Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Ver. 14. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself.] As good reason he had; but Sero inquit Nero. Now he found himself circumvented by his wily flatterers; but why was he such an Epimetheus or after wise?
And set his heart on Daniel.] But all too late. Leo casibus irretitus dixit, Si praescivissem. The fool's ‘Had-I-wist' should be carefully prevented. To disavow the willing of Daniel's death, and to lay the blame upon his counsellors, is a poor shift of a weak prince.
And laboured till the going down of the sun.] Alleging reasons for Daniel's deliverance; as that he was a loyal subject, an excellent ruler; that the decree was fraudulently wrung from the king, upon pretence of finding out false hearted subjects; that it was maliciously wrested to the ruin of a fight patriot, &c. But no reason will rule unreasonable and absurd men (Aτοποι), as they are called, 2 Thessalonians 3:2, men that have no topics, nor will hear of any, as the word there signifieth.