Study Desk

^(F1)It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom,

and over them, three commissioners (of whom ^(C1)Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not ^(F1)suffer ^(C2)loss.

Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself ^(F1)among the commissioners and satraps because ^(F2)he possessed an ^(C1)extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the ^(C2)entire kingdom.

Then the commissioners and satraps began ^(C1)trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding ^(F1)government affairs; but they could find ^(C2)no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the ^(C1)law of his God."

Then these commissioners and satraps came ^(F1)by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: "King Darius, ^(C1)live forever!

"All the ^(C1)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have ^(C2)consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall ^(C3)be thrown into the lions' ^(F1)den.