GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
DANIEL 2:13-16
Click to listen to this devotion.
13 So the decree was sent out to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. 14 Daniel spoke with wisdom and tact to Arioch, the commander of the king’s executioners, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 15 Daniel asked Arioch the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
Let’s address some questions:
1, Why were Daniel and his companions ignorant of the king’s decree? The simplest answer here is the one I have espoused all along, that at this time, according to the first verse of this chapter, Daniel and the others had not yet completed their training, and therefore they were not among those who were summoned before the king when his rage boiled over. But when those who had not been in attendance were sought out, some on account of errands, or distance, or illness, or retirement, were nevertheless searched out to be put to death, the students were also subject to the same punishment.
2, How was Daniel able to have an audience with the king when he was under the threat of death? Here the disposition of the man in charge of these young Jewish men might have been a factor (although he is not mentioned in this chapter), or we can accept that the king, a few days or weeks after he made his decision, had perhaps cooled down enough to speak with someone. But it is far more likely that the Lord God softened Nebuchadnezzar’s heart to Daniel. The later, Persian practice of “grasping the king’s scepter” (see Esther 4:11) was the practice of Artaxerxes but not Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian. Daniel would have had to be announced by name, but this was the role of Arioch the chief executioner.
3, Is the name Arioch (verse 14) a Babylonian name? No, but it is the name of an ancient Mesopotamian king (Genesis 14:1,9) at the time of Abraham. However, not everyone who served the Babylonians were themselves Babylonians. While Daniel and his friends received new names, some of them (such as Meshach) were not very far from their former names. This name also turns up once in the Apocrypha (Judith 1:6) as the name of a king or prince.
4, Did Arioch already have blood on his sword? That is, had the executions already begun when Daniel was confronted? Verse 13 only says that the decree had gone out, and not that any of the wise men had yet been put to death. So while there is a remote possibility that the killing has begun, Nebuchadnezzar seems like the sort of king who would want a record kept, and who might also want to see the executions himself. So we can take these verses to mean that the collection of the astrologers and the others had begun, but not the executions themselves.
Daniel spoke to the hatchet man with wisdom and tact. He did not complain about the news, but simply asked about the circumstances. Then it occurred to him that while the king had made such a demand of his wise men and astrologers, Daniel himself had not been consulted or asked. All that Daniel asked for was a little time so that he could do what the king asked. Wisdom and good judgment dwell together, as do knowledge and foresight (Proverbs 1:4; 8:12). Daniel was equally concerned with saving his own life and also helping the king. Perhaps that second element did not occur to the others.
In fact, by keeping calm under such a severe decree and controlling his own emotions while surely being shocked by the king’s turn toward anger, Daniel shows that his faith was at work. Here is a fine illustration of Paul’s words, “The peace of God with surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Daniel’s approach to the king was to do nothing but humbly ask for his own attempt at answering the king’s question. None of the astrologers had done that. They only complained that it was impossible. Daniel says, in effect, “Give me a moment, O king.” He pays Nebuchadnezzar respect and honor. He does not contradict the king, but only asks the favor of being allowed to consider the question. I think that it is right to say that we do not have the whole conversation here, for just as we only speculate that Arioch the hatchet man brought Daniel to the king, so also we have no account of the usual introductions and blessings that we normally see; only the briefest statement that Daniel “asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.” Isn’t it certain that Daniel would also have asked for a night to pray to the Lord his God, who alone answers questions and gives the interpretation of dreams? This is how he will answer the king in the morning (2:27-28).
The courage of this man stands out as the courage that the gospel gives. And while Daniel is not mentioned by name in the list of heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, his actions are, for he was surely one of “the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned into strength” (Hebrews 11:33-34). May God give each of us the strength and courage of Daniel as we face troubles and challenges in our lives. And may he give us wisdom to speak to those who need to hear the gospel of Jesus, of the forgiveness of sins, and of life forever in heaven.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Listen or watch Bible classes online. https://splnewulm.org/invisible-church/
Archives at St Paul’s Lutheran Church https://splnewulm.org/daily-devotions/ and Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: www.wlchapel.org/connect-grow/ministries/adults/daily-devotions/gwfy-archive/2025
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota
God’s Word for You – Daniel 2:13-16 The news reaches Daniel