Now when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed
This he knew, either by the relation of others, or by the public
proclamation of it through the city; however, he did not know of
it till it was signed, or otherwise he might have prevented it by
applying to the king, in whom he had great interest; but, now the
thing was done, he did not solicit the abrogation of it, knowing
it was in vain; nor did he go to the king with complaints against
his enemies, showing the design they had in it; but let things
take their own course, he being determined to be found in his
duty, be it as it would: he went into his
house:
he left the court at the proper time of prayer, and went to his
own house to perform it; he did not, in defiance of this law, go
to prayer in the court, or in the streets, but retired home, as
he was used to do: and his windows being
opened;
not to be seen of men, but that he might have a clear view of the
heavens, where his God dwelt, to whom he prayed, and be the more
affected with the consideration of his greatness and glory:
in his chamber toward Jerusalem;
it was not in the lower part of the house, nor on the top of the
house, in either of which he might be more easily seen; but in
his chamber, where he was wont to retire, the windows of which
were opened "towards Jerusalem"; not towards the king's palace,
as if he prayed to him, and so eluded the decree; nor towards the
east, as the Heathens did; but towards Jerusalem, which lay to
the south of Babylon; and that, either because of his remembrance
of that city, his affection to it, and concern for its
re-edification; or having some respect to the words of Solomon, (
1 Kings
8:33 ) ; and so, according to the Jewish writers, it was the
custom of their people. Ben Gersom, on the above place, says,
that though they did not pray within the temple, yet they prayed,
turning themselves towards it, as much as possibly they could;
and even when it was destroyed, as now, yet they in praying
turned to the place where it had stood, as Saadiah, Aben Ezra,
and Jarchi observe: and chiefly Daniel did this, because the
temple was a type of Christ, through whom the persons and prayers
of the saints are acceptable unto God: he kneeled upon his
knees three times a day, and prayed;
kneeling is a prayer gesture, a token of reverence and humility;
this was done three times a day, morning, noon, and evening; see
( Psalms
55:17 ) , in the morning, before he went out about the king's
business; at noon, when he returned home to dinner; and at
evening, when all his work was done, and he was about to retire
to bed; the hours of prayer with the Jews seem to have been the
third, sixth, and ninth; that is, at nine in the morning, twelve
at noon, and three in the afternoon; see ( Acts 2:1 Acts 2:15 ) ( 3:1 ) ( 10:9 ) : and gave
thanks before his God;
for the benefits he daily received from him; or he "confessed
before him" F4; the sins he had been guilty of, and
owned the favours he partook of: as he aforetime
did;
as it had been his custom from his youth upward, and therefore
would not omit it now, on account of this edict.
F4 (adwm) "confitebatur", V. L. Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Calvin, Cocceius.