Daniel 6:18

KJV

¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {H116} the king {H4430} went {H236} to his palace {H1965}, and passed the night {H956} fasting {H2908}: neither {H3809} were instruments {H1761} of musick brought {H5954} before {H6925} him: and his sleep {H8139} went {H5075} from him {H5922}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the king returned to his palace. He spent the night fasting and refusing to be entertained, as sleep eluded him.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

American Standard Version

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 6:18 profoundly illustrates the deep personal anguish and desperate hope of King Darius following Daniel's forced committal to the lions' den. Bound by the unalterable law of the Medes and Persians, which he had been tragically manipulated into enacting, Darius expresses his profound distress through a night of fasting, the rejection of all royal entertainment, and a complete loss of sleep, all indicative of his fervent, albeit anxious, anticipation of divine intervention on Daniel's behalf.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the dramatic events of Daniel's condemnation. Having been tricked by jealous satraps and administrators into signing an irrevocable decree forbidding prayer to any god or man except the king for thirty days, Darius finds himself in an impossible bind. Despite his genuine affection and high regard for Daniel, the unchangeable nature of Persian law (as highlighted in [Daniel 6:15](/daniel/6-15 "Daniel 6:15 - The Unchangeable Law of the Medes and Persians")) compels him to cast Daniel into the lions' den. This verse, therefore, serves as a poignant interlude, capturing the king's personal agony and powerlessness in the face of an irreversible legal decree, setting the stage for the miraculous deliverance recounted in the subsequent verses.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Achaemenid Persian Empire, under which Darius ruled, was renowned for the immutability of its laws. Once a decree was signed by the king and sealed, it could not be altered or revoked, even by the monarch himself. This legal rigidity, though intended to ensure stability and justice, here becomes a source of immense personal torment for Darius. Culturally, fasting was a common practice in the ancient Near East during times of deep mourning, repentance, or intense supplication, often accompanied by the cessation of all forms of entertainment, including music. For a king, whose life was typically filled with luxury and diversion, the deliberate abstention from "instruments of musick" and the inability to sleep underscore an extraordinary level of personal grief and anxiety, far beyond mere political inconvenience.
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 6:18 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Daniel. It powerfully illustrates the **limitation of human power** even for an absolute monarch, juxtaposed against the **unlimited sovereignty of God**. Darius, despite his royal authority, is utterly helpless to save Daniel, highlighting that ultimate control rests with a higher power. The king's distress also underscores the theme of **divine faithfulness and vindication**, as his anxious night implicitly anticipates God's intervention, a hope he had expressed directly to Daniel in [Daniel 6:16](/daniel/6-16 "Daniel 6:16 - Darius's Hope in God"). Furthermore, the verse subtly points to the **impact of a righteous life** on those around, as Daniel's integrity and God's favor upon him elicit profound concern even from a pagan king, ultimately leading to Darius's recognition of the Most High God in [Daniel 6:20](/daniel/6-20 "Daniel 6:20 - Darius's Anxious Call to Daniel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **fasting (Aramaic, _ṭᵉvâth'_):** (H2908) This Aramaic term, derived from a root meaning "to twist," vividly conveys the physical sensation of hunger, here used to describe a state of complete abstinence from food. For King Darius, this was not a religious ritual but a profound expression of personal anguish, intense worry, and desperate supplication for Daniel's safety, indicating a deep level of distress that superseded all physical comforts.
* **instruments of musick (Aramaic, _dachăvâh'_):** (H1761) This word, likely referring to a type of musical instrument that is struck, symbolizes the cessation of all royal entertainment and diversion. For a king, music and festivities were customary elements of daily life and courtly pleasure. Their absence underscores Darius's profound sorrow and inability to find solace or distraction, signifying that his mind was entirely consumed by Daniel's perilous situation.
* **sleep (Aramaic, _shᵉnâh'_):** (H8139) This Aramaic term directly translates to "sleep." The statement that "his sleep went from him" is a powerful idiom for extreme anxiety and mental agitation. It signifies that Darius's worry was so overwhelming that he was unable to find rest, his mind incessantly troubled by the fate of his esteemed servant, Daniel, and the unchangeable law that sealed his fate.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the king went to his palace":** This clause sets the scene, depicting Darius retreating to his private quarters after the traumatic event of Daniel being cast into the lions' den. His palace, typically a place of comfort and security, becomes a place of profound distress.
* **"and passed the night fasting":** This describes Darius's immediate and deliberate act of abstaining from food. This was not a routine practice but an extraordinary measure, signaling his deep personal sorrow, regret over Daniel's plight, and perhaps an unspoken plea to whatever divine power might intervene.
* **"neither were instruments of musick brought before him":** This detail further emphasizes the king's profound grief and disquiet. Royal courts were typically vibrant with music and entertainment. The deliberate absence of these diversions highlights that Darius was in no mood for pleasure; his mind was entirely consumed by Daniel's fate, indicating a complete withdrawal from the usual comforts of his position.
* **"and his sleep went from him":** This final clause vividly portrays the king's intense mental and emotional turmoil. His inability to sleep underscores the depth of his anxiety and preoccupation. His mind was restless, consumed by the events of the day and the desperate hope for Daniel's miraculous deliverance.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey King Darius's profound distress. **Hyperbole** is evident in the description of his sleeplessness and complete abstinence from royal pleasures, emphasizing the extreme nature of his anguish. The actions of fasting and rejecting music function as powerful **Symbolism**, representing not just personal sorrow but also a desperate, unspoken supplication in the face of an impossible situation. Furthermore, the verse implicitly uses **Juxtaposition** by contrasting the king's immense temporal power with his utter personal helplessness against the unchangeable law, highlighting the limits of human authority when confronted with an immutable decree and the potential for divine intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
King Darius's night of anguish in Daniel 6:18 serves as a poignant illustration of human limitation and the profound impact of God's faithful servants on those around them, even those in positions of immense secular power. His distress, marked by fasting, the absence of music, and sleeplessness, mirrors the biblical pattern of deep lament and earnest supplication in times of crisis. It highlights that true peace is not found in worldly comforts or authority, but often eludes those burdened by immense responsibility and a sense of powerlessness, pointing to the ultimate peace found only in God's sovereign control. This desperate night foreshadows the glorious morning when God's power would be undeniably displayed, transforming the king's despair into astonished praise.

* [Esther 6:1](/esther/6-1 "Esther 6:1 - King Ahasuerus's Sleepless Night")
* [Psalm 42:3](/psalm/42-3 "Psalm 42:3 - Tears as Food, Sleeplessness")
* [Matthew 6:16](/matthew/6-16 "Matthew 6:16 - Fasting in Secret")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 6:18 offers a powerful reminder that even those in the highest echelons of power are not immune to profound personal anguish, helplessness, and the weight of decisions. King Darius, despite his vast empire, found himself utterly powerless to alter a law he had unwittingly enacted, leading to a night of torment. This humanizes leadership, showing that genuine concern for others, especially the righteous, can profoundly affect even the most powerful. For believers, this verse encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty even when circumstances seem dire and beyond human control. Darius's distress, while rooted in regret, also contained a flicker of hope in Daniel's God, anticipating a miraculous outcome. It illustrates how the consistent faith and integrity of God's people can lead even unbelievers to acknowledge, however implicitly, the reality of divine power and the need for divine intervention. When we face situations where our own resources and authority are insufficient, this narrative calls us to a similar posture of desperate hope and reliance on God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when I feel utterly powerless in a difficult situation?**
* **In what ways does my concern for others manifest, especially when they are facing injustice or suffering for their faith?**
* **What does Darius's sleepless night teach me about the nature of true peace, and where do I seek it?**
* **How does Daniel's unwavering faith, even in the face of death, influence the people around him, including King Darius?**

### FAQ

**Why was King Darius so distressed?**

Answer: King Darius was profoundly distressed because he had been tricked into signing an irrevocable decree that led to his beloved and trusted servant, Daniel, being cast into the lions' den. Despite his immense royal power, the law of the Medes and Persians was unchangeable, meaning he could not reverse his own decree to save Daniel (as seen in [Daniel 6:15](/daniel/6-15 "Daniel 6:15 - The Unchangeable Law of the Medes and Persians")). His distress was a mix of regret, helplessness, and genuine concern for Daniel, whom he recognized as a man of integrity and favored by God.

**What is the significance of "instruments of musick" not being brought before him?**

Answer: The absence of "instruments of musick" (or other forms of royal entertainment) is highly significant. For a king, music and festivities were customary parts of daily life, symbolizing joy, prosperity, and the king's ease. Darius's rejection of these diversions underscores the depth of his anguish and preoccupation. He was too consumed by worry and sorrow over Daniel's fate to find comfort or distraction in the usual royal pleasures. This detail vividly portrays his profound personal suffering and the complete cessation of all normal courtly activities due to his distress.

**Does this verse show Darius's faith in Daniel's God?**

Answer: While Daniel 6:18 doesn't explicitly state Darius's full conversion, it strongly implies a desperate hope and nascent acknowledgment of Daniel's God. Earlier, in [Daniel 6:16](/daniel/6-16 "Daniel 6:16 - Darius's Hope in God"), Darius had told Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." His actions in Daniel 6:18—fasting, rejecting comfort, and sleeplessness—are not merely signs of regret but also of anxious anticipation and perhaps a form of desperate supplication to the God he hoped would intervene. His behavior reflects a recognition that Daniel's God was powerful enough to deliver him, even if Darius himself was powerless. This ultimately culminates in Darius's decree acknowledging and praising the God of Daniel in [Daniel 6:26-27](/daniel/6-26 "Daniel 6:26-27 - Darius's Decree Praising God").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound anguish of King Darius, marked by a night of fasting, the absence of comfort, and a complete loss of sleep, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate distress and divine intervention found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as Darius was powerless to save Daniel from the unchangeable law, humanity was utterly helpless against the immutable law of sin and death. However, unlike Darius, who could only hope for Daniel's deliverance, Jesus, the true King, willingly entered the "den" of human suffering and death. His own night of profound anguish in Gethsemane, where He prayed so earnestly that His sweat became like drops of blood ([Luke 22:44](/luke/22-44 "Luke 22:44 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane")), far surpassed Darius's sleepless night. There, He faced the weight of humanity's sin, experiencing a spiritual "fasting" from the Father's full presence and a "sleeplessness" of soul as He wrestled with the cup of wrath. Yet, through His perfect obedience and ultimate sacrifice on the cross, Jesus did what no human king could: He fulfilled the righteous demands of God's law, thereby delivering His people not from a den of lions, but from the eternal consequences of sin and death ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin and Gift of God")). His resurrection from the grave ([Romans 6:9](/romans/6-9 "Romans 6:9 - Christ's Resurrection and Eternal Life")) is the ultimate "morning after," transforming the despair of death into the triumph of eternal life, proving Him to be the true Deliverer and the sovereign King who reigns forever.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Daniel 2:1

¶ And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

Esther 6:1

¶ On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

2 Samuel 12:16

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

2 Samuel 12:17

And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

Psalms 77:4

Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

Amos 6:4

That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;

Amos 6:6

That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.