A MURDEROUS PLOT SET IN MOTION

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 into the lion's pit." -Daniel 6:6, 7. 

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 ling in Babylon, Darius was a foreigner and a newcomer.  This new law would serve to establish him as king,a nd 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 open windows of his roof chamber.

Would this restriction on prayer create a problem for all the religious communities in Babylon?  Not necessarily, especially since the prohibition was to also 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 not 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 god, readily acceded to the demand. It was the Jew alone who resented such a demand." 

In any event, Darius' visitors urged him to "establish the statute and sign the writing, in order for it not to be changed, according the law of the Medes and and the Persians, which is not annulled ." (Daniel 6:8)  In the ancient East, the will of the king was often regarded as absolute.  This perpetrated  the notion that he was infallible. Even a law that could cause the death of innocent people had to remain in effect!  

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. 

Next time: DARIUS FORCED TO RENDER ADVERSE JUDGMENT

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999