Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents
and
princes
Not only above the princes, but the presidents, being the first
of them, as before: or, "he was victorious above them"
F25; he got more credit and applause
than they did, being more exact, diligent, and laborious,
faithful, and conscientious: because an excellent spirit
was in him;
meaning not a spirit of grace, piety, and religion, which the
Heathen king was no judge of, nor valued him for it, though it
was in him; but a spirit of knowledge of civil affairs, and of
prudence in managing them, and of integrity throughout the whole
of his conduct: and the king thought to set him over the
whole realm;
or, "wherefore the king thought" F26; because there was such a
spirit in him, which so qualified him for public business, he
began to think of abolishing his triumvirate of presidents, and
making Daniel his viceroy over the whole empire, which very
probably they had got some knowledge of; and this, as well as
being above them, drew the envy of them on him, and put them upon
the following scheme.
F25 (xuntm) "victorem se gerebat", Piscator, Michaelis.
F26 (aklmw) "ideo rex", Gejerus, Michaelis.
