"Thereupon the presidents and princes, counseling together, devised a scheme whereby they hoped to accomplish the prophet's destruction. They determined to ask the king to sign a decree which they should prepare, forbidding any person in the realm to ask anything of God or man, except of Darius the king, for the space of thirty days. A violation of this decree should be punished by casting the offender into a den of lions. PK 540.1"
"They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?"
Both passages describe evil individuals conspiring and plotting against a righteous person. The EGW passage describes the princes plotting against Daniel, while the Psalm speaks of the wicked laying snares. The connection is valid, though not a direct quote or explicit allusion.
"If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:"
Both passages depict a conspiracy to harm an innocent person. The Proverbs verse speaks of lying in wait for blood, while the EGW passage describes the princes' scheme to destroy Daniel. The connection is valid, though not a direct quote or explicit allusion.
"Accordingly, the princes prepared such a decree, and presented it to Darius for his signature. Appealing to his vanity, they persuaded him that the carrying out of this edict would add greatly to his honor and authority. Ignorant of the subtle purpose of the princes, the king did not discern their animosity as revealed in the decree, and, yielding to their flattery, he signed it. PK 540.2"
"A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet."
The EGW passage describes the princes flattering Darius, leading him to sign the decree. This aligns with the proverb about flattery being a trap.
"The enemies of Daniel left the presence of Darius, rejoicing over the snare now securely laid for the servant of Jehovah. In the conspiracy thus formed, Satan had played an important part. The prophet was high in command in the kingdom, and evil angels feared that his influence would weaken their control over its rulers. It was these satanic agencies who had stirred the princes to envy and jealousy; it was they who had inspired the plan for Daniel's destruction; and the princes, yielding themselves as instruments of evil, carried it into effect. PK 540.3"
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
EGW explicitly connects the events surrounding Daniel to the influence of Satan and evil angels, mirroring the spiritual warfare described in Ephesians 6:12. The passage in Ephesians provides a broader context for understanding the spiritual forces at play in Daniel's situation.
"needed to pray? Rather would he relinquish life itself, than his hope of help in God. With calmness he performed his duties as chief of the princes; and at the hour of prayer he went to his chamber, and with his windows open toward Jerusalem, in accordance with his usual custom, he offered his petition to the God of heaven. He did not try to conceal his act. Although he knew full well the consequences of his fidelity to God, his spirit faltered not. Before those who were plotting his ruin, he would not allow it even to appear that his connection with Heaven was severed. In all cases where the king had a right to command, Daniel would obey; but neither the king nor his decree could make him swerve from allegiance to the King of kings. PK 540.4"
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."
EGW's passage directly recounts the events described in Daniel 6:10, including Daniel's unwavering prayer despite the decree and his open windows facing Jerusalem. It is a clear and direct reference.