the king sent. This great Durbar would hardly have taken place till after the campaign referred to in note on "came" (Daniel 1:1). It was therefore probably held about 475 B. C, in Daniel's thirty-eighth year, twenty years after Nebuchadnezzar's dream of himself, the "head of gold" (Daniel 2).
to gather together, &c. Note the eight technical terms. Well known to Daniel, but difficult for. Jew in Jer 300 years later to enumerate so minutely and so accurately.
princes. satraps.
governors. See note on Daniel 2:48.
captains. pashas (as in Nehemiah 5:14; Nehemiah 5:18; Haggai 1:14), the first three being governmental.
judges. viziers, or chief judges.
treasurers: these two being courtiers.
counsellors. counsellors of State, judges. The same word as in Daniel 3:3. Not the same word as in verses: Daniel 3:24; Daniel 3:27.
sheriffs. lawyers; these two being legal.
rulers, &c. = superintendents, being functional and general.