Daniel 6:5

5 So they finally gave up and said, "We're never going to find anything against this Daniel unless we can cook up something religious."

Daniel 6:5 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 6:5

Then said these men
To one another: we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel;
whom they speak of with great disdain and contempt, calling him this Daniel, this fellow, though in the highest post in the kingdom: except we find it against him concerning the law of his God;
about his religion; not that they thought he would be prevailed upon to break the law of his God in any respect; but they knew he was tenacious of the Jewish religion, and of all the laws, rites, and ceremonies of it; if therefore they could get an act passed, and signed by the king, which would any ways affect his religion, or any branch of it, or prohibit the performance of it for any time, they hoped to get an advantage of him, knowing that he would not on any consideration forsake or neglect that; which being said by his enemies was greatly to his honour.

Daniel 6:5 In-Context

3 But Daniel, brimming with spirit and intelligence, so completely outclassed the other vice-regents and governors that the king decided to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

4 The vice-regents and governors got together to find some old scandal or skeleton in Daniel's life that they could use against him, but they couldn't dig up anything. He was totally exemplary and trustworthy. They could find no evidence of negligence or misconduct.

5 So they finally gave up and said, "We're never going to find anything against this Daniel unless we can cook up something religious."

6 The vice-regents and governors conspired together and then went to the king and said, "King Darius, live forever!

7 We've convened your vice-regents, governors, and all your leading officials, and have agreed that the king should issue the following decree: For the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions' den.