Lexical Summary tevath: Ark, Basket Original Word: טְוָת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fasting (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to tavah; hunger (as twisting) -- fasting. see HEBREW tavah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to tavah Definition hungrily NASB Translation fasting (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs טְוָת adverb fastingly, hungrily (Syriac  id.; PS1465; on etymology compare SchulthHom. Wurz. 32 f.; on adverb force of f. term. תָ֯, see Nö§ 155 A, M 201 WCG 135; and compare רַבַּת Psalm 124:3); — Daniel 6:18. Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Semantic Range The term denotes pleasures brought before an ancient Near-eastern monarch to ease tension—music, storytelling, dancing, perhaps even culinary delicacies. By extension it embraces the whole idea of courtly entertainment, the “diversions” that soothe royal anxiety and bolster regal prestige. Biblical Context: Daniel 6:18 “Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.” (Daniel 6:18) 1. Immediate setting. The edict that consigned Daniel to the lions’ den has just been executed. Darius withdraws to the palace but refuses the normal consolations of his position. Royal Customs and Court Entertainment Archaeological records from Babylonia and Persia speak of musicians, singers, and female dancers retained by the court. Lists from Susa mention lyres, double-pipes, and frame drums used during nocturnal feasts. Daniel 6:18 reflects these practices: the king purposefully bans the normal troupe, emphasizing both personal penitence and respect for Daniel. Theological Significance 1. Repentant restraint. Though not portrayed as a true believer, Darius adopts behaviors that echo biblical fasting. The withheld diversions underscore genuine concern, illustrating an unbeliever’s capacity to recognize the holiness of God’s servants. Practical Ministry Reflections • Pastoral counsel. When crisis strikes, people often reach for diversions to numb pain. Darius unintentionally models a better path: turn from entertainment to contemplation, from indulgence to fasting. Christological and Eschatological Foreshadowing The king’s sleepless night outside the sealed lions’ den faintly mirrors the disciples’ grief outside the sealed tomb. Both narratives culminate in unexpected deliverance at dawn. Daniel emerges alive, anticipating the greater victory of Jesus Christ, who conquered a far more fearsome pit—death itself (1 Corinthians 15:55–57). Related Biblical Themes Fasting (Ezra 8:23); sleepless lament (Esther 6:1); frustration of worldly pleasures (Ecclesiastes 2:10–11); the futility of music in judgment (Ezekiel 26:13); the sufficiency of God’s presence over earthly comfort (Psalm 73:25–26). Summary Strong’s Hebrew 2908 captures a royal luxury deliberately set aside on the climactic night before Daniel’s vindication. The single occurrence spotlights the impotence of earthly amusements, the power of sincere fasting, and the supremacy of the sovereign God who rescues His faithful servants and, in the fullness of time, all who trust in the risen Christ. Forms and Transliterations טְוָ֔ת טות ṭə·wāṯ teVat ṭəwāṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 6:18 HEB: לְהֵֽיכְלֵהּ֙ וּבָ֣ת טְוָ֔ת וְדַחֲוָ֖ן לָא־ NAS: and spent the night fasting, and no KJV: and passed the night fasting: neither INT: to his palace the night fasting entertainment and no |
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