Now the devil's cloven foot appears, now ye have the bottom of the plot; one of these two is clear: these Chaldeans finding the Jews made courtiers, and preferred to places of trust and honour, they either put the king upon this work, or else made use of it, both to satisfy their ambition and wreak their malice against those three worthies; as they dealt with Daniel, Daniel 6:4,5. They accused the Jews; which word signifies to calumniate, and also to eat up and devour, which is the design of envy and malice. See how they go to work:
1. They strike while the iron is hot, they take the king in his huff.
2. They read a law established.
3. Then they say the Jews do not observe the king's laws, a people already obnoxious.
4. Yea, several of them despise the king's laws and authority.
5. They abuse the king's great favour and indulgence to them.
6. They should give good example, being in places of trust and dignity.
7. Yet, behold, they declare their contumacy and rebellion in not conforming to the king's laws. This set the king all in a flame of rage and fury, and he commanded to bring these three men before him.