Page 1234 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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DECEMBER 1
it; TEKEL: You have been weighed in the bal-
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ances, and found wanting; PERES: Your king-
dom has been divided, and given to the Medes
and Persians.” Then Belshazzar gave the 6:3 an excellent spirit. Daniel, over 80, had
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command, and they clothed Daniel with pur- enjoyed God’s blessing throughout his life
ple and put a chain of gold around his neck, (1:20,21; 2:49; 4:8; 5:12). over the whole
and made a proclamation concerning him that realm. Daniel was the favorite of the king. He
he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. had experience, wisdom, a sense of history,
leadership, a good reputation, ability, attitude,
and revelation from the God of heaven.
Apparently, God wanted him in the place of
influence to encourage and assist in the Jews’
5:25–29 MENE, MENE. This means “counted” return to Judah, since the return was made in
or “appointed” and is doubled for stronger Cyrus’s first year (539–537 B.C.), right before
emphasis. Tekel means “weighed”or “assessed” the lions’den incident.From the record of Ezra
by the God who weighs actions (1 Sam.2:3; Ps. 1 and 6, all the basic elements of the return
62:9).Peres denotes “divided,”i.e., to the Medes appear: 1) the temple was to be rebuilt with
and Persians. Pharsin in v. 25 is the plural of the cost paid from Cyrus’s treasury; 2) all Jews
peres, possibly emphasizing the parts in the who visited could return, and those who
division.The “U” prefix on pharsin has the idea stayed were urged to assist financially; and 3)
of the English “and.” the gold and silver vessels stolen from the
temple by Nebuchadnezzar were to be taken
back. To account for such favor toward the
30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Jews,it is easy to think of Daniel not only influ-
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Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede encing Cyrus to write such a decree, but even
received the kingdom, being about sixty-two formulating it for him.
years old.
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom
6 one hundred and twenty satraps, to be 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing
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over the whole kingdom; and over these, was signed, he went home. And in his upper
three governors, of whom Daniel was one, room, with his windows open toward Jerusa-
that the satraps might give account to them, lem, he knelt down on his knees three times
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so that the king would suffer no loss. Then that day, and prayed and gave thanks before
this Daniel distinguished himself above the his God, as was his custom since early days.
governors and satraps, because an excellent 11 Then these men assembled and found
spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to Daniel praying and making supplication
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setting him over the whole realm. So the gov- before his God. And they went before the
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ernors and satraps sought to find some charge king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree:
against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but “Have you not signed a decree that every man
they could find no charge or fault, because he who petitions any god or man within thirty
was faithful; nor was there any error or fault days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the
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found in him. Then these men said, “We shall den of lions?”
not find any charge against this Daniel unless The king answered and said, “The thing is
we find it against him concerning the law of true, according to the law of the Medes and
his God.” Persians, which does not alter.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged 13 So they answered and said before the king,
before the king, and said thus to him: “King “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from
Darius, live forever! All the governors of the Judah, does not show due regard for you, O
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kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the king, or for the decree that you have signed,
counselors and advisors, have consulted but makes his petition three times a day.”
together to establish a royal statute and to 14 And the king, when he heard these words,
make a firm decree, that whoever petitions was greatly displeased with himself, and set
any god or man for thirty days, except you, O his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he la-
king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, bored till the going down of the sun to deliver
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O king, establish the decree and sign the writ- him. Then these men approached the king,
ing, so that it cannot be changed, according to and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is
the law of the Medes and Persians, which does the law of the Medes and Persians that no
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not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the decree or statute which the king establishes
written decree. may be changed.”
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