King Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Guest. It seems most probable that the king here spoken of was Evilmerodac, the son and successor of Nabuchodonosor, and a great favourer of the Jews; ( Challoner. Worthington.) or it might be Darius, (Houbig.) or Cyrus, under whose reign S. Irenæus (iv. 11.) and others place this history. Calmet.—The more correct Greek editions begin with the preceding verse. Menochius.—Septuagint read, “Prophecy of Abaum, son of Juda, of the tribe of Levi. There was a priest, Daniel, son of Abda, who was a guest of the king of Babylon,” and so forth See Pref. Bible.
Bel and the Dragon is translated from chapter 14 of Daniel in the Greek Septuagint. It is not found in the traditional Hebrew text of Daniel. Bel and the Dragon is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox Churches.