“Et egressa sententia, sapientes interficiebantur : quærebanturque Daniel et socii ejus, ut perirent.”
“And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.”
“So the decree went out that the wise men were to be executed, and men went to look for Daniel and his friends to execute them.”
“So the decree went out, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.”
“So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.”
Slain. Literally, “were slaughtering;” interficiebantur. (Haydock) — Many think that some had already suffered. (Geier.; Menochius) — They had been perhaps jealous of Daniel, and had not informed him of the matter. (St. Jerome)
Verses 1-13 The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet and sound. We know not the uneasiness of many who live in great pomp, and, as others vainly think, in pleasure also. The king said that his learned men must tell him the dream itself, or they should all be put to death as deceivers. Men are more eager to ask as to future events, than to learn the way of salvation or the path of duty; yet foreknowledge of future events increases anxiety and trouble. Those who deceived, by pretending to do what they could not do, were sentenced to death, for not being able to do what they did not pretend to.