Daniel 2:49

Then Daniel requested of the king,.... Being in his favour, he improved it to the advantage of his friends, whom he did not forget in his elevated state; but made suit to the king for them to be put

Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

He substituted them as lieutenants for the king’ s service, under Daniel, which, as the curious observe, was chiefly about agriculture, and gathering revenues and provisions for the court; but Daniel was as privy counsellor and lord chamberlain, about arduous affairs of the king and kingdom, sitting sometimes in judgment, and also admitting and conducting persons and causes to the king, as there was need, to whom there was difficult access, according to the magnificence and majesty of the kings of the East. Thus Daniel sat in the king’ s gate, to be near and ready for the king’ s chiefest business; and it notes honour, also high favour; but especially we must look upon Daniel’ s promotion to be for the service and protection of his brethren in their present state of captivity, as Mordecai was, which shows that God doth remember his people in their low estate, and doth not leave himself without witness to them, in raising up nursing-fathers for them.

Daniel 2:49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel [sat] in the gate of the king.Ver. 49. Then Daniel requested of the king.] Acquainting him likely that by their prayers also in part the secret had been brought to knowledge. But Daniel sat in the gate of the king.] As chief admissional, so the civilians call it, without whose leave and licenee none might come into the king’ s presence. Himself meanwhile had an excellent opportunity of treating with the king upon all occasions of such things as concerned the Church’ s good; and this privilege no question but he improved to the utmost.

(49) Over the affairs.—Compare Nehemiah 2:16; Esther 3:9. These holy children, it appears from this verse, were satraps, under Daniel’s supervision. Gate of the king.—Compare Esther 3:2, &c. Daniel was of higher rank than his three friends, and was therefore admitted into the inner part of the palace.

Verse 49. Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon] He wished his three companions promoted, who had shared his anxieties, and helped him by their prayers. They all had places of trust, in which they could do much good, and prevent much evil. Daniel sat in the gate of the king.] That is, was the chief officer in the palace; and the greatest confidant and counsellor of the king. But whatever his influence and that of his friends was, it extended only over the province of Babylon; not through the empire. A DISCOURSE ON NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM, Daniel 2:41-45. I shall now consider this most important vision more at large, and connect it with a portion of the previous history of the Jewish people. The kingdoms of Israel and Judah after a series of the most unparalleled ingratitude and rebellion, against displays of mercy and benevolence, only equalled by their rebellions, were at last, according to repeated threatenings, given over into the hands of their enemies. The inhabitants of the former country were subdued and carried away captives by the Assyrians; and those of the latter, by the Chaldeans. The people of Israel never recovered their ancient territories; and were so disposed of by their conquerors, that they either became amalgamated with the heathen nations, so as to be utterly undistinguishable; or they were transported to some foreign and recluse place of settlement, that the land of their residence, though repeatedly sought for and guessed at, has for more than two thousand years been totally unknown. Judah, after having been harassed by the Chaldeans, Egyptians, and others, was at last invaded by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; Jerusalem besieged and taken; and Jehoiachin the king, who had before become tributary to the Babylonians, with his mother, wives, officers of state, and chief military commanders, princes, and mighty men of valour, to the amount of ten thousand; and all the artificers, smiths, c., to the number of one thousand, with all that were fit for war, he carried captives to Babylon leaving only the poorest of the people behind, under the government of Mattaniah, son of the late king Josiah, and uncle to Jehoiachin; and, having changed his name to Zedekiah, gave him a nominal authority as king over the wretched remains of the people. Zedekiah, after having reigned nine years, rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who, coming against Jerusalem with all his forces, besieged it; and having reduced it to the last extremity by famine, and made a breach in the walls, took the city, pillaged and destroyed the temple by fire, slew the sons of Zedekiah before his face, then put out his eyes, and carried him bound in brazen fetters to Babylon, 2 Kings, 2Kg 24, 2Kg 25.

49. At Daniel’s request, his three companions are transferred from the ranks of those who ‘stood before the king’ (Daniel 1:19) to positions of authority over the ‘business of the province of Babylon,’—i.e., probably, to act as deputies or assistants to Daniel himself. Daniel’s motive in making this request may have been either simply the promotion of his three friends, or (Hitz., Keil, Meinh.) that he himself might be relieved of duties necessitating his absence from Nebuchadnezzar’s court. but Daniel was in the gate of the king] at the main entrance to the palace; fig. for, he remained at court (Sept. ἐντῇβασιλικῇαὐλῇ). Cf. Esther 2:19; Esther 2:21, where it is said that Mordecai ‘sat in the king’s gate’ (cf. Daniel 3:2-3, Daniel 4:2; Daniel 4:6, Daniel 5:9; Daniel 5:13, Daniel 6:10; Daniel 6:12); and Xen. Cyrop. viii. i. 6 (cf. Hdt. iii. 120), where this is said to have been the usual custom with the officials of the Persian court. The verse is apparently written in view of chap. 3 (see Daniel 2:3 end, 12). Additional Note on ‘Excellent’ and ‘Excellency’The following synopsis of the occurrences of these words in A.V., R.V., and in the P.B. Version of the Psalms, may illustrate and support what is said above with regard to their meaning in these versions. Excellency stands for ιֶ ?ϊֶ ?ψ superiority: A.V., R.V. Genesis 49:3; A.V. Job 4:21; and in ‘have the excellency’ for δεϊιψ to shew superiority, Genesis 49:4 R.V. ιϊψεο superiority: A.V., R.V. Ecclesiastes 7:12. βΰεο majesty, fig. glory, pride: A.V., R.V. Exodus 15:7, Psalms 47:4, Isaiah 60:15, Amos 6:8 (R.V. marg. pride), Daniel 8:7, Nahum 2:2; A.V. Job 37:4 (R.V. majesty), Isaiah 13:10 (R.V. glory), Ezekiel 24:21 (R.V. pride); R.V. Job 40:10. βΰεδ majesty: A.V., R.V. Deuteronomy 33:26; Deuteronomy 33:29, Psalms 68:34. ωׂ ?ΰϊ uprising, loftiness, dignity: A.V., R.V. Job 13:11, Psalms 62:4; R.V. Job 31:23. ωׂ ?ιΰ loftiness, dignity: A.V., R.V. Job 20:6. βαδּ height, fig. loftiness: A.V. Job 40:10 (R.V. dignity). ιχψ preciousness, fig. beauty: R.V. Psalms 37:20[213]. [213] Used here in its weakened modern sense.δγψ glory, splendour: A.V., R.V. Isaiah 35:2 (bis). ὑπεροχὴ superiority: A.V., R.V. 1 Corinthians 2:1. ὑπερβολὴ excess: A.V. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (R.V. exceeding greatness). τὸὑπερέχον the surpassingness: A.V., R.V. Philippians 3:8. ἀρετὴ virtue: R.V. 1 Peter 2:9[214]. [214] Used here in its weakened modern sense.And excellent is used for βγεμδ greatness: A.V., R.V. Esther 1:4 (lit. the majesty of his greatness). ωׂ ?βιΰ great: A.V., R.V. Job 37:23. ΰγιψ grand, glorious (Isaiah 33:21), noble (Judges 5:13): P.B.V., A.V., R.V. Psalms 8:1; Psalms 8:9; A.V., R.V. Psalms 16:3; Psalms 76:4. ιχψ precious: P.B.V., A.V. Psalms 36:7 (R.V. precious); A.V. Proverbs 17:27 (following the Qrκ: R.V. follows the K’tib). μξςμδ upwards (paraphrased): P.B.V. Psalms 74:6 (based on Seb. Mόnster’s rendering, ad sublime aliquid). πλαγ glorious: P.B.V. Psalms 87:2. πωׂ ?βα exalted: P.B.V. Psalms 139:5 (A.V., R.V. high); P.B.V., A.V. Psalms 148:12 [A.V. 13] (R.V. exalted). ψΰωׁ head, fig. top, chiefness: A.V. Psalms 141:5 (lit. oil of chiefness). ψα abundance: P.B.V., A.V., R.V. Psalms 150:2 (lit. the abundance of his greatness).

Then Daniel requested of the king ... - In his own remarkable prosperity, and in the extraordinary honors conferred on him, he did not forget the companions of his humbler days.

48, 49. If this means that Daniel was really appointed viceroy, or shalit, of the province and official head (rab?) of the order of Magi, he must very soon have lost that position (Daniel 2:13),