And Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two Why does he count his years? To tell you that on the day that Nebuchadnezzar entered the Heichal in the days of Jehoiachin, his adversary, Darius, was born (Seder Olam ch. 28). From the exile of Jeconiah until now were sixty-two years, and the master said: They were exiled in the days of Jehoiachin in the seventh year counting from the conquest of Jehoiakim, which is eight years after the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. There remained to Nebuchadnezzar’s reign thirty-seven years, for he reigned forty-five years, and twenty-three of Evil-merodach’s, as our Sages stated in Tractate Megillah (11b), and the two years of Belshazzar that passed, totaling sixty-two.

And over them [as translated,] and over them.

that these satraps should give them counsel that these satraps should give counsel to the three viziers.

and the king should not suffer any injury And the king should not suffer any loss in any royal matter that is incumbent upon them to perform.

this Daniel [as translated,] this Daniel.

surpassed [as translated,] surpassed.

and the king contemplated The king was thinking in his heart to set him up over all of them.

sought to find a pretext They were seeking a pretext to find about Daniel in matters of the kingdom so that they could inform on him.

No pretext can be found They said among themselves, “No pretext can be found about this Daniel.”

but we shall find [a pretext] against him but we shall find a pretext against him through the law of his God if we ask the king to issue some decree to cause him to transgress His law, and he will not fulfill the king’s command; and this is the pretext.

assembled Aram. הַרְגִּישׁוּ, they approached the king.

have taken counsel [as translated,] have taken counsel.

to preserve the king’s law to preserve the king’s law with power because you have recently ascended the throne. [Moreover], you are from another country and are in need of support.

make any request [as translated,] make any request.

except from you, O King [as translated,] except from you, O King.

into a pit of lions into the pit where the king’s lions were [kept].

you shall issue a decree lit. you shall put up this decree.

that will not be amended that will not be amended, like the law of Media and Persia.

which will not be repealed which will not pass.

when he knew and when he found out.

where there were open windows in his upper chamber Aram. בְּעִלִּיתֵהּ, in his upper story.

opposite Jerusalem toward the side of the Temple, and although it was in ruins, he did as Solomon said (I Kings 8:48): “and pray to You toward their land.”

and three times the evening prayer, the morning prayer and the afternoon prayer.

kneeled on his knees [as translated,] kneeled on his knees.

as he had done prior to this just as all that he had done before this.

searched Aram. הַרְגִישּׁוּ, tapped and searched.

concerning the king’s decree concerning the infraction of the king’s decree, about which they had come to inform.

the thing is true [as translated,] the thing is true.

did not pay heed to you, O king He did not pay heed or counsel to care about your decrees.

he offers up his prayer Aram. בָּעֵא בָּעוּתֵה, he prays his prayer.

when...heard the thing [as translated,] when he heard the thing.

he became very displeased It was very bad in his eyes because he loved Daniel, and his death would be painful to him.

and he gave Daniel a reprieve to save him He gave Daniel a reprieve to push off the matter to save him, and he said to them, “I don’t believe you.”

a reprieve Aram. בָּל. I do not know of any word like it, but its context shows its meaning.

and until sunset and until sunset he tried to save him, but when the time of his prayer arrived, he prayed his prayer, and the king had no longer had a pretext to save him.

that the king establishes What the king decrees and ratifies, no man can alter.

And a stone was brought lit. and one stone was brought. Throughout the entire land of Babylon there are no stones but bricks, as it is written: (Gen 11:3): “Let us make bricks.” We learn that there are no stones in Babylon, but for the occasion, angels brought it [a stone] from the land of Israel. If God stipulated with the Creation on the sea that it should split for the Children of Israel, and on the fire that it cool off for Hananiah and his colleagues, and on the lions that they should not hurt Daniel, He did not stipulate about casting stones or weapons that they should not hurt any man. So the king said, “From the lions I cannot take him away. I shall be careful with him that no man hurt him, and if the miracle comes, let it come.” This does not appear in some editions.

and placed on the mouth of the pit [as translated,] and placed on the mouth of the pit.

with his signet ring with his signet ring so that no one could move it from its place and cast stones upon him to kill him.

that his will about Daniel not be altered so that his will should not be changed; i.e., so that they should not harm him against his [the king’s] will.

and retired while fasting [as translated,] and retired while fasting.

table Aram. וְּדַּחֲוָן, and a table, in the Mishnah (Tosefta Kelim, B.M. 5:1). So did Dunash explain (p. 58). They did not bring before him a table upon which to eat.

and his sleep wandered from him [as translated,] his sleep wandered.

at dawn Aram. בִּשְׁפַרְפָרָה, at the rise of dawn, and there are many [examples of this] in Targum Jonathan.

arose to the light of morning He arose at the light of morning, not after three hours, like other kings.

and in haste went to the pit of the lions [as translated,] and in haste went to the pit of the lions.

I have done no harm No unseemly or false act have I committed.

it pleased...exceedingly It was very good in his eyes.

and...Daniel and he ordered that Daniel be lifted up out of the pit.

because he believed in his God [as translated,] because he believed in his God.

who had informed on Daniel [as translated,] who had informed on Daniel.

and they did not reach the bottom of the pit They did not reach the bottom of the pit before the lions overwhelmed them and crushed their bones to powder.

Then King Darius...that lived in all the land, May your peace increase! [as translated,] that lived in all the land, May your peace increase!

and in the kingdom of Cyrus who reigned after Darius, for Darius reigned only one year, and he was slain in battle, as it is written in the book of Joseph ben Gurion, and they crowned Cyrus his son- in-law in the midst of the battle.