6:1 Darius. This Darius should not be confused with the later Persian emperor, Darius the Great. The Darius in Daniel was evidently one of the greatest generals in the armies of the emperor Cyrus, and was known in secular history as Gobryas. As conqueror of Babylon, he was given great responsibility over much of Babylonia.

6:2 Daniel was first. Daniel had been a prominent and respected leader in Babylon for most of Nebuchadnezzar’s forty-year reign. Belshazzar was slain by the Chaldeans about twenty-two years later, and Darius had no doubt been informed about Daniel’s interpretation of the handwriting on the wall. He soon recognized Daniel’s unique abilities and rewarded him with a very high position. Daniel was probably over eighty years of age by this time.