the people for whom his book was written. That Daniel is the writer of
this book is also testified to in the book itself (7:1, 28; 8:2; 9:2; 10:1, 2;
12:4, 5). (See BELSHAZZAR.)
- DAN-JAAN woodland Dan, a place probably somewhere in the direction
of Dan, near the sources of the Jordan (2 Samuel 24:6). The LXX. and the
Vulgate read “Dan-ja’ar”, i.e., “Dan in the forest.” - DANNAH murmuring, a city (Joshua 15:49) in the mountains of Judah
about 8 miles south-west of Hebron. - DARDA pearl of wisdom, one of the four who were noted for their
wisdom, but whom Solomon excelled (1 Kings 4:31). - DARIC in the Revised Version of 1 Chronicles 29:7; Ezra 2:69; 8:27;
Nehemiah 7:70-72, where the Authorized Version has “dram.” It is the
rendering of the Hebrew darkemon and the Greek dareikos. It was a gold
coin, bearing the figure of a Persian King with his crown and armed with
bow and arrow. It was current among the Jews after their return from
Babylon, i.e., while under the Persian domination. It weighed about 128
grains troy, and was of the value of about one guinea or rather more of our
money. It is the first coin mentioned in Scripture, and is the oldest that
history makes known to us. - DARIUS the holder or supporter, the name of several Persian kings. (1.)
Darius the Mede (Daniel 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 (Daniel 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
“Astyages” of the Greek historians. Nothing can, however, be with
certainty affirmed regarding him. Some are of opinion that the name
“Darius” is simply a name of office, equivalent to “governor,” and that the
“Gobryas” of the inscriptions was the person intended by the name.
(2.) Darius, king of Persia, was the son of Hystaspes, of the royal family
of the Achaemenidae. He did not immediately succeed Cyrus on the
throne. There were two intermediate kings, viz., Cambyses (the Ahasuerus
of Ezra), the son of Cyrus, who reigned from B.C. 529-522, and was