Bible Commentaries
Daniel 6

Verse 1

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

It pleased Darius. — Chald., Pulchrum fuit coram Dario. Order, he knew, must be observed, or the kingdom could not continue; himself also was old, and needed assistants. It was honour and work enough for him illos iudicare quos constituit iudices aliorum to appoint others to judge also - as Petr. Blesensis saith that our Henry II did - to judge those whom he had made judges of others. The great Turk doth so to this day, whence few of his grandees, his viziers especially, or chief officers, die in their beds.

An hundred and twenty princes. — For his one hundred and twenty provinces, which afterward came to be one hundred and twenty-seven. Esther 1:1 Monarchs will ever be adding.

Verse 2

And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

And over these three presidents. — Triumviros sive tres rationales. Three to whom the rest should audit and be accountable.

And the king should have no damage. — In his rights and in his revenues, which were, saith Herodotus, yearly fourteen thousand five hundred and threescore Euboian talents, raised out of the several satrapies.

Verse 3

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents. — Chald., He became a conqueror over those exarchs; so that he might have been called, as Charles the Great once was, Pater orbis, the world’s father; or as Titus, Orbis deliciae, the world’s darling; or as Otho III, Mirabilia mundi, the world’s wonder. He was indeed no less, and that Darius well found by him. Whether he took him with him into Medea, as Jerome, out of Josephus, relateth, I have not to say; if he did, it seemeth that after the death of Darius he returned again to Babylon, and there served King Cyrus. Daniel 6:28

Because an excellent spirit was in him. — Not only of prophecy, but of prudence, justice, zeal, and other virtues, which, if a governor lack, he is as a sun without light, a bird without wings, a master of a ship without a helm, …

And the king thought to set him over the whole realm. — Thus dignity waiteth upon desert, and envy upon dignity, which made David love his hook the better after he had seen the court; and Daniel was never fond of this great preferment, whereby, for his own particular, he got nothing, nisi ut turbatior viveret, occupatior interiret, as he said, but vanity and vexation of spirit. High seats are never but uneasy; neither want there those who are lifting at them, and labouring to overturn them. Feriunt summos fulmina montes.

Verse 4

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Then the presidents and princes sought. — Chald., Were seeking; they made it their business so to do. Envious men are always in excubiis, set in their watch, to observe where they may fasten their fangs, and do most mischief. See Proverbs 27:4 . See Trapp on " Proverbs 27:4 "

But they could find none occasion. — His innocence thrattled their envy, and made them, since they could not come at his heart, to feed upon their own.

Nor fault. — Neque in facto, nec in signo; and yet they waited for his halting, as Psalms 38:16-17 and watched as eagerly for it as a dog doth for a bone. A blameless behaviour disappointeth malice, and maketh it drink up the most part of its own venom.

Forasmuch as he was faithful. — Homo quadratus; a square-dealing man, and such as against whom lay no just exception. Homo virtuti simillimus, as Paterculus saith of Cato Major, A man as like Virtue herself as could be possible.

Verse 5

Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find [it] against him concerning the law of his God.

Then said these men. — But whatsoever they said, Daniel said, Ego sic vivam ut nemo eis credat, My life shall be a real refutation of their lies.

Against this Daniel. — This was the best language they could afford him. So, "Behold this dreamer," said Joseph’s brethren, and "This fellow," said the Pharisees of Christ, and "This pest," said they of Paul, that most precious man upon earth. In envy is steeped the venom of all other vices.

Except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. — Whereof Daniel was both a strict observer in himself, and a zealous preserver in others. Religion, then, was the quarrel, and all the fault they could find with him - Novum crimen Gaius Caesar, … - and yet no new accusation either. The first man that ever died, died for religion, and still, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus" (if they will needs do it, and be set upon it), "shall suffer persecution."

“ Omnia eum liceant, nen licet esse pium ”

Verse 6

Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king. — Or, Thronged tumultuously, as resolved to have that they came for. James and John, from the word here used, are called, Filii fremitus sive fragoris, Sons of thunder. Mark 3:17 It seemeth these men came to the king with a bustle and a rattle, to frighten him into a consent to their motion.

King Darius, live for ever. — This was to sprinkle him with court holy water, as they say.

Verse 7

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

All the presidents of the kingdom. — Not all either, for Daniel would sooner have died a thousand deaths than have voted such a gross impiety; but he was one of the most, that knew least of the council, and it was he against whom, haec cudebatur faba, this plot was laid, though it proved at last to be against themselves.

The governors, and the princes, the counsellors and the captains. — A rabble of rebels, conspiring against heaven. Non numeranda aunt suffragia, sed expendenda.

To establish a royal statute. — But a very irreligious and injurious one, the like whereunto was that prohibition in France of Henry III, that it should not be lawful for householders to pray with their families; Polan. in locum. and that of the Jesuits at Dolce, forbidding the common people to say anything at all of God, either in good sort or in bad. Heyl. Geog.

That whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man. — What, not of their own gods? nor yet of Cyrus, who was co-partner with Darius in the kingdom? But, like enough, these conspiritors might think hereby the rather to ingratiate with the old dotard Darius, who feared the virtue and valour of his nephew and colleague, Cyrus, and would say with tears, as Xenophon reporteth, that Cyrus was more glorious than he, and had more applause of the people.

Verse 8

Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

Now, O king, establish the decree. — Confirm it, that it may receive the force of law.

According to the law of the Medes and Persians, that altereth not. — This was too much to be given to any law made by man, so mutable a creature. I have read of a people whose laws lasted in force but for three days at utmost; this was a fault in the other extreme. The Persians’ laws were therefore irrepealable, because they worshipped truth for a goddess, to whom inconstancy and change must needs be opposite and odious. But this was no good reason either, unless the law makers shall be supposed such as cannot err, nor will anything unjust, which can be truly attributed to none but God only.

Verse 9

Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

Wherefore king Darius signed the writing. — As well enough content to be so dignified, yea, deified. So was Alexander, the Great; Antiochus, Yεος ; Herod; Domitian; Dominus Deus noster, Papa: Vah scelus! our Lord God, the pope, Ah wickedness.

Verse 10

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed. — Which he knew not, belike, till it was proclaimed and published; and then, it may be, he did as much against it as Latimer did here in like case, by writing his mind unto King Henry VIII, after the proclamation for abolishing English books. See his letter in the Book of Martyrs, and marvel at his heroic boldness and stoutness; who as yet being no bishop, so freely and fearlessly adventuring his life to discharge his conscience, dared so boldly to so mighty a prince, in such a dangerous case, against the king’s law and proclamation, set out in such a terrible time, take upon him to write and to admonish that which no counsellor dared once speak unto him in defence of Christ’s gospel. Acts and Mon., 1591.

He went into his house. — He left the court, as no fit air for piety to breathe in, and got home, where he might more freely and comfortably converse with his God. Exeat aula qui velit esse pius. Tutissimus est qui rarissime cum hominibus, plurimum cum Deo colloquitur, saith a good divine - that is, he is safest who speaketh seldom with men, but oft with God.

And his windows being open in his chamber. — This was his wont, belike, at other times; and now he would not break it, to the scandal of the weak, and the scorn of the wicked, who watched him, and would have charged him with dissimulation, should he have done otherwise. Say not therefore, what needed he thus to have thrust himself into observation? could he not have kept his conscience to himself, and used his devotions in more secrecy? Our political professors and neuter passives indeed could and would have done so. But as Basil answered once to him that blamed him for venturing too far for his friend, Non aliter amare didici, I never learned to love any otherwise; so might good Daniel here have done, his zeal for God would not suffer him to temporise, or play on both hands. It shall well appear to his greatest enemies that he is true to his principles, and no flincher from his religion. His three companions were alike resolved, Daniel 3:16-18 and Paul, Acts 21:13 and Luther, when to appear at Worms, and many more that might here be mentioned.

Toward Jerusalem. — For the which he was now a petitioner, since "the time to favour her, yea, the set time was come." Psalms 102:13 There also some time had stood the temple, not without a promise of audience to prayers made in or toward that holy place, 1 Kings 8:43 which also was a type of Christ, …

He kneeled upon his knees. — Constantine the Great, as Eusebius telleth us, would have this as his portraiture - a man on his knees praying; to show that that was his usual practice and posture.

Three times a day. — At morning, noon, and night: thus constantly, beside other times also upon emergent occasions. All the power and policy of Persia could not keep God and Daniel asunder, no, not for a few days: Philippians 3:20 Ephesians 2:19 it is a part of our πολιτευμα , our city employment or spiritual trading with God, to pray; and if prayer stand still, the whole trade of godliness standeth still too. Clean Christians, therefore, typed by those clean beasts in the law, Leviticus 11:3 must rightly part the hoof, rightly divide their time, giving a due share thereof to either of their callings as Daniel did; sanctifying both by prayer, and at hours of best leisure. Psalms 55:17

And prayed, and gave thanks before his God. — Chald., Confessed; either his sins, that he might get pardon thereof; or else God’s benefits, the glory whereof he thankfully returned unto him. Prayers and praises are like the double motion of the lungs. "Let every breath praise the Lord."

As he did aforetime. — An excellent custom doubtless and most worthy to be kept up:

“ Pαλλας δη φιλιας απροσηγορια διελυσε ” Arist. Ethic., lib. viii. cap. 5.

Verse 11

Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

Then these men assembled. — But for ill purpose: as did also our Saviour’s enemies, Luke 22:6 and Stephen’s, Acts 6:9-15 the Popish counsels. At Rome they have a meeting weekly de propaganda fide, for the propagating of the Romish religion, and abolishing of heresy, as they call it.

And found Daniel praying. — The sun shall sooner stand still in heaven, than Daniel give over to pray to his Father in heaven.

Verse 12

Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing [is] true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

Hast thou not signed a decree? — But should "wickedness be established by a law?" Psalms 94:20 See on Daniel 6:7 . So in France there was published an edict whereby the people were forbidden on pain of death to have in their houses any French book wherein the least mention was made of Jesus Christ. Dr Arrowsmith’s Tact. Sacr., p. 89.

Verse 13

Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

That Daniel. — He was principal president, and deserved a better attribution than that Daniel. But ill-will never speaketh well of any.

Which is of the captivity. — This also is terminus diminuent - q.d., This royal slave, whom thou hast preferred above us all, and hast moreover some thoughts to set him over the whole realm. Daniel 6:3 New men shall be much spited. It was therefore no ill counsel,

“ Fortunam reverenter habe quicunque repente

Dives ab exili progrediere loco. ” - Auson.

Regardeth not thee, O king. — Chald., Putteth no respect on thee. This is common, falsely to accuse God’s most faithful servants as antimagistratical, because they refuse to obey unlawful and impious decrees.

But maketh his petition three times a day. — They say not to whom he made it, which might have helped him greatly; for the king might conceive that he made it to some other man. It is an evil office to omit such circumstances as may help the accused. 2 Samuel 16:3

Verse 14

Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself. — As good reason he had; but Sero inquit Nero. Now he found himself circumvented by his wily flatterers; but why was he such an Epimetheus or after wise?

And set his heart on Daniel. — But all too late. Leo casibus irretitus dixit, Si praescivissem. The fool’s ‘Had-I-wist’ should be carefully prevented. To disavow the willing of Daniel’s death, and to lay the blame upon his counsellors, is a poor shift of a weak prince.

And laboured till the going down of the sun. — Alleging reasons for Daniel’s deliverance; as that he was a loyal subject, an excellent ruler; that the decree was fraudulently wrung from the king, upon pretence of finding out false hearted subjects; that it was maliciously wrested to the ruin of a fight patriot, … But no reason will rule unreasonable and absurd men ( Aτοποι ), as they are called, 2 Thessalonians 3:2 , men that have no topics, nor will hear of any, as the word there signifieth.

Verse 15

Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

Then thase men assembled unto the king. — Or, Kept a stir with the king, from Psalms 2:1 . Congregaverunt se supra regem. Doubtless, saith Broughton, Daniel’s spirit thought of David his father’s terms. a So Daniel 6:6 . They came cluttering about the king.

Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians, … — This he knew as well as they; but they press him to do accordingly. So did those Ignatian Boutefeans in Germany, who, in the year 1582, cast abroad this bloody distich:

“ Utere iure tuo, Cesar, sectamque Lutheri

Ense, rota, ponto, funibus, igne neca. ”

a [i.e., Thought of his father David’s expressions in Ps. ii.; "Why do the heathen tumultuously assemble": see marginal reading. —

Verse 16

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel. — Besides and against his conscience, Rex regendum se praebet impiis nebulonibus, the king yieldeth to the importunity of these wretched malignants, and condemneth an innocent. See Matthew 27:24 . This maketh Calvin conclude ne micam quidem pietatis fuisse in hoc rege, that there was no goodness at all in this king.

And cast him into the den of lions. — So little assurance of a continued felicity is there to any prince’s favourite; witness Joab, Abner, Haman, Callisthenes, Sejanus, Ruffinus, Eutropius, Stilico, Alvarez de Luna, who told those that admired his fortune and favour with the king of Castile, You do wrong to commend the building before it be finished.

Now the king spake and said unto Danial. — Many oppressing landlords, saith one, are like Darius, that prayed God to help Daniel, but yet sent him to the lions’ den. How many friends at a sneeze have we today? saith another. The most you can get from them is, God bless you, Christ help you.

Verse 17

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den. — To make all sure, as they thought, and that there might be no privite dealings with the keepers for Daniel’s deliverance. But God had a holy hand in it, for the greater manifestation of the miracle.

And the king sealed it. — Ne, videlicet, alia perimeretur morte ab insidiatoribus, saith one, lest the conspirators, understanding that the lions did not meddle with him, should some way else despatch him, as the persecutors dealt by some of the martyrs,

That the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. — The Latin interpreter hath it, Lest anything should be done against Daniel. He feared not the lions so much as the men, saith the ordinary gloss there.

Verse 18

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. — As good reason he had, for the love and loss of such a counsellor, whom he had unwittingly betrayed, but wittingly condemned, and now he is self-condemned for so doing. His conscience was perplexed for his injustice, so that he careth neither for food nor music.

Verse 19

Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

Then the king arose very early in the morning. — He had lain all night on a bed of thorns, through trouble of mind, and was glad to get up, especially since sleep (the parenthesis of men’s griefs and cares) was quite gone from him.

And went in haste. — Chald., With perturbation.

Unto the den of lions. — Quo venit Leo, et liberavit leonem de ore leonis Galatin., lib. v. cap. 8. (say the Jewish doctors by a kind of riddle), whither came God, and delivered this Coeur-de-lion out of the mouth of the lions.

Verse 20

And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice. — With a piteous distressed voice: far otherwise than did Daniel, Daniel 6:21 who chose rather to be cast into the den of lions than to carry about a lion in his bosom, an enraged conscience, as did Darius here, and afterwards Theodoricus, king of Italy, who had caused Boetius and Symmachus to be unjustly beheaded, but carried the horror of it to his grave. How good is it, therefore, to keep the bird in the bosom always singing as Daniel did, and as those primitive Christians, who chose rather ad leonem proieci quam ad lenonem, Tertul. to be thrown to lions without than to be left to lusts within, such fleshly lusts as war against the soul, 1 Peter 2:11 against the peace of it principally.

Is thy God, whom thou servest continually. — A far deal better than did Cardinal Wolsey, who yet, when he came in a morning out of his privy chamber, most commonly heard two masses; and whatever business he had in the daytime (when he was Lord Chancellor), he would not go to bed with any part of his service unsaid, no, not so much as one collect. The Life and Death of Cardinal Wolsey, p. 18. Nevertheless, when he was sent for up by Henry VIII to be put into the Tower, he bewailed himself, and said that if he had been as careful to serve God as he ever was to please the king, it would have been much better with him. To be a "servant of the living God" Semetipsam detestatus est quod Regi potius quam Deo placere studuisset. - Scult. is an argument of safety. Daniel 3:17 Psalms 143:12

Verse 21

Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

O king, live for ever. — Daniel doth not curse the king (as some impatient spirits would have done, and as some think the damned in hell do God), but wisheth him a long and happy life, voto amabili. He useth the ordinary form, but with a better mind. His wish of the king’s welfare was non in labris nature sed in fibris, it was from the heart, it was a holy prayer.

Verse 22

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

My God hath sent his angel. — Glad to be employed for the safety and service of the saints, Hebrews 1:14 whence it is that these heavenly courtiers delight more in their names of ministry (as angels, watchers, …), than of dignity, as principalities, thrones, …

And hath shut the lions’ mouths. — Though they were savage and hunger starved, yet Daniel was kept from the paws and jaws of these many fierce and fell lions by the power of God through faith. Hebrews 11:33 How the angel stopped the lions’ mouths, whether by the brightness of his presence, or threatening them with his finger, Numbers 22:27 ; Numbers 22:33 or by making a rumble among them like that of an empty cart upon the stones, or by presenting unto them a light fire (which things lions are said to be terrified with), Aristot.; Plin. or by causing in them a satiety, or by working upon their fantasy, …, we need not inquire. The Lord well knoweth how to deliver his, 2 Peter 2:9 and, one way or other, will not fail to do it. Psalms 34:19 Archimedes, the great mathematician, was slain by a common soldier who was sent for him, notwithstanding that Marcellus, the Roman general, had given charge that he should be spared. The temple at Jerusalem was burnt, though Titus the emperor had commanded the contrary. When one told the Duke of Parma that he had shot Sir Philip Sidney, instead of a reward, he cursed him for killing so incomparable a man, of whom, though an enemy, he heartily wished that he had been preserved. All that are dear to God are sure to be protected; he will rather work miracles than they shall be forsaken. Jonah 2:10

And also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. — Though I have not obeyed thine edict, to the wounding of my conscience. It was therefore an unadvised speech of Philip, king of Spain, who said that he had rather have no subjects than Protestant subjects; and out of a blind bloody zeal he suffered his eldest son Charles to be murdered by the cruel Inquisition, because he seemed to favour the Lutherans. How well might this young prince have said, as here, "Against thee, O king, have I done no hurt."

Verse 23

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

And commanded that they should take Daniel up ant of the den. — Pull him up with cords, as they did Jeremiah in like case. Jeremiah 38:11-13

So Daniel was taken up out of the den. — A lively type of Christ’s resurrection from the pit. Mos priscus Christianorum fuit ut in suis sepulchris inter alia resurrectonis symbola Danielem in lacu inter leones stantem sculperent. - A Lapide in loc. So was Joseph taken from prison, and made lord of Egypt; Samson breaking the bars, and carrying away the gates of Gaza; David, so oft oppressed by Saul, and yet exalted to the kingdom; Jonah, his being drawn out of many waters. Matthew 12:39

Because he believed in his God. — Of such force is faith, of such power is prayer; for it may well be thought that he prayed hard (with David, Psalms 22:21 ), "Save me from the lion’s mouth, so will I declare thy name unto my brethren." The prayer of faith shall save the afflicted; and questionless justifying faith is not beneath miraculous in the sphere of its own activity, and where it hath the warrant of God’s Word. Let such as desire a special providence believe, wait, and walk uprightly. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Verse 24

And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel. — Chald., Which had accused accusations against Daniel. Now they shall lick of the same whip, and find, to their small comfort, the truth of that divine proverb, "Whoso diggeth a pit, shall fall therein," η δε κακη βουλη τω βουλευσαντι κακιστη . - Hesiod. … Proverbs 26:27 See Ecclesiastes 10:8 Psalms 7:16 . See Trapp on " Ecclesiastes 10:8 " See Trapp on " Psalms 7:16 "

They cast them into the den of lions. — A just and proper punishment, yet not executed without too much severity, as some think, because their wives and children were cast in with them. But for that, others say that as these were part of their goods, so, by consent at least, they were partakers of their crimes, and therefore justly perished with them.

And the lions had the mastery, … — It is a much more "fearful thing to fall into the" punishing "hands of the living God" Hebrews 10:31 Such shall have the cauls of their hearts torn in sunder, … Oh "consider this, ye that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces," … Psalms 50:22

Verse 25

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

Then king Darius wrote. — See on Daniel 4:1 .

Verse 26

I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.

I make a decree. — It is the honour of princes to make laws for the maintenance of religion. 2 Chronicles 30:4-5

And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. — Daniel’s dialect touching Christ and his kingdom. Daniel 2:44 ; Daniel 7:14 ; Daniel 7:27 By conversing with that good man, Darius had learned something, as those that walk much in the sun are apt to be tanned and discoloured.

Verse 27

He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

He delivereth and rescueth. — By this and the foregoing verse it may be evidently seen that Darius was acquainted with Nebuchadnezzar’s two dreams, and affected with them.

Verse 28

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

So this Daniel prospered. — And still solicited the Church’s cause.

And in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. — Under whom he affronted the counsellors hired against the returned Jews. Ezra 4:5 ; cf. Ezra 10:1 ; cf. Ezra 10:3 He lived also under Cambyses, but was out of credit with that rakeshame. One who covers himself with shame; an ill-behaved, disorderly, or dissolute fellow. ŒD