| |
 arius
was sixty-two years old when he led the Medo-Persian army to
victory in the city of Babylon (Dan. 5:30-31). He had been born
in 601 B.C., the son of Ahasruerus (Dan. 9:1), when Daniel and
his friends were teenagers. In the cuneiform texts, Darius is
known as Gubaru I. Archaeology has revealed that Gubaru I -
Daniel’s Darius - was the general who led the Medo-Persians
to victory over Babylon. After the victory he remained in Babylon
and became the governor of the city and was responsible for
establishing the administration of the Medo-Persian empire.
The cuneiform texts say that he died one year after his glorious
victory. When the Babylonian Empire was defeated in 539 B.C.,
Daniel was in his eighties. Yet, he desired to help this younger
man. What a wonderful saint Daniel was!
Position
and Power.
There must have been excitement among the Medo-Persians over
the long, hard fought victory. But scripture does not give us
any details of the conquest, the victory celebration, Daniel’s
rise to a position of authority, or Darius’ religious beliefs.
God is only interested in challenging us with several examples
of the spiritual character of His servant Daniel. But chapter
six starts by telling us that Daniel was back in a leadership
position, but this time he is with the Medo-Persian Empire.
| |
It
seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the
kingdom, that they should be in charge of the whole
kingdom, and over them three commissioners (of whom
Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable
to them, and that the king might not suffer loss. (NASB)
Dan. 6:1-2 |
 |
We
discover that Daniel and two other unknown commissioners were
given oversight over one hundred and twenty satraps. That is
a lot of responsibility. Many have disputed this number by citing
the ancient writer Herodotus, but other ancient historians provide
information that support the statements of Daniel.
Satraps and
Commissioners.
The satraps had responsibility for managing the different provinces
and various levels of government throughout the kingdom. They
had responsibility for collecting taxes, sending recruits to
Babylon for the army, and suppressing crime. |
|
