Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 6:26
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 steadfast forever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
26. I make a decree ] almost exactly as Dan 3:29.
in every dominion ] in all the dominion &c.
tremble and fear before ] Cf. Dan 5:19 (of the dread felt towards Nebuchadnezzar).
stedfast ] or subsistent, enduring, a common epithet of God in the Targums, and often representing the Heb. ‘living,’ as in the passages quoted on Dan 6:20 [267] . The combination, ‘living and enduring’ ( ), is also frequent in post-Biblical Jewish literature.
[267] Also regularly in the phrases, ‘(As) I live,’ ‘(As) Jehovah liveth,’ 1Sa 14:39; Eze 5:2, &c.
and his kingdom &c.] Cf. Dan 2:44, Dan 4:3; Dan 4:34 b; also Dan 7:14; Dan 7:27.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I make a decree – Compare Dan 3:29.
That in every dominion of my kingdom – Every department or province. The entire kingdom or empire was made up of several kingdoms, as Media, Persia, Babylonia, etc. The meaning is, that he wished the God of Daniel to be honored and reverenced throughout the whole empire.
Men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel – That they honor and reverence him as God. There is no certain evidence that he meant that he should be honored as the only God; but the probability is, that he meant that he should be recognized as a God of great power and glory, and as worthy of universal reverence. How far this pagan monarch might still regard the other deities worshipped in the empire as gods, or how far his own heart might be disposed to honor the God of Daniel, there are no means of ascertaining. It was much, however, that so great a monarch should be led to make a proclamation acknowledging the God of Daniel as having a real existence, and as entitled to universal reverence.
For he is the living God – An appellation often given to God in the Scriptures, and probably learned by Darius from Daniel. It is not, however, absolutely certain that Darius would attach all the ideas to these phrases which Daniel did, or which we would. The attributes here ascribed to God are correct, and the views expressed are far beyond any that prevailed among the pagan; but still it would not be proper to suppose that Darius certainly had all the views of God which these words would convey to us now.
And stedfast for ever – That is, he is always the same. He ever lives; he has power overall; his kingdom is on an immovable foundation. He is not, in his government, to cease to exist, and to be succeeded by another who shall occupy his throne.
And his kingdom what shall not be destroyed … – See the Dan 4:3, note ; Dan 4:34, note. The similarity between the language used here, and that employed by Nebuchadnezzar, shows that it was probably derived from the same source. It is to be presumed that both monarchs expressed the views which they had learned from Daniel.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Dan 6:26
Men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
The God of Daniel
Religion has furnished the widest field for persecution.
1. The God of Daniel permits His children to be tempted and tried. Generally, trials are regarded as punishments and corrections. What divine end should we regard as attained by undeserved trial and suffering? Many evils befall good people because your bearing under the yoke conveys impressions of himself, and the work of grace in your hearts, which no other ministration can impress on the adamant heart of the ungodly.
2. Trials are also permissible as occasions of the revelation of Gods special presence with His people. Not only was there something extraordinary in Daniel, but there was something more extraordinary around him. The animals were quiet. Daniel was protected by a divine hand.
3. There is here also the principle that faith is the link between the feeble and their God. Because he believed in his God. It was faith that saluted the throne on high three times a day. It was faith that brought the assurance all would end well. It was faith that breathed calmness and patience in the breast. It was faith that made the heart rest securely on the Rock of Ages. O for a touch of that ancient faith. The angel of the covenant recognises faith, and helps her in her struggles with sin.
4. Here we see the God-revealing man. The king might have said, The Daniel of God. What he said is more revealing, the God of Daniel. What an association–the God of Daniel. (T. Davies, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 26. I make a decree that – men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel] As in the case of the three Hebrews, Da 3:29. The true God was known by his servants, and by the deliverances he wrought for them. See his characters in this decree.
1. He is the living God, the Author and Giver of life; all others are dead gods.
2. He is steadfast for ever. All things change; but he is unchangeable.
3. He has a kingdom; for as he made all things, so he governs all things.
4. His kingdom shall not be destroyed. No human power can prevail against it, because it is upheld by his omnipotence.
5. His dominion is without end. It is an everlasting dominion, under an everlasting rule, by an everlasting God.
6. He delivereth them that are in danger and bondage.
7. He rescueth those who have fallen into the hands of their enemies, and implore his succour.
8. He worketh signs in the heavens.
9. And wonders upon earth; showing that both are under his sway, and are parts of his dominion.
10. And to complete all, He hath delivered Daniel. Before our own eyes he has given the fullest proof of his power and goodness, in rescuing his faithful servant from the teeth of the lions. What a fine eulogium on the great God and his faithful servant!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; take heed how they speak evil of this great God, but own and honour him as such; whereof he gives the reason following.
He is the living God, & c. You would take Darius by these words to be a convert: how far this went with him, and how long it lasted, who knoweth? Surely if he were in earnest, he would forsake his idolatry, and set up the worship of the true God in his kingdom, that his subjects might turn from dumb idols, as inconsistent with the living God and his worship. Howbeit, it is clear that Darius had learnt this doctrine from Daniel, whom he heard and honoured, and was the more convinced of it by this miraculous deliverance of Daniel from the lions.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. Stronger than the decree (Da3:29). That was negative; this, positive; not merely men must say”nothing amiss of,” but must “fear before God.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom,…. In every province of his large empire; this explains who are meant by all people, nations, c. before mentioned namely, such as were within his dominions; for to no other could his decree reach: this decree is very different from that he had made a few days before, forbidding any man to ask anything of any god or man for the space of a month; but now his order is,
that men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; that they would serve with fear and trembling, and reverence and adore the God that Daniel served and worshipped; and who manifestly appeared to be his God, and to be the true God, by his wonderful deliverance of him:
for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever; that has life in himself, and is the author and giver of life to others, and ever remains so, without any variation or shadow of turning; he is everlasting and unchangeable, permanent and immutable in his nature; steady and steadfast in his purposes and promises, in his conduct in the government of the world, and in the course of his providence:
and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end; unto the end of time; other kingdoms will he destroyed, but his will not; all other rule, dominion and authority will be at an end but his will continue for ever; his kingdom is an everlasting one: this doctrine Darius had learned from Daniel, as Nebuchadnezzar before had done; see Da 2:44.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6:25-27)
The consequences of this occurrence.
As Nebuchadnezzar, after the wonderful deliverance of Daniel’s friends from the burning fiery furnace, issued an edict to all the nations of his kingdom forbidding them on pain of death from doing any injury to these men of God (Dan 3:29), so now Darius, in consequence of this wonderful preservation of Daniel in the den of lions, gave forth an edict commanding all the nations of his whole kingdom to fear and reverence Daniel’s God. But as Nebuchadnezzar by his edict, so also Darius, did not depart from the polytheistic standpoint. Darius acknowledged the God of Daniel, indeed, as the living God, whose kingdom and dominion were everlasting, but not as the only true God, and he commanded Him to be reverenced only as a God who does wonders in heaven and on earth, without prejudice to the honour of his own gods and of the gods of his subjects. Both of these kings, it is true, raised the God of Judea above all other gods, and praised the everlasting duration of His dominion (see Dan 3:29, 32 [Dan 4:2]f., and Daniel 3:31 [Dan 3:28]ff., 6:27 [Dan 6:26]f.), but they did not confess Him as the one only God. This edict, the, shows neither the conversion of Darius to the worship of the God of the Jews, nor does it show intolerance toward the gods of his subjects. On v. 26 (Dan 6:25) cf. Daniel 3:31 (Dan 4:1). As Nebuchadnezzar, so also Darius, regarded his kingdom as a world-kingdom. On 27 a (Dan 6:26) cf. Dan 3:29. The reverence which all the nations were commanded to show to Daniel’s God is described in the same words as is the fear and reverence which the might and greatness of Nebuchadnezzar inspired in all the nations that were subject to him (Dan 5:19), which has led Hitzig justly to remark, that the words ( they must worship his God) are not used. God is described as living (cf. v. 21 [Dan 6:20]) and eternal, with which is connected the praise of the everlasting duration of His dominion, and of His rule in heaven and on earth; cf. Dan 2:44 and 3:33 (Dan 4:3). The after is not a conjunction, but is the relative, and the expression briefly denotes that His kingdom is a kingdom which is not destroyed; cf. Daniel 4:31 (Dan 4:34). , to the end – not merely of all heathen kingdoms which arise on the earth, i.e., to their final destruction by the kingdom of the Messiah, Dan 2:44 (Kranichfeld), for there is no thought of the Messiah, Dan 2:44 (Kranichfeld), for there is no thought of the Messianic kingdom here at all, but to the end of all things, to eternity. In v. 28 (Dan 6:27) this God is lauded as the deliverer and wonder-worker, because in the case of Daniel He had showed Himself as such; cf. Daniel 3:32 (Dan 4:2). , from the hand, i.e., from the power of; cf. Psa 22:21.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(26) Unto the end.The language of this decree is remarkably Scriptural. This is due, no doubt, to the share which Daniel had in the composition of it. By the end is meant the end of all the heathen kingdoms which shall arise upon the earth, or, in other words, the setting up of the kingdom of the Messiah.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even to the end. He delivers and rescues and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.’
Darius calls on all his peoples to honour the living God of Daniel. Note the contrast between the temporary dominion and kingdom of Darius, and the dominion which ‘will be even to the end’, and the kingdom which ‘will not be destroyed’ of the living God. He delivers and rescues His people, performs signs and wonders on their behalf, delivers them from the fire and has delivered Daniel from the wild beasts. This is all leading into chapter 7, and is essential to it. There we will learn of the wild beast empires from which Israel will be delivered, closing the mouths of the wild beasts. It was necessary that, before that, Israel should know that the living God is steadfast, and that He delivers and rescues His people and does signs and wonders on their behalf. Without the first part of the book the last part would be terrifying.
This decree witnesses to the hand of Daniel. There is an echo here of the words of Daniel in Dan 2:44; compare Dan 4:34. ‘He will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed — and it will stand for ever’, and of Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 3:28; ‘he delivered His servants who trusted in Him’, and Dan 4:2; ‘the signs and wonders that the Most High God has wrought towards me’. It is also a brief testimony to what the book of Daniel is all about. Chapter 7 will outline it in more detail. This constant repetition of ideas and phrases is evidence of the unity of the book.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 6:26. He is the living God The characters of the Deity in this and the next verse are very just and sublime, and suited to his nature, and were probably such as Darius had learnt from Daniel. Some think that he was a convert to the worship of the true God; and this, together with the favours shewn to the prophet, may in some measure account for the notice taken of his reign: many other reasons may also be assigned from a reflection on various parts of this book, and especially at chap. 9:
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 6:26 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.
Ver. 26. I make a decree. ] It is the honour of princes to make laws for the maintenance of religion. 2Ch 30:4-5
And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
decree. Chaldee. te’am = a decision, implying the pleasure or approval with which it was made.
God. Chaldee. ‘elaha (emphatic).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 6:26-27
Dan 6:26 I makeH4481 H6925 H7761 a decree,H2942 ThatH1768 in everyH3606 dominionH7985 of my kingdomH4437 men trembleH1934 H2112 and fearH1763 beforeH4481 H6925 the GodH426 ofH1768 Daniel:H1841 forH1768 heH1932 is the livingH2417 God,H426 and stedfastH7011 for ever,H5957 and his kingdomH4437 that whichH1768 shall notH3809 be destroyed,H2255 and his dominionH7985 shall be even untoH5705 the end.H5491
Dan 6:27 He deliverethH7804 and rescueth,H5338 and he workethH5648 signsH852 and wondersH8540 in heavenH8065 and in earth,H772 whoH1768 hath deliveredH7804 DanielH1841 fromH4481 the powerH3028 of the lions.H744
Dan 6:26-27
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 steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 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.
Just like Nebuchadnezzar before him, Darius made it official throughout his kingdom that the God of the Israelites was to be feared and honored. His power and majesty was to be recognized and honored. Conspicuously absent from this testimony and from the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar were the words, “God is the ONLY God”. Nebuchadnezzar never stated that, nor did Darius in their public decrees. While we’ll never know this side of judgment whether these men died righteous or not, we can know for certain that both of their lives were influenced greatly by Daniel and his unswerving faithfulness and loyal service to the one true and living God. And this influence that Daniel had on these rulers manifested itself in the providential care of God for his children in captivity in a foreign land. God may have allowed them to be carried away into captivity for their sins, but He never abandoned them, not even for a second. His divine hand was at work throughout their ordeal and they were preserved to fulfill the promise God made to Abraham and to David. And when their captivity was over and they returned to Jerusalem, they were finished with idolatry. It had been completely expunged from them.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
make: Dan 3:29, Ezr 6:8-12, Ezr 7:12, Ezr 7:13
tremble: Psa 2:11, Psa 99:1-3, Psa 119:120, Isa 66:2, Jer 10:10, Luk 12:5, Heb 12:29
for: Dan 4:34, Deu 5:26, 1Sa 17:26, 1Sa 17:36, Hos 1:10, Act 17:25, Rom 9:26, 1Th 1:9, Rev 4:10, Rev 5:14
and stedfast: Psa 93:1, Psa 93:2, Psa 146:10, Mal 3:6, Heb 6:17, Heb 6:18, Jam 1:17
and his kingdom: Dan 2:44, Dan 4:3, Dan 4:34, Dan 7:14, Dan 7:27, Psa 29:10, Psa 145:12, Psa 145:13, Isa 9:7, Mat 6:13, Luk 1:33, Rev 11:15
Reciprocal: Gen 31:29 – the God Deu 32:31 – General Jos 4:24 – all the people 1Sa 17:46 – all the earth 2Ki 5:15 – now I know 2Ki 17:25 – they feared 1Ch 29:12 – reignest over all Ezr 1:3 – he is the God Ezr 5:8 – the great God Ezr 7:14 – thy God Ezr 7:26 – whosoever Psa 10:16 – The Lord Psa 33:8 – the earth Psa 66:7 – ruleth Psa 86:10 – For Psa 96:3 – General Psa 105:1 – make known Psa 135:5 – I know Jer 5:22 – tremble Eze 6:7 – and ye Eze 36:23 – and the heathen Dan 3:28 – Blessed Joe 2:1 – let Jon 1:16 – feared Mat 16:16 – the living Act 10:2 – one Act 14:15 – the living Act 16:29 – and came 2Co 3:3 – the living 1Ti 3:15 – the living Heb 9:14 – the living Heb 12:22 – of the Rev 14:6 – every
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 6:26. Every dominion of my kingdom is explained by the comments on the preceding verse. Religion was a sLate affair with the ancient empires, hence it was in line with the rule for Darius to make the requirement set forth in this decree, though the Lord did not depend on the worldly governments to stipulate the form of worship that was to be offered to Him. The king made a specific mention of his reasons for issuing the decree which were true and very respectful,
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear {m} before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the {n} living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
(m) This does not prove that Darius worshipped God properly, or was converted: for then he would have destroyed all superstition and idolatry, and not only given God the chief place, but also have set him up, and caused him to be honoured according to his word. But this was a specific confession of God’s power, unto which he was compelled by this wonderful miracle.
(n) Who not only has life in himself, but is the only fountain of life, and quickens all things, so that without him there is no life.