When Arioch
Arioch is identified as the commander of the king's guard, a position of significant authority and responsibility in the Babylonian empire. The name "Arioch" is of Akkadian origin, meaning "servant of the moon god," which reflects the polytheistic culture of Babylon. Historically, commanders like Arioch were entrusted with carrying out the king's orders, often involving life-and-death decisions. This highlights the gravity of the situation Daniel faced.

the commander of the king’s guard
The "commander of the king’s guard" was a high-ranking official responsible for the security of the king and the execution of his decrees. In the context of ancient Near Eastern monarchies, such a role was crucial for maintaining the king's power and authority. This phrase underscores the imminent danger Daniel and his companions were in, as the king's guard was tasked with executing the wise men.

had gone out to execute
The phrase "had gone out to execute" indicates the urgency and seriousness of the king's decree. The Hebrew root for "execute" conveys the idea of destruction or annihilation, emphasizing the lethal intent behind the king's command. This reflects the absolute power wielded by Babylonian kings and the precarious position of those who served them.

the wise men of Babylon
The "wise men of Babylon" were a group of scholars, astrologers, and magicians who served in the king's court. They were expected to provide counsel and interpret dreams, a common practice in ancient Mesopotamian cultures. The failure of these wise men to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream led to the king's harsh decree, setting the stage for Daniel's intervention.

Daniel replied
Daniel's response is pivotal. Despite the dire circumstances, he chooses to engage with Arioch. The Hebrew root for "replied" suggests a thoughtful and deliberate response, indicating Daniel's composure and faith. This moment marks the beginning of Daniel's demonstration of God-given wisdom and courage.

with discretion and tact
The phrase "with discretion and tact" highlights Daniel's prudent and wise approach. The Hebrew words used here convey a sense of prudence, insight, and understanding. Daniel's ability to navigate this dangerous situation with such skill is a testament to his character and reliance on God. It serves as an inspirational example of how believers can face challenges with wisdom and grace, trusting in God's guidance.

(14) Arioch.--See Note on Genesis 14:1.

Verse 14. - Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon. The text here does not seem to have differed much from the Egyptian recension, the translation of which we have in the Septuagint Version. "Then Daniel spake with the counsel and knowledge which were his to Arioch the chief executioner [ἀρχὶ μαγείρῳ, 'chief butcher,' used by Plutarch for 'chief cook'] of the king, to whom it was appointed to lead out the wise men (σοφιστὰς) of Babylonia." The text before the Septuagint translators seems to have had דילֵה (deeleh), "which to him," equivalent to "which he had." The LXX. text had פקד instead of נפק. Something may be said for this reading, as the ל of the succeeding word may have occasioned the disappearance of the ד, which might be regarded as a ל defectively written. Theodotion agrees perfectly with the Massoretic text. The Peshitta is somewhat of a paraphrase in regard to the first clause, "Then Daniel pacified and consulted, and said to Arioch the chief of the king's guard, who had gone out to slay the wise men of Babylon." It would seem as if there had been some confusion of the words here, though the meaning is not far from that of the other version. The Vulgate Version differs, "Then Daniel asked about the law and sentence (sentientia) at Arioch, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon." The slate of matters implied here reveals to us the fact that several links of the story are awanting. There seems to have been absolute secrecy as to what had taken place in the royal council-chamber, and how absolute had been the failure of the Chaldean wise men to satisfy the demands of the king. We could imagine the strange turmoil that this would have caused in the college of young cadets of the various guilds of soothsayers and augurs, had it been announced that these great heads of their various orders had failed. News may have come of the wrath of the king, and close behind the angry sentence of extirpation, passed not only on those who had been the immediate occasions of the king's wrath, but on all the gull, is of wise men in Babylon. This must have filled those who belonged to the various guilds implicated, not only with terror, but with amazement. It was next brought to them that they, though only in the lower stages of these famous guilds, were doomed to a common destruction with the past masters of the craft. That this was allowed to reach these subalterns proves that popular opinion had not gone with the fiery edict of the king. Above all, Arioch, captain "of the guard" - "of the cut-throats," as the Spanish translators have rendered it; "chief butcher," as both Theodotion and the Septuagint render his title - acts as if he is not in favour of it. lie is compelled to do the king's bidding; but he is evidently bent on going about the realtor in such a leisurely fashion that the great body of the condemned may escape. We may stay to notice that the name Arioch is a genuine Babylonian name, Eri Aku, "Servant of the moon-god." Professor Bevan declares it is borrowed from Genesis 14:1, as his title is from Genesis 37:36. It is singular that when the author's acquaintance with the earlier Scriptures was so full and accurate, he should drop into the blunders he is accused cf. In Genesis the executioner does not execute anybody; in Daniel he is represented as engaged in organizing the massacre. Daniel seems not to have waited till the terrible band of guardsmen-executioners arrived at the college where he and his friends were living, he goes direct to the chief of the band. The fact that he is not cut down immediately on his approach seems to argue that even the common guardsmen shrank from the duty imposed on them. Their horror and shrinking were perfectly natural. Let us suppose a company in a regiment of Irish Roman Catholics ordered to shoot down their own priests, and we may have some idea of the feelings of these soldiers. These augurs and soothsayers, these astrologers and magicians, had been their counsellors; they had been their intercessors with their deities. If they were all slaughtered, would not the sheer blank in their own lives be immense? There would be no one now to tell them, however falsely, of the future: no one to tell them what to do to propitiate the gods. But more, the gods might well be supposed to be enraged by the slaughter of so many of their special servants, and might be expected to pour down vengeance on the whole nation as well as on the king who had commanded it, but most of all on those who, under whatever compulsion, raised their sacrilegious hands against the priests of the holy gods. It is even not improbable that, once the immediate paroxysm of his fury had passed, Nebuchadnezzar would be appalled at what he had himself ordered, and would connive at delay, in the hope that, though late, these wise men might come to reason and tell him what he wished. Daniel seems to find no difficulty in gaining access to the presence of Arioch. There are men who have a magnetic power over their fellows, and bend every one to their way, and still gain their affection. And Daniel seems pre-eminently to have been a man of this type. Personal good looks and suave manners had their own share, but something more was needed to carry a condemned man through the ranks of guards right into the presence of their chief. This is made all the more striking when we bear in mind that preparations were being made for the great massacre.

Parallel Commentaries ...


When
בֵּאדַ֣יִן (bê·ḏa·yin)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 116: Then, thereupon

Arioch,
לְאַרְי֕וֹךְ (lə·’ar·yō·wḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 746: Arioch -- king of Ellasar

the commander
רַב־ (raḇ-)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7229: Abundant

of the king’s
מַלְכָּ֑א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

guard,
טַבָּחַיָּ֖א (ṭab·bā·ḥay·yā)
Noun - masculine plural determinate
Strong's 2877: A lifeguardsman

had gone out
נְפַ֣ק (nə·p̄aq)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5312: To go or come out or forth

to execute
לְקַטָּלָ֔ה (lə·qaṭ·ṭā·lāh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6992: To kill

the wise men
לְחַכִּימֵ֖י (lə·ḥak·kî·mê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2445: Wise, a Magian

of Babylon,
בָּבֶֽל׃ (bā·ḇel)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 895: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

Daniel
דָּנִיֵּ֗אל (dā·nî·yêl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1841: Daniel -- 'God is my judge', an Israelite leader in Babylon

replied
הֲתִיב֙ (hă·ṯîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8421: To return

with discretion
עֵטָ֣א (‘ê·ṭā)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5843: Prudence

and tact.
וּטְעֵ֔ם (ū·ṭə·‘êm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2942: Flavor, judgment, account


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OT Prophets: Daniel 2:14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel (Dan. Da Dn)