Daniel unus esset: et ut praesides provinciarum illis redderent rationem: et
Daniel 6
CHAPTER 6
Daniel 6:1-2 1. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
1. Placuit coram Dario, et praefecit super regnum praesides provinciarum centum et viginti, qui essent in toto regno.
2. And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
2. Et super illos essent, atque ut essent super eos, satrapae tres, quorum Daniel unus esset: et ut praesides provinciarum illis redderent rationem: et rex non pateretur damnum.
As to the translation, some translate the last clause of the second verse, "That the king should not have any trouble;" but since {,}נזקnezek, signifies "to suffer loss," I willingly adopt this sense; because the king did not escape trouble, through a desire for ease, as he might have done, being an old man, but he willingly managed his own affairs, and committed the care of them to three men, lest anything should be lost through passing through too many hands. For experience shews us how confusion is caused by a multitude. If there had been only there an hundred and twenty governors of provinces, many inconveniences must have happened, and much loss would have occurred; hence the king placed three prefects over these hundred and twenty.
Here again we may perceive how God cared for his Prophet, not so much for any private reason or through private respect, as by his aid the wretched captives and exiles should be benefited. God wished to stretch forth his hand to the Jews by means of Daniel. And we may deservedly call him God's hand in sustaining the Jews. The Persians, being barbarians, were