Book of Daniel - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 906

DANIEL. 6-·21

6-s

3 all the Government.! But over them were three Premiere of whom Daniel was the Chief, to whome the Viceroys IO II were to give accounts, so that the King might not suffer loss. W32 §i¤i against Qmrizl. Daniel, however, himself was ap-

pointed the Premier over the Sena- tors, because he had an enlightened mind, and the King set him over the whole Empire. The superintendents and Viceroys consequently looked out to find something against Daniel in reference to his administration. But they were unable. to find an error or fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault could be found about him. These men consequently said; Wetshall not tincl anything wrong

against Daniel, unless it is found in These Superintendents and Vieeroys there- fore approached the King and said thus to him, ‘King Dariush, may you live for

ever! All the Superintendents, Governors, and Viceroys, Counsel- lors, and Deputies, of the Empire have consulted together to pass a Royal Decree, and to proclaim an edict, that any one who may seek a request from any God or Man for thirty days,-·except from yourself, King,——shall be Hung into the Den of Lions! Therefore, King, confirm the Interdict, and sign the record, so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be abolished. The King Dariush accordingly con- firmed the Interdict. But although Daniel knew the

Record was signed, he went to his house, and opened the window of his chamber towards jerusalem, and

1 No’1·x:.—-·Ch. 6, v. 2. This shows that the

Medo-Persian rule was, at least originally, a Federal, or Constitutional Commonwealth, with Darius as Imperial President, Cyrus as Vlce·President, and an Oligarchic, or prob· ably an Elected Parliament of 127 leading men as Legislators, for by the subsequent history of Daniel it is Tuite clear that Darius or Cyrus, as individua s had no legislative , but only administrative functions in the New Empire. These facts should be borne in mind, for the ignorance of them by the Old Translators, and all commentators, has intro- duced wild confusion and error into the study of the Historical Scriptures-error that has been seized greedily b the assailants of revelation to attack our &ith.·-· F. F. kneeling thrice a day on his knees, he prayed and gave thanks, as he had done formerly to GOD. These men 12 then visited him and found Daniel asking and entreating of GOD as formerly. They consequently ap- proached and asked the King, about the Interdict. ‘ Did you not sign an Interdict

against any person who should ask anything from any God or Man, for thirty days ?—except, King, from you, that they should be thrown into the Den of Lions I did

establish that, according to the law of the Modes and Persians that alters Then they responded and said to the

That Daniel, who is one of the sons of the Captives, does not regard you, King, or the Interdict that you signed, but prays three times a day, making his requests! When, however, the King heard this

statement he was exceedingly dis- turbed over it, and set his heart to deliver Daniel, and exerted himself till the departure of the sun, to rescue him. Those men however pressed on to the King, and said to the King, ‘You know, King, the Law of the Medes and Persians, that any Inter- dict or Decree confirmed by the King cannot be altered. 15

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So they flung him into the Den of Lions. The King, however, addressed

Your GOD, Whom you constantly serve, will deliver They then placed a large stone at

the mouth of the Den, and the King sealed it with his seal, and his Nobles also sealed it, so that the trap might not be opened for Daniel. Then the King returned to his palace, and sat down fasting, and did not permit food to be brought before him, and sleep fied from him. The King conse- quently rose at early dawn, and went in anxiety to the Lions’ Den ; and when he approached to the Den, he called in an agonized voice to Daniel. The King addressed him and said, ‘Daniel! Daniel! servant of the Lrvmc Gon! Has the Gon Whom you serve continually been able to deliver you from the Lions ?’ @06 x8` 2C 21