13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
15 He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
Why was Daniel left out of the council of wise men that came before the king?
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It is apparent that Daniel did not know about the decree right away. This also tells us that Daniel was not with the ‘wise men’ when they went before the king; otherwise, he would have know about the decree that Nebuchadnezzar put forth.
Looking at Daniel 2:1, we are told that Nebuchadnezzar had this dream during his second year of his reign. Nebuchadnezzar took the throne after the founder and first king, Nabopolassar, of the Neo-Babylonian Empire died in 605BC.
Nebuchadnezzar took the throne in 605BC and reigned for 43 years, the longest reigning king in the Chaldean dynasty (August 605BC – October 562BC). So, the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign would be 603. Now, the desolation of the Temple in Jerusalem did not take place in a single great destruction, but covered a number of years. This period began in 605BC when Daniel and his companions were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. This also was the time when the first vessels were taken from the Temple to Babylon to be placed in their Babylonian temples (Dan. 1:1-2). The final destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem occurred in 586BC, after three years of being besieged. This is when Nebuchadnezzar burnt the Temple, carried away the utensils of gold, silver, and brass; and transported most of the people left in the city to Babylon (2 Kings 25:8-17).
Daniel and his companions were place in the Babylonian education system for three years. So, if we do the math then we find that Daniel was still in his three years of training when Nebuchadnezzar had his dream that occurred in the second year of his reign as king.
We are also told that after their three years of training they were brought before the king (Dan. 1:5), and at that time the king knew Daniel had understanding in all visions and dream and found them ten times wiser (Dan. 1:17-21).
With all this said, now we understand why Daniel and the Bible says, “As for these four children, god gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dream” (1:17). So, this dream must have happened before the three years was over. God is all wise in how he sets up this situation.
This is how we can know why Daniel was not in the ‘wise men’s’ council, and why he did not know about the death decree. However, this did not make him exempt from the death decree.
God is all wise in how he sets up this situation. Daniel was not with the wise men for it would have been possible for the wise men to take credit for the interpretation that Daniel provided. The wise men failed miserably, that they are destined to die. Also, the Babylonian gods fail miserably. It is only after this scenario does God give Daniel the dream and its interpretation, so He (God) is exalted as the omniscience God. Click here for more information on the omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence attributes of God.
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Why do you think that Daniel did not get upset or excited about the news of the death decree?
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Daniel does not get upset or excited about the crisis that the finds himself in. He is thinking, what is God working out through this situation. We should be as confident in God as Daniel. There is no need in becoming overwhelmed for we can trust that God has this perfectly figured out. The wise men thought that the trial was going to destroy and kill them, but Daniel was not so. He knew that God had a plan and the timing was perfect for his plan, so there is no need to get anxious but to go to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). Also, Daniel does not approach this situation alone, he had community and he solicits the help of his friends: Hananiah (Shadrack), Mishael (Meshack), and Azariah (Abednego). What doe they do? They pray, It is a good thing to have a support system (Matt. 18:20).
We need to go to God and give him the burdens that we have, and give him those burdens in prayer. As we step into that experience, we are going to find that in our weakness, we become strong to face the trial before us. Also, the prayer is going to transform us. There is a transforming power, a transforming influence that prayer has and we see it in the chapters of Daniel.
Why did Nebuchadnezzar grant Daniel more time, when he would not do the same for his own wise men?
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Daniel not only asked the king for more time but also stated that he would show the him the interpretation. Daniel does not come up with any lame excuse, but is confident that the dream and its interpretation will be revealed by God. He has a personal experience with God and is confident in His might and power.
Remember, Daniel already had the experience of God’s deliverance in a trial when he was taken captive and was presented with the food of the kings table. He trusted God and purposed in his heart to be faithful to God, when he asked Melzar for ten days of a vegan diet. The results were amazing, the Hebrew boys had a bright outlook with mental clarity (countenance), and more physically fit with enhanced vigor (fatter in flesh) than the other boys that ate from the king’s table.
In contrast, the wise men’s approach was to demean Nebuchadnezzar’s request in telling him that his demand was unrealistic, no one could do such a thing except the gods who did not have a relationship with mankind.
Obviously, Nebuchadnezzar was taken by Daniel and his approach to the dilemma. In response, Nebuchadnezzar granted Daniel’s request.
So, we can trust that as we pray and rely on God for all things; He will grow us in like manner. Jesus came and entered into life’s trials with us and for us. He knows how to deliver us, as we are told, He not only wants to deliver us, but he wants us to help one another for deliverance. Iron sharpens iron, so they saying goes.
Why did Daniel and his companions request ‘not to perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon’?
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Even in Daniel’s experience there is a need for growth. All of us are selfish to the core in the way we think sometimes, in the way we respond sometimes, and in the way that we interact. A lot of the times our motive is tainted with an element of selfishness which needs to be purified. This is where God comes in and navigates us through a sanctifying journey. He directs our path in life. The more we see Jesus, the more we see our condition and our need of Him. Daniel goes into this prayer meeting with his companions, and his prayer is sincere, good and honest; but it is a prayer to ‘save me, save us’ from their fate. Of course, God wants to do that, but God wants to do more – He wants to save ‘all’ of them. As we will see, when Daniel comes out of this prayer time he is requesting that the wise men be not destroyed. A shift occurred during his time with God. In fact, he goes from praying that they not perish with the wise men to requesting that the wise men not be destroyed to giving Nebuchadnezzar bad news about his kingdom.
When we spend time with God things change, our perspective changes. The ‘them and us’ spirit vanquishes and a corporate spirit arises…’do not destroy the wise men of Babylon – bring me in’. That mindset is a of reflection of Christ. Daniel sees the anger of the king who is ready to slay anyone, and Daniel is willing to risk himself for the good of the whole. As we will see, Daniel goes before the king and offers to help him with his situation. Daniel is making intercession for the transgressors…
This is exactly what we see in the life of Jesus. He came down from heaven to interceded on our behalf. Isaiah 53 speaks to Christ’s great sacrifice for us, and part of the imagery that we garner from the passages is that He bears our sins, our iniquities and says in verse six that we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has gone their own way, meaning the whole world needs a Savior. God laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all, then in verse twelve it says,
“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
There is a powerful message in this story. When Nebuchadnezzar had this dream and his mind was troubled and he could not sleep (2:1). In contrast, Daniel is faced with a death decree, and what does he do? He prays to God, and then goes to sleep. He has confidence that the situation is in His hands and Daniel is at peace. This is what prayer and communion with God should bring. How many of us could sleep with that kind of news? While sleeping, Daniel has a vision and the dream and interpretation is revealed to him.