Identity of Darius in Daniel Nine
Darius, a name meaning "the holder or supporter" [3] or "he that informs himself" [1], appears in the Book of Daniel, most notably in Daniel 9:1, where he is identified as "Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans" [2]. This figure is commonly referred to as Darius the Mede to distinguish him from other Persian kings named Darius [3, 8].
The biblical text places Darius the Mede's reign immediately after the fall of Babylon, stating that he "received the kingdom" following the death of Belshazzar the Chaldean [3, 5]. Daniel 5:31 explicitly states, "And Darius the Mede took the kingdom" [7]. During his brief rule, approximately 538-536 BCE, Daniel was elevated to a high position, but due to the machinations of his adversaries, he was cast into a den of lions. Following Daniel's miraculous deliverance, Darius issued a decree commanding reverence for Daniel's God [3].
The identity of Darius the Mede has been a subject of scholarly discussion. Many commentators identify him with Cyaxares II, who was the son and successor of Astyages [6, 9]. The Jewish scholar Rashi notes that this Darius is not the Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther, who reigned much later and was a Persian king, but rather Darius the Mede who took the Chaldean kingdom [7, 8]. Some sources suggest that "Ahasuerus" was a name common to many kings [6], and that the Ahasuerus mentioned as Darius's father in Daniel 9:1 is the same as Astyages, king of the Medes [8].
While Cyrus the Great was the primary leader in the conquest of Babylon, some interpretations suggest that the events were carried out in the name of Darius, who was a viceroy from Cyrus [3, 9]. Herodotus, a Greek historian, does not mention Darius in this context, which some attribute to Darius being a "weak and sensual" king who ceded authority to Cyrus [9].
The name "Darius" itself was a royal title, meaning "Lord-King," and was applied to several Medo-Persian kings [11]. Other individuals bearing this name include Darius Hystaspes, in whose reign the decree for rebuilding the temple was carried out (Ezra 4:5; Haggai 1:1), and Darius Codomanus, whom Alexander the Great conquered [11]. However, the Darius in Daniel 9:1 is specifically identified as "Darius the Mede" [4, 8]. The prophet Daniel's prayer and vision of the seventy weeks occur in the first year of this Darius's reign [6, 10].
Sources
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Darius — he that informs himself”
- Daniel “Daniel 9:1 (BSB) — In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Darius — The holder or supporter, the name of several Persian kings. (1.) Darius the Mede (Dan. 11:1), "the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes" (9:1). On the death of Belshazzar the Chaldean he "received the kingdom" of Babylon as viceroy from Cyrus. During his brief reign (B.C. 538-536) Daniel was promoted to the highest dignity (Dan. 6:1, 2); but on account of the malice of his enemies he was cast into the den of lions. After his miraculous escape, a decree was issued by Darius enjoining "reverence for the God of Daniel" (6:26). This king was probably the "”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Median, The — Darius, "the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes," (Daniel 9:1) or "the Mede," ch. (Daniel 11:1) is thus denoted in (Daniel 5:31)”
- Daniel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Daniel 9:1: In the first year on Darius - This is the same Darius the Mede, spoken of before, who succeeded Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans. See Dan 5:31.”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 9 (introduction): DANIEL'S CONFESSION AND PRAYER FOR JERUSALEM: GABRIEL COMFORTS HIM BY THE PROPHECY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS. (Dan. 9:1-27) first year of Darius--Cyaxares II, in whose name Cyrus, his nephew, son-in-law, and successor, took Babylon, 538 B.C. The date of this chapter is therefore 537 B.C., a year before Cyrus permitted the Jews to return from exile, and sixty-nine years after Daniel had been carried captive at the beginning of the captivity, 606 B.C. son of Ahasuerus--called Astyages by XENOPHON. Ahasuerus was a name common to many of the king”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Daniel 9:1: In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus This is not the Ahasuerus of the days of Haman, for he was the king of Persia, whereas this one was Darius the Mede who was crowned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans when Belshazzar was slain, as is written above (6:1): “And Darius the Mede took (sic) the kingdom.””
- Daniel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Daniel 9:1: In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes,.... This is the same with Darius the Median, that took the kingdom after the death of Belshazzar; so called, to distinguish him from Darius the Persian; and yet Porphyry has the gall to assert that this was Darius the Persian, under whom the temple was built, that Daniel might appear to live later than he did: Ahasuerus, whose son he was, is not he that was the husband of Esther, and was many years later than this; but the same with Astyages king of the Medes, and who is called Ahasuerus, in th”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 5:31: Darius the Median--that is Cyaxares II, the son and successor of Astyages, 569-536 B.C. Though Koresh, or Cyrus, was leader of the assault, yet all was done in the name of Darius; therefore, he alone is mentioned here; but Dan 6:28 shows Daniel was not ignorant of Cyrus' share in the capture of Babylon. Isa 13:17; Isa 21:2, confirm Daniel in making the Medes the leading nation in destroying Babylon. So also Jer 51:11, Jer 51:28. HERODOTUS, on the other hand, omits mentioning Darius, as that king, being weak and sensual, gave up all the authority to his”
- Daniel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Daniel 9 (introduction): The Seventy Weeks In the first year of Darius the Median, Daniel, by a diligent study of the prophecies of Jeremiah as to the number of years during which Jerusalem must lie desolate (Dan 9:1, Dan 9:2), was led to pour forth a penitential prayer, in which he acknowledges the justice of the divine chastisement which hung over Israel on account of their sins, and entreats the mercy of God in behalf of his people (vv. 3-19). In consequence of this prayer, the angel Gabriel (Dan 9:20-23) must pass over his people and the holy city before the consummatio”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 6 (introduction): DARIUS' DECREE: DANIEL'S DISOBEDIENCE, AND CONSEQUENT EXPOSURE TO THE LION'S: HIS DELIVERANCE BY GOD, AND DARIUS' DECREE. (Dan. 6:1-28) Darius--GROTEFEND has read it in the cuneiform inscriptions at Persepolis, as Darheush, that is, "Lord-King," a name applied to many of the Medo-Persian kings in common. Three of that name occur: Darius Hystaspes, 521 B.C., in whose reign the decree was carried into effect for rebuilding the temple (Ezr 4:5; Hag 1:1); Darius Codomanus, 336 B.C., whom Alexander overcame, called "the Persian" (Neh 12:22), an”