What is the meaning of Daniel 6:1? Now it pleased Darius • Daniel has just recorded the fall of Babylon and the accession of “Darius the Mede” (Daniel 5:31). The word “Now” connects the new king’s first major act with that transition. • “It pleased” shows personal initiative, yet Proverbs 21:1 tells us, “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases”. God is quietly guiding events. • Darius’s satisfaction highlights the stability he hopes to bring after Babylon’s collapse, echoing Jeremiah 29:7, where God’s people are urged to seek the welfare of the city in which they live. to appoint 120 satraps • A “satrap” was a provincial governor. Setting up 120 of them reveals the empire’s vast reach and Darius’s determination to manage it well. – Esther 1:1 speaks of 127 provinces under Xerxes, showing a similar Persian administrative structure. – Solomon once appointed twelve district governors for Israel (1 Kings 4:7), demonstrating that orderly delegation is a time-honored biblical principle. • The specific number is literal. Scripture does not use it symbolically here; it is a straightforward historical detail that underscores the breadth of the realm. • By filling these posts, Darius establishes a chain of accountability that will soon elevate Daniel (Daniel 6:2-3). to rule throughout the kingdom • The phrase clarifies the satraps’ jurisdiction—“throughout the kingdom,” not in a corner of it. Their tasks likely included: – Maintaining law and order (Romans 13:1-4). – Collecting taxes and tribute, ensuring the king “might suffer no loss” (Daniel 6:2). – Reporting local concerns to higher officials, a forerunner of the three supervisors over them (including Daniel). • This structure makes sense politically, yet spiritually it becomes the backdrop for Daniel’s impending trial. God is positioning His servant within the very system that will test, and ultimately vindicate, his faith (Psalm 75:6-7). summary Daniel 6:1 records Darius’s deliberate choice to reorganize his new empire with 120 satraps, showing prudent governance and fulfilling God’s sovereign design. The verse demonstrates how the Lord directs earthly rulers to establish order, sets the stage for Daniel’s promotion, and prepares the setting for the famous lions’-den narrative. It reminds believers that administrative details in Scripture are never incidental; they reveal both historical fact and divine providence at work. |
    |