When Darius the Median took the throne formerly occupied by the Babylonian rulers, he at once proceeded to reorganize the government. He "set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes; . . . and over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm."

Dette kapitel er bygget op over Dan 6
Da mederen Darius overtog tronen efter de babyloniske konger, gav han sig omgående til at reorganisere administrationen. Han "fandt for godt at lægge riget og over dem satte han tre rigsråder, af hvilke Daniel var den ene, for at satraperne skulle aflægge regnskab til dem, så kongen intet tab led. Da nu Daniel udmærkede sig fremfor de andre rigsråder og satraperne, eftersom der var en ypperlig ånd i ham, og kongen derfor tænkte på at sætte ham over hele riget”