
(KJV)
Verse 17 discloses that Daniel made a waiver of any desire or requirement of gifts or reward or fee for interpreting the writing on the wall that had shocked King Belshazzar.
He told the king that he might keep his offered gifts and dole out his reward or fee elsewhere, as Elisha had done. However, he did assert that he would read the writing, (his heavenly father's handwriting, so familiar to him.) And he assured him that he would gladly interpret the meaning of the writing.
Verse 18 notes that Daniel reminded Belshazzar that the most high God (the living Jehovah) had given Nebuchadnezzar his father a kingdom with majesty, glory, and honor, as recounted Daniel 2:34, 38. He reminded him that his father did not build that kingdom for himself, of his own ingenuity, Daniel 4:17, 22-25.
Verse 19 reminds Belshazzar that Nebuchadnezzar, in exercising the might and majesty and glory of power that the Lord gave him, caused all nations and people and languages to tremble and fear his cruel hand. He had ruthlessly slain whom he chose, and kept alive those he was pleased to have as captives. He had elevated to rule under him those he pleased, and dethroned those he pleased, as an absolute monarch.
Verse 20 recounts that when his heart was exalted in pride he was deposed from his throne and his glory was taken from him, to cause him humiliation as recounted.
Verse 21 reminded Belshazzar that his father Nebuchadnezzar was driven (by violent insanity), from social fellowship among human beings and his heart or emotional 102
affections were made to be like beasts, Daniel 4:32. He thought he was an animal; and he dwelt in the open fields with wild asses where he was fed with grass or herbs like oxen.
In this experience of mental derangement his body was wet with the dew from heaven.
He remained in this state until in a moment of recovered temporary sanity, like the prodigal, he "came to himself," and recognized that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and it was He who repeatedly appointed whom he pleased over the governments of men.
Verse 22 chides, reprimands, or scolds Belshazzar that though he had known this chastening experience of his father, he had still arrogantly refused to humble himself. He had just led in deriding the most high God before the lords and rulers of all his provinces by drinking wine from the golden and silver vessels taken from the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.
Verse 23 charges Belshazzar with deliberate insolence and contempt toward the living God of heaven, in the deed of display and arrogance of drinking wine before his lords and their wives and concubines, out of the golden and silver vessels taken from the house of the Lord. They toasted the gods of gold; silver, brass, iron, wood and stone, dead gods that see not, hear not, and understand not, in derision toward the living God in whom they lived, moved, and existed. He gave no glory for anything to the true God.
Verse 24 states that then, at that point of Daniel's address to king Belshazzar, the "part" of the hand, the writing fingers on the plaster wall, sent from God, was taken away, removed, or disappeared, v. 5. And the following was boldly written over the candlestick in that banquet hall, v. 5.
Verse 25 states that this is (exists as) an identical copy of the written statement "mene,"
meaning numbered; "Tekel" denoted weighed; and "upharsin," meaning dividers.
Verse 26 adds that "mene" meant that God had numbered or limited his kingdom days of reign, or cut short and finished it, resolved to terminate it forthwith.
Verse 27 further affirms that "tekel" meant that Belshazzar was personally weighed in character, in God's balances, and found to be far too underweight to reign further in Babylon.
Verse 28 concludes that "peres" as "upharsin", v. 25, means "dividers" or "divided"
meaning Belshazzar's kingdom would be soon divided between or among the Medes and the Persians, as also foretold Isaiah 21:2; Ezra 1:1; Daniel 9:1; 6:28.
Verse 29 relates that then Belshazzar mandated that Daniel be clothed with scarlet, a royal robe, and have a chain of gold put around his neck, he then made a proclamation, caused it to be known through all his kingdom, that Daniel should be recognized then and thereafter as the third in order of power in the kingdom of Babylon, the thing he had promised, v. 13-16. He had held a similar rank under Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2:48.
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Verse 30 records that "in that night", with sudden judgment, "was Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans slain, "as further confirmed Jeremiah 51:31, 39, 57. History relates that Cyrus, king of Persia, diverted the water of the Euphrates River around the city, during that extended drunken international feast of Belshazzar, and marched his army by the dry land of the river inside the city, as the king and his consorts were carousing at the annual feast of the gods. As to the slaying of Belshazzar see Isaiah 14:18-20; Jeremiah 1:19; 41:18.
Verse 31 discloses that Darius the Median seized the kingdom at about the age of 62
years, Daniel 9:1. Though Cyrus led the army assault that conquered Babylon it was done in the name of Darius. But Daniel 6:28 shows that Daniel was aware that Cyrus had led in the capture of the city of Babylon. The Medes were the leading power in her destruction.
History records that even as the drunken brawl was progressing the Medes and the Persians were affecting their plan whereby they would divert the water which flowed under the wall on the east side of the Euphrates into the middle of Babylon. With the river diverted they would be able to cross under the wall with little difficulty into the heart of the city.
There was a great pride among the Babylonians and confidence in the city's defensives. Babylon was protected by a moat or rampart which was 300 feet high and 75 feet wide and seemed to be impregnable. But the hand work of man, no matter how strong, cannot stand against the determinate will of God and thus the city fell and God gave the kingdom to the Darius theMede.
Quotes in bold are taken from The Book of Daniel Chapter Five, by Cooper P
Abrams III, under the section entitled The Fall of the Ancient Babylonian Empire
Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus (Nab-o-nidus) and the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. There is no word for grandfather in ancient Hebrew. "Father" can mean your immediate father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc. Belshazzar was unknown to secular historians until the twentieth century. One hundred years ago, Bible critics pointed to Belshazzar in Daniel 5 as an "error" in the Bible! Greek historians listed Nabonidus as the last King of Babylon, with no mention of Belshazzar, who was assumed to be a literary fiction. However, the critics were proved wrong and the Bible was proved correct by a series of spectacular archaeological discoveries.
In 1882, the Nabonidus Chronicle was discovered which referred to Nabonidus giving full control of Babylon to the "crown prince." In 1916, two Babylonian legal documents were found which actually named Belshazzar as the "crown prince." Then, in 1924, the British Museum published the Persian Account of Nabonidus which clearly stated that Nabonidus "entrusted the kingship" to Belshazzar in the third year of his reign (553 BC).
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Instead of being incorrect, the Bible proved to be remarkably correct. Though Nabonidus is not named in Daniel 5, he was the first ruler of Babylon. Belshazzar, his co-regent, was the second ruler. Therefore, the promise to make whoever could read the writing on the wall "the third ruler in the Kingdom" (v.7) is accurate in every detail.
Nabonidus was actually living in self-imposed exile in Arabia and Belshazzar was literally ruling as the "King" of Babylon.
Taken from trbc.org (JFR)
[Culley]
As Daniel was delivered through the fall of old Babylon and became the leading ruler under the new king, so shall the converted remnant of nation Israel be delivered from the fall of great Babylon and become God’s leading nation under the rule of King Jesus.
That Babylon’s fall was triggered by drink also proved prophetic as each of the four universal gentile kingdoms became victims in turning to drink.
1. After the fall of drunken Belshazzer the Media-Persian rule was weakened by turning to drink. When Xerxes learning his fleet was destroyed, he beat the ocean with his belt in a drunken rage.
2. Alexander the Great died in his thirties in a drunken stuper allegedly weeping that there were no more nations to conquer.
3. The decline and demise of the first phase of the 4th kingdom, the Roman Empire, was due in no small measure to the destructiveness of
drink.
4. The final fall of the kingdom of the world, the last phase of the fourth kingdom, seems also destined to be in no small way hastened by the fruit of the drink and drugs, Revelation 18:23 (sorceries translates pharmakeia) and Revelation 9:21 lists the crimes which support the drug habit as characteristic of that fallen society.
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DANIEL - CHAPTER 6
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which
should be over the whole kingdom;
2 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.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an
excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning
the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we
find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto
him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors,
and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a
firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save
of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed,
according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his
windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees
three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication
before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast
thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man
within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king
answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children
of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast
signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and
set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to
deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king,
that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king
establisheth may be changed.
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of
lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee.
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17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed
it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be
changed concerning Daniel.
18 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.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of
lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and
the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God,
whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not
hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O
king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take
Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of
hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel,
and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the
lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at
the bottom of the den.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all
the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear
before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his
kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the
end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in
earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the
Persian.
A History Lesson
The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian
plateau, the old Persian homeland, and beyond in Western Asia, Central Asia and the
Caucasus. The Persian Empire has become what we know today as Persia or more commonly, Iran. The most widespread entity considered to have been a Persian Empire was the Achaemenid Empire (648–330 BC) — famous in antiquity as the foe of the classical Greek states — a united Iranian kingdom that originated in the region now known as Pars province of Iran. It was formed under Cyrus the Great, who overthrew the empire of the Medes, and conquered the entire Middle East, including the territories of the Babylonians, the Phoenicians, and the Lydians. Babylonia was the only part of the Assyrian empire that had not been conquered by Cyrus' Mede grandfather, Astyages. Cyrus' son, Cambyses, continued Cyrus' conquests by conquering Egypt.
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Most of the successive states in Greater Iran prior to March 1935 are collectively called the Persian Empire by Western historians.
Virtually all the successor empires of Persia were major regional and some major
international powers in their day.
Achaemenid Empire (550 BC–330 BC)
The earliest known record of the Persians comes from an Assyrian inscription from c.
844 BC that calls them the Parsu (Parsuash, Parsumash) and mentions them in the region of Lake Urmia alongside another group, the Madai (Medes). For the next two centuries, the Persians and Medes were at times tributary to the Assyrians. The region of Parsuash was annexed by Sargon of Assyria around 719 BC. Eventually the Medes came to rule an independent Median Empire, and the Persians were subject to them.
The Achaemenids were the first to create a centralized state in Persia, founded by
Achaemenes ( Hakhamanish), chieftain of the Persians around 700 BC.
Around 653 BC, the Medes came under the domination of the Scythians, and Teispes,
the son of Achaemenes, seems to have led the nomadic Persians to settle in southern Iran around this time — eventually establishing the first organized Persian state in the important region of Anshan as the Elamite kingdom was permanently destroyed by the Assyrian ruler Ashurbanipal (640 BC). The kingdom of Anshan and its successors continued to use Elamite as an official language for quite some time after this, although the new dynasts spoke Persian, an Indo Iranian tongue.
Teispes' descendants may have branched off into two lines, one line ruling in Anshan, while the other ruled the rest of Persia. Cyrus II the Great united the separate kingdoms around 559 BC. At this time, the Persians were still tributary to the Median Empire ruled by Astyages. Cyrus rallied the Persians together, and in 550 BC defeated the forces of Astyages, who was then captured by his own nobles and turned over to the triumphant Cyrus, now Shah of a unified Persian kingdom. As Persia assumed control over the rest of Media and their large empire, Cyrus led the united Medes and Persians to still more conquest. He took Lydia in Asia Minor, and carried his arms eastward into central Asia.
Finally in 539 BC, Cyrus marched triumphantly into the ancient city of Babylon. After this victory, he set the standards of a benevolent conqueror by issuing the Cyrus Cylinder,
the first charter of human rights. Cyrus was killed in 530 BC during a battle against the
Massagetae or Sakas.
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The Book of Daniel
Cyrus the Great, founder of Persian Empire and first charter of human rights.
Cyrus' son, Cambyses II, annexed Egypt to the Achaemenid Empire. The empire then reached its greatest extent under Darius I. He led conquering armies into the Indus River
valley and into Thrace in Europe. A punitive raid against Greece was halted at the Battle
of Marathon. His son Xerxes I tried to subdue the Greeks, but his army was defeated at the Battle of Plataea 479 BC.
The Achaemenid Empire was the largest and most powerful empire the world had yet seen. More importantly, it was well managed and organized. Darius divided his realm into about twenty satrapies (provinces) supervised by satraps, or governors, many of whom had personal ties to the Shah. He instituted a systematic tribute to tax each province. He took the advanced postal system of the Assyrians and expanded it. Also taken from the Assyrians was the usage of secret agents of the king, known as the King's
Eyes and Ears, keeping him informed.
Darius improved the famous Royal Road and other ancient trade routes, thereby connecting far reaches of the empire. He may have moved the administration center from Fars itself to Susa, near Babylon and closer to the center of the realm. The Persians allowed local cultures to survive, following the precedent set by Cyrus the Great. This was not only good for the empire's subjects, but ultimately benefited the Achaemenids, since the conquered peoples felt no need to revolt.
The Achaemenid Empire united people and kingdoms from every major civilization in south west Asia. For the first time in history, people from very different cultures were in contact with one another under one ruler.
Hellenistic Persia (330 BC–250 BC )
The Achaemenid dynasty never managed to realise the conquest of the Greeks, but kept their threat at a minor level, often by encouraging their internal fighting. However, the Achaemenid Empire's weakness was exposed to the Greeks in 401 BC, when a rebel prince, Cyrus the Younger, hired 14,000 Greek mercenaries to help secure his claim to 109
the imperial throne (see Xenophon, Anabasis). This demonstrated the military problems of the Achaemenid forces when dealing with an effective phalanx of spearmen.
Philip II of Macedon managed to unify most of Greece under his control, and decided to take advantage of Achaemenid weakness when, after the death of Artaxerxes III Ochus
in 338, the Persian Empire had no strong leader. On Philip's death in 336, his son and heir continued the attack on the Empire. He turned out to be one of the most effective generals in history. The Achaemenid monarch, Darius III was an aged man with a reputation for bravery gained in his youth, but in the event was no match for Alexander.
The greatest empire of the time collapsed in only eight years.
Alexander landed in Asia Minor in 334 BC. His armies quickly swept through Lydia, Phoenicia, and Egypt, before defeating Darius III at Gaugamela (331) and capturing the capital at Susa. The last Achaemenid resistance was at the "Persian Gates" between Susa and near the royal palace at Persepolis. The Achaemenid Empire was now in Alexander's hands.
Along his route of conquest, Alexander founded many colony cities, often named
"Alexandria". For the next several centuries, these cities served to greatly extend Greek, or Hellenistic, culture in Persia.
Alexander's empire broke up shortly after his death, and Alexander's general, Seleucus I
Nicator, tried to take control of Persia, Mesopotamia, and later Syria and Asia Minor. His ruling family is known as the Seleucid Dynasty. However he was killed in 281 BC by
Ptolemy Keraunos before he could conquer Greece and Macedonia.
Greek colonization continued until around 250 BC; Greek language, philosophy, and art came with the colonists. Throughout Alexander's former empire, Greek became the common tongue of diplomacy and literature. Trade with China had begun in Achaemenid times along the so-called Silk Road; but during the Hellenistic period it began in earnest. The overland trade brought about some fascinating cultural exchanges. Buddhism came in from India, while Zoroastrianism traveled west to influence Judaism. Incredible statues of the Buddha in classical Greek styles have been found in Persia and Afghanistan, illustrating the mix of cultures that occurred around this time (See Greco-Buddhism), although it is possible that Greco-Buddhist art dates from Achaemenid times when Greek artists worked for the Persians.
Although recently discovered cuneiform evidence (e.g., the Babylonian Chronicles from the Hellenistic Period) show how much continuity there was in the Eastern civilization, it can not be denied that the Seleucid kingdom began to decline after about a century. The eastern provinces of Bactria and Parthia broke off in 238 BC. King Antiochus III's military leadership kept Parthia from overrunning Persia itself, but when he tried to intervene in Greece, his successes alarmed the burgeoning Roman Republic. Roman legions began to attack the kingdom. At the same time, the Seleucids had to contend with the revolt of 110
the Maccabees in Judea and the expansion of the Kushan Empire to the east. The empire fell apart and was conquered by Parthia and Rome.
[Editor’s Note: This preceeding was used in the original work and at the point of this revision, I cannot remember where I got it.]
DANIEL'S HISTORY TO ASCENDANCY OF CYRUS
Verses 1-3:
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which
should be over the whole kingdom;
2 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.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an
excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
[Garner]
Verse 1 explains that it pleased Darius (the Lord-King-ruler) a common title that referred to the ruler of Medo-Persia, as "Caesar" was used of the head Roman ruler and "Pharaoh"
was so used in Egypt, to set up an administrative government with 120 princes, who were to govern his entire kingdom.
Verse 2 adds that over these 120 general ruling princes he set up a presidential cabinet of three presidents, of whom Daniel, the aged Jew was first in power. They were set up as certified public accountants to see that the king should receive all tribute, suffer no business loss, that had been assessed to come to him.
Verse 3 relates that Daniel then came to be preferred above the other two presidents because an excellent spirit, attitude, or disposition was (existed) in him, as formerly stated by the queen mother, Daniel 5:12. And the king (Darius or Cyrus) thought or resolved to set Daniel over the material welfare of all his kingdom, as Pharaoh did Joseph in Genesis 41:38.
THE FOOLISH DECREE OF DARIUS
Verses 4-9:
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning
the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we
find it against him concerning the law of his God.
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6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto
him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors,
and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a
firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save
of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed,
according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Verse 4 relates that very soon the two other presidents and 120 princes whom Darius had appointed (Gentiles, non-Jews), sought by collusion, by ulterior or shady means, to find fault with or against Daniel, in the manner of his handling the entrusted affairs of the kingdom. But regarding such it is certified that there was none occasion of fault. Because he was faithful, honest, fair, acted with righteous integrity, there was neither indictable error nor fault found in his conduct. He was the envy of those rulers under him, who like the Pharisees and Sadducees, could find no fault in Jesus.
Verse 5 adds that then, when the motley colluding 120 princes and two Gentile presidents agreed that Daniel was clean in character and conduct of business affairs, they arrived at a corporate conclusion that the only way they might entrap him might be concerning the law of his God, the living Jehovah God who had sent judgment on the kings of Babylon, both Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, before them. Thus they moved to elevate themselves through a scheme to destroy Daniel.
Verse 6 unfolds a plot initiated by the 2 presidents under Daniel and the 120 princes.
They entered collusion agreement that they would, rush tumultuously upon the king, with feigned love for him, and cry out, "O king Darius, live forever," though they cared not if he died that day. They were out for the kill, to secure a means of publicly liquidating Daniel.
Verse 7 announces that this motley ruling gang rushed in before the king, vowing love and loyalty to him, and reporting that, "all the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, princes, counselors, and captains had consulted and collaborated together to establish a royal statute in his honor, and to make a firm decree that anyone who would dare ask a petition of, or pray to, any God or man for a period of the next 30 days, except to Darius the king only, would be cast into the den of lions. How honorable, and loyal by exaggeration, they made it sound! But how deceitful, scheming, lying and devious was their intent!
Verse 8 continues their direct plea to king Darius to establish the decree, (right then) and sign the writing, that it might not be altered, amended, or changed at all, according to or in harmony with the law of the Medes and the Persians.
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Verse 9 relates that Darius the king was led to sign the writing and decree right then, without delay, on the spot, according to the devilish plot of the haters of Daniel.
THE STEADFASTNESS OF DANIEL UNDER STRESS
Verse 10-15:
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his
windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees
three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication
before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast
thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man
within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king
answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children
of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast
signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and
set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to
deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king,
that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king
establisheth may be changed.
Verse 10 relates that when Daniel came to know that the writing was signed, the statute and decree had been sealed by the king, he went directly to the privacy of his residence.
He then, with his residence windows open toward or facing Jerusalem, kneeled upon his knees repeatedly, three times a day (at morning, noon, and night) and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime, as his custom was. In matters of acts of worship toward God, obedience to Him must always be given priority over any conflicting decree of man. Daniel learned and practiced such with profit in Israel, in Babylon, and in Persia.
Verse 11 relates how these conniving enemies of, and "peeping toms and spies" against Daniel, assembled and caught him in privacy of his home, praying to his God.
Verse 12 recounts that then this murder-hearted band of would be assassins went directly to the king and asked him to state before the assembly of witnesses, who had peeped on Daniel praying in the privacy of his residency, with his eyes toward Jerusalem, whether or not he had signed a decree and statute according to the law of the Medes and Persians, that any found praying to or toward any god other than him, for 30 days, would be put to death. Publicly he affirmed that that was true, not knowing what they had done, that they had sought to deceive him, and entrap Daniel to put him to death.
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Verse 13 relates the death charges they then brought against Daniel; before the king.
They charged that Daniel the Jew, first president of the kingdom, did not respect the king, showed contempt for him and the law he had signed before them all, by praying, as they had caught him, three times a day! What a crime!
Verse 14 states that when the king heard this charge he was sore displeased with himself, with his hasty and rash sighing of the law against praying to any but himself for 30 days.
And the king labored hard, till sundown, to try to find some way to save Daniel's life, for he realized that "for envy" they had entrapped both him as king, and Daniel his first president, of evident integrity.
Verse 15 recounts the persistent clamor of these enemies of Daniel against him before the king, reminding him repeatedly that no law or statute of the Medes and Persians might be changed, as if their makers were infallible.
DANIEL CAST INTO THE DEN OF LIONS
Verses 16, 17:
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of
lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed
it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be
changed concerning Daniel.
Verse 16 announces that king Darius then commanded that Daniel be brought to him, and before him, be cast into the den of lions, "no problem" for Daniel, whose God was with him. Before Daniel was cast into the den of lions the king said directly to Daniel, "thy God whom thou servest continuously (unceasingly) will deliver, liberate, or set you free."
He was a slave to "flatteries", yet sensed that the God of Daniel would protect and deliver Daniel.
Verse 17 explains that a stone was brought and put over the entrance to the den, and the king then sealed it with his own signet and that of his lords. This meant death to any who would open the mouth of the den unauthorized. This was done in order that the integrity of the purpose of the new law of the Medes and Persians might not be changed, altered, or amended concerning Daniel, Lamentations 3:53. This was similar to the Roman seal put on our Lord's tomb, Matthew 27:60, 66.
THE DELIVERING GOD
Verse 18-24:
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18 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.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of
lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and
the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God,
whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not
hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O
king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take
Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of
hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel,
and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the
lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at
the bottom of the den.
Verse 18 recounts a sad night at the distraught, conscience stricken house of the king. He passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were allowed to be brought near or before him that nite. And his sleep went from him, as his soul tormented him within, Esther 6:1; Psalm 77:4. Many are ill at ease in their own sins, but stick with them from the plaudit of the crowds, or flattery of those about them, Galatians 6:7, 8.
Verse 19 explains that the king arose early in the morning, much earlier than usual, and went in haste, with rapid pace, to the den of lions, letting nothing stop him on the way.
He evidently believed that God would in some way save and deliver Daniel alive out of the den of lions. His grief overcame his fear of the nobles, for he knew that he had done wrong, as expressed Romans 2:14.
Verse 20 adds that when the king arrived at the den he cried with a lamentable or emotionally broken voice to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, without compromise, whom you put first, able to deliver thee from the lions?" Daniel could have told him that the day before, if he had asked, for He is so different from dumb idols, blind, dead, lifeless, gods, Psalm 115:4-9.
Verse 21 recounts that Daniel respectfully responded, "O king, may you live for ever,"
not be suddenly judged by my God for your acts against me, Genesis 50:19, 20.
Verse 22 continues Daniel's testimony of witness to the king about his God, as he spoke, with lions all about him. His witness was "my God (living God) has commissioned his angels, and has shut (locked) the lions' mouths, in order that or so that they have not hurt me or done me any harm." He has done this because innocence was found in me and before you, he added, I have done no injury or hurt at all. Such was the commission between king Darius and his firs president of highest integrity, Daniel who had been 115
envied and hated by his colleagues in government labors. Obedience to God is compatible with loyalty to kings and civil governments.
Verse 23 relates that then, at that point, the king was exceedingly glad, exuberant, lifted out of his grief and remorse. He ordered that Daniel then be taken out of the den of lions.
He was, and upon medical examination, no manner of hurt at all was found upon him, because he trusted in his God.
Verse 24 recounts that then the king brought those accusing "prayer spies," and condemners of Daniel, before him. He then ordered each of them, their wives, and their children to be cast into the bottom of the den of lions. It is recorded that before they got to the bottom of the den, the lions had pounced upon them, had mastery over them, and broke all their bones in pieces, killed the last one of them. Vengeance belongs to the Lord and He does repay evil.
DECREE OF DARIUS REGARDING DANIEL'S GOD
Verse 25-28:
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all
the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear
before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his
kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the
end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in
earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the
Persian.
Verse 25 states that Darius then wrote a letter of greeting to all people, nations, and languages, an open letter to all who dwelt on the earth, to all human beings. His opening was "may peace be multiplied to you all."
Verse 26 adds that king Darius sent a decree that accompanied the greeting of peace. The essence of the decree was that in every jurisdiction area of his kingdom men should tremble and fear before the living God of Daniel. He added that He was not only the living God (the only one), but He was also steadfast forever, and His kingdom was such quality that it would never to be destroyed, because His dominion would be unto the end of all time and things.
Verse 27 certifies that this living God delivers, liberates, rescues, and works supernatural signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, and had recently delivered Daniel out of the den of lions.
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Verse 28 concludes that God prospered Daniel in the reign of Darius and or even in the reign of Cyrus, the Persian, Ezra 1:1, 2. It was in the 3rd year of Cyrus that Daniel received his visions recounted Daniel chs. 10-12. He was prospered both materially and in the Divine service of his prophecies.
Additional History
Ancient Persia - Introduction to Persia and the Persian Empire
The Ancient Persians are more familiar to us than the other empire builders of Mesopotamia or the Ancient Near East, the Sumerians , the Babylonians, and the Assyrians, not only because the Persians were more recent, but because they were amply described by the Greeks. Just as one man, Alexander of Macedon (Alexander the Great), ultimately wore the Persians down quickly (in about three years), so the Persian Empire rose to power quickly under the leadership of Cyrus the Great.
We in the West are accustomed to seeing the Persians as the "them" to a Greek "us." There was no Athenian-style democracy for the Persians, but an absolute monarchy that denied the individual, common man his say in political life*. The most important part of the Persian army was a seemingly fearless elite fighting group of 10,000, who were known as "The Immortals" because when one was killed another would be promoted to take his place. Since all men were eligible for combat until age 50, manpower was not an obstacle for the Persians, although to insure loyalty, the original members of this "immortal" fighting machine were Persians or Medes.
The Persian leader, Cyrus the Great, a religious man and adherent of Zoroastrianism, first came to power by overcoming his in-laws, the Medes (c. 550 B.C.) -- the conquest made easy by many defectors. Cyrus then made peace with the Medes, and cemented the alliance by creating not just Persian, but Median sub-kings (who were known as satraps) to rule the provinces. Cyrus then conquered the Lydians, the Greek colonies on the Aegean coast, the Parthians, and Hyrcanians.
Cyrus set up a fortified border along the Jaxartes River in the Steppes, and in 540 B.C., he conquered the Babylonian Empire. The successors of Cyrus conquered Egypt, Thrace, Macedonia, and spread the Persian Empire east to the Indus River.
The charter of Cyrus the Great, a baked-clay Aryan language (Old Persian) cuneiform cylinder, was discovered in 1878 in excavation of the site of Babylon. In it, Cyrus the Great described his human treatment of the inhabitants of Babylonia after its conquest by the Iranians.
The document has been hailed as the first charter of human rights, and in 1971 the United Nations was published translation of it in all the official U.N. languages. "May Ahura Mazda protect this land, this nation, from rancor, from foes, from falsehood, and from drought". Selected from the book "The Eternal Land".
This is a confirmation that the Charter of freedom of Humankind issued by Cyrus the Great on his coronation day in Babylon could be considered superior to the Human Rights Manifesto issued by the French revolutionaries in their first national assembly.
The Human Rights Manifesto looks very interesting in its kind regarding the expressions and composition, but the Charter of Freedom issued twenty three centuries before that by the Iranian monarch sounds more spiritual.
Comparing the Human Rights Manifesto of the French National Assembly and the 117
Charter approved by the United Nations with the Charter of Freedom of Cyrus, the latter appears more valuable considering its age, explicitness, and rejection of the superstitions of the ancient world.
Cyrus the Great entered the city of Babylon in 539 BCE, and after the winter, on the first day of spring, he was officially crowned:
My numerous troops moved about undisturbed in the midst of Babylon. I did not allow anyone to terrorise the land of Sumer and Akkad. I kept in view the needs of Babylon and all its sanctuaries to promote their well being. The citizens of Babylon ................. I lifted their unbecoming yoke. Their dilapidated dwellings I restored. I put an end to their misfortunes.
The description of the coronation of Cyrus is the most elaborate one in the world written by the Greek philosopher, politician, and historian Xenephon (Cyropaedia of
Xenophon, The Life of Cyrus The Great).
On the day of coronation, Cyrus read the Charter of Freedom out after he put on the crown with his hand in Marduk Temple.
Uncertain and the full text of the Charter was unavailable until an inscription was foundering the excavation works in the old city of Ur in Mesopotamia. After the translation of the words, it was found out that the document was the same Charter. It is now kept in the British Museum and it is no exaggeration to say that it is one of the most precious historical records of the world.
In the Charter, after introducing himself and mentioning the names of his father, first, second, and third ancestors, Cyrus says that he is the monarch of Iran, Babylon, and the four continents:
I am Kourosh (Cyrus), King of the world, great king, mighty king, king of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, son of Camboujiyah (Cambyases), great king, king of Anshân, grandson of
Kourosh (Cyrus), great king, king of Anshân, descendant of Chaish-Pesh (Teispes), great king, king of Anshân, progeny of an unending royal line, whose rule Bel and Nabu cherish, whose kingship they desire for their hearts, pleasure. When I well -disposed, entered Babylon, I set up a seat of
domination in the royal palace amidst jubilation and rejoicing. Marduk the great god, caused the big-hearted inhabitations of Babylon to .................. me, I sought daily to worship him.
He continues:
At my deeds Marduk, the great lord, rejoiced and to me, Kourosh (Cyrus), the king who worshipped him, and to Camboujiyah (Cambyases), my son,
the offspring of (my) loins, and to all my troops he graciously gave his blessing, and in good sprit before him we glorified exceedingly his high divinity. All the kings who sat in throne rooms, throughout the four quarters, from the Upper to the Lower Sea, those who dwelt in ..................., all the kings of the West Country, who dwelt in tents, brought me their heavy tribute and kissed my feet in Babylon. From ... to the cities of Ashur, Susa, 118
Agade and Eshnuna, the cities of Zamban, Meurnu, Der as far as the region of the land of Gutium, the holy cities beyond the Tigris whose sanctuaries had been in ruins over a long period, the gods whose abode is in the midst of them, I returned to their places and housed them in lasting abodes.
I gathered together all their inhabitations and restored (to them) their dwellings. The gods of Sumer and Akkad whom Nabounids had, to the anger of the lord of the gods, brought into Babylon. I, at the bidding of Marduk, the great lord, made to dwell in peace in their habitations, delightful abodes.
May all the gods whom I have placed within their sanctuaries address a daily prayer in my favour before Bel and Nabu, that my days may be long, and may they say to Marduk my lord, "May Kourosh (Cyrus) the King, who reveres thee, and Camboujiyah (Cambyases) his son ..."
And:
Now that I put the crown of kingdom of Iran, Babylon, and the nations of the four directions on the head with the help of (Ahura) Mazda, I announce that I will respect the traditions, customs and religions of the nations of my empire and never let any of my governors and subordinates look down on or insult them until I am alive. From now on, till (Ahura) Mazda grants me the kingdom favor, I will impose my monarchy on no nation. Each is free to accept it , and if any one of them rejects it , I never resolve on war to reign.
Until I am the king of Iran, Babylon, and the nations of the four directions, I never let anyone oppress any others, and if it occurs , I will take his or her right back and penalize the oppressor.
And until I am the monarch, I will never let anyone take possession of movable and landed properties of the others by force or without
compensation. Until I am alive, I prevent unpaid, forced labor. To day, I announce that everyone is free to choose a religion. People are free to live in all regions and take up a job provided that they never violate other's rights.
No one could be penalized for his or her relatives' faults. I prevent slavery and my governors and subordinates are obliged to prohibit exchanging men and women as slaves within their own ruling domains. Such a traditions should be exterminated the world over.
I implore to (Ahura) Mazda to make me succeed in fulfilling my obligations to the nations of Iran (Persia), Babylon, and the ones of the four directions.
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DANIEL - CHAPTER 7
DANIEL'S BEAST VISION
Verses 1-3: KJV 1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream
and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the
matters. 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four
winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from
the sea, diverse one from another.
[Garner]
Verse 1 begins a description of four living beasts of the field; each had life and movement, more than the inanimate creatures, mere statue forms of Daniel chapter two.
These beasts, while symbolic of organized Gentile empires, also set forth the depravity and beastality of man, without a place of God in his life.
Daniel himself had this dream, not a heathen king, as formerly dealt with Daniel 2:28.
This dream of distinct, clear images came to him, as he lay with collected mind upon his bed in the first year of the reign of Belshazzar. What he saw he proceeded to write, then explain in more detail. Let it be recalled that "secret things belong to the Lord," but things
"revealed or disclosed belong to and for the benefit of men," Deuteronomy 29:29; Ephesians 3:3-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:4. Note three things Daniel saw, wrote, and told or explained in this dream, for the benefit of comforting and enlightening the people of his times, and for the people of God today. Blessed are those who seek to understand what he said. For it is a telescopic view of end times.
Verse 2 describes further that Daniel saw in that vision that night the four winds of the heavens, covering the earth, as they whirled about in dervish clashes upon the great sea.
The four winds signify the clashing of the four great Gentile political powers in their clash to rule the "great sea," symbolic of the masses or populace of humanity in disarray.
The antichrist rises out of the sea of political strife, but the Son of man comes in the clouds of heaven.
Verse 3 relates that four great beasts came up from or arose out of the sea (masses of Gentile powers in disarray). Each of the beasts or living animals was clearly distinct one from another. Verse 17 explains that these four beasts were (exist as) four kings; So that in this matter no ground is left for speculation. Cherubic or angelic living animals represent redeemed men, whereas beasts represent beast-like character in groveling greedy, unregenerate men, in anarchy against God, as they appear in Revelation 13:1-18.
THE FOUR BEAST EMPIRES
FIRST, NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S (Daniel 2:37, 38)
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Verses 4: The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings
thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet
as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
Verse 4 describes the first of the four living animals as a lion, a symbol of strength and courage, chief among gentile world governments, as the lion is chief or king of beasts of the forests, v. 17; Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 48:40. The lion appears with eagle's wings, Jeremiah 4:7; 25:9. That lion was Nebuchadnezzar who swooped like a spreadwinged eagle upon her prey, with pride and self glory, till his wings were plucked by mental derangement of recessive nature, and until he acknowledged God. He then was lifted upon his feet, upright from his beast-like, grass-eating posture, as a man dependent upon God.
SECOND, MEDIA-PERSIA
Verse 5: And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on
one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said
thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Verse 5 describes the second beast empire as a living bear. It rose up on its side with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. The bear symbolized the notorious cruelty of the young Persian princes, rulers over the Medes and Persians. A bear is an all-devouring animal, presented with clenched, crushing teeth on three ribs, indicating her cruel crushing of the people of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt. The phrase "devour much flesh"
alludes to her subjugating many small nations.
THIRD WORLD EMPIRE--GREECE
Verse 6: After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of
it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Verse 6 describes the third one world Gentile Empire as a living leopard, smaller than a lion, but swift and cruel, a beast that cowers and springs suddenly from its hiding upon its prey. This leopard had four wings of a fowl upon its back, and four heads. This symbolized ancient Greece and Macedonia under Alexander the Great. The four-headed and four-winged leopard with her spots seem to symbolize the impulsive and temperamental character of Alexander in his swift and sweeping conquest of Gentile kingdoms on all four sides, until he reached the then world dominion of his Empire. See Daniel 8:8, 22.
THE FOURTH-ONE WORLD EMPIRE
Verse 7: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and
terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in
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pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts
that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Verse 7 states that "after this," after Daniel had viewed three living animals (beasts), representing three successive Gentile world wide empires, he saw a fourth in his vision.
This fourth beast was a dreadful, terrible, and exceeding strong-looking animal. It had great iron teeth in its mouth to devour, and ten horns upon its head. Each horn represented a Gentile king, Revelation 17:12. It devoured and broke in pieces and stamped, trampled with its heavy feet, all that was in its path. As a living, destroying beast, it was far different from all other beasts before it, meaning all Gentile governments and kingdoms that preceded it, v. 23, 24; Daniel 2:40-43.
Though "horns" were symbolically used to represent reigning or dominating kingly powers, let it be observed that the number "ten" represents "Gentile governments" in disarray. One should perhaps not look for the Gentile or heathen world to have exactly ten entire geographical bounded territories to turn to the antichrist at his coming. Instead the number "ten" seems to embrace the entire Gentile or heathen world that shall come to follow the antichrist, Revelation 12:13; 13:1; 17:12; Daniel 2:41, 42.
[Editor] Before we go any further, let us do a comparison of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7. The following was written by Larry Wilson.
[Wilson]
Daniel Saw a Lion, Bear, Leopard and Terrible Beast
This vision, as with all the visions in Daniel, contains few words, but is full of detail. This vision is highly important because it establishes a historical footing for several other visions. If this particular vision is misinterpreted, the intended meaning of Daniel or Revelation will be derailed.
As the vision begins, Daniel is looking over a great body of water. From his vantage point, he sees four strange beasts rising up out of the sea. These beasts are unusual in appearance because they have strange features added to their bodies. These strange features highlight specific characteristics that help to identify the empires they represent.
1. A lion with eagle wings
2. A bear with three ribs in its mouth
3. A leopard with four wings and four heads
4. A monster or terrible beast having ten horns
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To simplify this vision and its explanation, I have divided the vision and my commentary into twelve parts. I hope you will read and reread each of these parts until all of the elements are easy to identify and understand.
Part One: Daniel 7:1-4
Comments on Part One: Babylon
Historians say the first year of Belshazzar was about 552 B.C. If so, this vision occurs about fifty years after the vision recorded in Daniel 2. Daniel saw four great beasts rise up from the sea and he was told these beasts represented four empires that would rise at their appointed time. (Daniel 7:15-16) The first beast to rise up was a lion, and it represents the empire of Babylon. Just as gold is the king of metals, so the lion is the king of beasts. The eagle’s wings indicate a military prowess that none can escape. The ancients regarded the eagle’s keen vision and its ability to swoop down on its prey as a fitting symbol of military power. (Deuteronomy 28:49) These characteristics, no doubt, prompted the founding fathers of the United States to use the Bald Eagle as a symbol of military power. As Daniel watched, the lion lost its power and ability to subdue nations. In this vision, the lion received a man’s heart, a heart that is subject to vanity, arrogance, and pride. This transition uniquely describes the arrogance of the kings of Babylon. God had to humiliate King Nebuchadnezzar by taking him from the throne and giving him the mind of an animal for seven years because of pride and arrogance. (Daniel 4) Unfortunately, subsequent kings of Babylon did not learn from Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation and Babylon ultimately fell because of arrogance and vanity. (Daniel 5:22)
The Bible leaves no wiggle room on the identity of the lion. Daniel 2:38 says the head of gold is Babylon, and Daniel 8 tells us the next kingdom after Babylon is that of the Medes and Persians. Therefore, the lion with a man’s heart is a perfect representation of Babylon, and history agrees.
