Darius

In the Bible, Darius is a name that refers not to one person but to several kings. They fall broadly into two groups: Darius king of Persia and Darius the Mede.

Biblical Record

Darius King of Persia

This Darius appears in Ezra 4–6, Haggai 1:1, and Zechariah 1:1 and 7:1, among other passages. After the return from exile, work on the temple had stopped; in the second year of Darius, prompted by the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and others resumed it (Ezra 4:24–5:2). Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, wrote to the king asking on what authority the work was being done. Darius ordered a search of the archives, and the decree of Cyrus was found at Achmetha (Ecbatana) in the province of Media (Ezra 6:1–2). He authorized the work and commanded that its costs and the offerings be supplied. The temple was completed in the month Adar in the sixth year of Darius (Ezra 6:15). Many scholars hold that "Darius the Persian" in Nehemiah 12:22 is a different king, since the reference belongs to a later period.

Darius the Mede

According to Daniel 5:31, he received the kingdom at about sixty-two years of age. He appointed Daniel as one of the chief officials over the kingdom (Daniel 6:1–3), but, deceived by a scheme of his officials, he signed a decree forbidding anyone for thirty days to make a petition of any god or man except the king. As a result, he was compelled to have Daniel cast into the lions' den. The king spent the night fasting and unable to sleep, and when Daniel came out alive, he issued a decree honoring the God of Daniel (Daniel 6:18–27). Daniel 9:1 calls him "the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes."

Significance Within the Bible

The book of Ezra records that the rebuilding of the temple was accomplished through the decree of a foreign king and presents this as the work of God, who turned the heart of the king (Ezra 6:22). In the episode of the lions' den, Darius plays a supporting role that brings out Daniel's faithfulness and God's deliverance. The New Testament does not mention Darius by name. However, the phrase "stopped the mouths of lions" in Hebrews 11:33–38 is commonly read as a reference to Daniel's experience.

Interpretation and Debate

• Darius king of Persia is generally identified with Darius I of Persia, whose reign is commonly dated to about 522–486 BC.
• Darius the Mede is not attested by that name in extrabiblical records. Conservative scholars have proposed various identifications, including an alternative title of Cyrus, Gubaru, the governor placed over Babylon, or a member of the Median royal house. Critical scholars who assign a late date to the book of Daniel do not regard him as a historical figure.
• The Ahasuerus of Daniel 9:1 is generally regarded as a different person from Ahasuerus the husband of Esther, and the two should not be confused.
• Although Darius issued a decree praising the God of Daniel, the text does not say that he converted.

In the Korean Church

Darius appears chiefly in Sunday school lessons on the lions' den as a king who cared for Daniel. He is also mentioned in sermons on the scene in which Daniel prayed three times a day toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10). In expository preaching on Haggai and Ezra, he is introduced as the king who permitted the rebuilding of the temple.