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Biblical History Atlas

Historical event dossier · Political, Royal

Darius appoints 120 satraps and three chief officials (Dan 6:1–3, 28)

Researched — not human reviewedRevision 1Last reviewed: not reviewed

Human review pending. 2 items from this dossier are awaiting the project owner's review: “Disputed: Darius the Mede's 120 satraps (Dan 6:1)” (queued 2026-10-13, status open). “Possible identity (Rule 04): Critical scholars see Darius I as the model for the literary Darius the Mede (a source of the portrait, not a claim that” (queued 2026-10-13, status open). All classifications on this page are machine-proposed unless marked otherwise. Review happens offline. This site has no review controls.

Biblical references

Text: World English Bible (public domain). The ESV and NKJV are the preferred study translations and are referenced, not reproduced.

Daniel 6:1–3Narration
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local governors, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, that these local governors might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

English 6:1–3 = Aramaic 6:2–4.

Daniel 6:28Reference
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Closing summary.

Biblical account

Layer: Biblical text

Darius sets 120 satraps over the kingdom and three chief officials over them, so that the king suffers no loss; Daniel excels, and the king plans to place him over the whole realm. The chapter ends: Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian (6:28).

Historical overview

Layer: Historical reconstruction · Period: Early Persian rule over Babylonia (from Oct 539 BC)

After the capture, Cyrus's official Gubaru appointed district officers in Babylon (ABC 7 iii 20). Xenophon has Cyrus send satraps from Babylon to the conquered lands (Cyropaedia 8.6). Darius I later fixed twenty tribute-paying satrapies (Herodotus 3.89) and lists 23 lands at Behistun (§6). The Aramaic ʾăḥašdarpan corresponds to Old Persian khshathra-pāvan, "protector of the realm"; Daniel also uses it of Nebuchadnezzar's officers (3:2).[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Kingdoms: Achaemenid Persian Empire

Date and chronology derivation

Ranges are computed by the project's deterministic chronology engine from the biblical statements and each model's reign anchors. They are reconstructions, not independent dates.

539 BC – ?

Model-independent (applies under every chronology model) · precision: undated

How this range was derived

Earliest bound

  1. Synchronism: Fall of Babylon: 16 Tašrītu, Nabonidus year 17 (ABC 7) — independently dated between 12 Oct 539 BC and 13 Oct 539 BC (Babylonian day date converted with Parker & Dubberstein (1942) tables) (Daniel 5:30–31)[1, 6, 7]Assumption: 16 Tašrītu year 17 = 13 Oct 539 (Parker & Dubberstein 1942, p. 11; month VII began 28 Sep). Many modern works give 12 Oct; the one-day spread reflects day-boundary and month-start conventions. Window 12–13 Oct. The chronicle year is lost on the tablet; the 17th year of Nabonidus is fixed by context and the Babylonian king-list chronology (Parker & Dubberstein).
  2. “your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians … In that night Belshazzar … was slain. Darius the Mede received the kingdom” — Belshazzar slain; Darius the Mede receives the kingdom (Dan 5:30–31) days later Fall of Babylon to Cyrus (October 539 BC) (Daniel 5:28–31)[1]Assumption: Daniel does not date "that night" or name the capture; this constraint assumes it is the night Babylon was entered (16 Tašrītu). Babylonian sources do not record Belshazzar's death; if he died elsewhere or earlier, this constraint does not hold.
  3. “Darius the Mede received the kingdom … It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local governors” — Darius appoints 120 satraps and three chief officials (Dan 6:1–3, 28) after Belshazzar slain; Darius the Mede receives the kingdom (Dan 5:30–31) (Daniel 5:31–6:1)

Latest bound

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    What else was happening? (model-independent)

    • Daniel's refusal of the king's food and the ten-day test (Dan 1:8–16): 606 BC – ?
    • Nebuchadnezzar's golden image on the plain of Dura (Dan 3:1–7): 603 BC – ?
    • Nebuchadnezzar's decree honouring the God of the three Judeans (Dan 3:28–30): 603 BC – ?
    • The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8–27): 603 BC – ?
    • Belshazzar slain; Darius the Mede receives the kingdom (Dan 5:30–31): 539 BC
    • Belshazzar's feast and the writing on the wall (Dan 5:1–29): 539 BC
    • Fall of Babylon to Cyrus (October 539 BC): 539 BC
    • Daniel continues until the first year of King Cyrus (Dan 1:21): 538 BC – 537 BC
    • Cyrus II (the Great) (reign): 539 BC – 530 BC
    • Nabonidus (reign): 556 BC – 539 BC
    • The thirty-day decree and Daniel in the lions' den (Dan 6:4–23): 539 BC – ?
    • The accusers punished; Darius's decree honouring the God of Daniel (Dan 6:24–27): 539 BC – ?
    • Daniel's night vision of the four beasts and its interpretation (Dan 7): ? – 539 BC
    • Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat at Susa (Dan 8): ? – 539 BC
    • Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem, Nisan of his twentieth year (Neh 2:1–8): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) (reign): 465 BC – 423 BC
    • Hanani's report at Susa and Nehemiah's prayer (Chislev, Artaxerxes's 20th year): 447 BC – 445 BC
    • Cyrus's proclamation permitting the return and the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 1; 6:3–5): 538 BC – 537 BC
    • The rebuilt Temple completed on 3 Adar of Darius's sixth year (Ezra 6:15): 516 BC – 515 BC
    • Darius I (the Great) (reign): 522 BC – 486 BC
    • Darius I confirms Cyrus's decree and orders the Temple completed (Ezra 6:1–12): 520 BC – 515 BC
    • Gabriel comes at the evening offering with the word of the seventy weeks (Dan 9:20–27): 539 BC – 536 BC
    • Daniel reads Jeremiah's seventy years and prays (Dan 9:1–19): 539 BC – 536 BC
    • Artaxerxes' decree to Ezra in his seventh year (Ezra 7): 459 BC – 457 BC
    • Daniel's vision by the Tigris in the third year of Cyrus (Dan 10:1–11:1): 536 BC – 535 BC
    • Desecration of the Temple: the "abomination of desolation" (15 Chislev 145 SE, 168/167 BC): 168 BC – 166 BC
    • Popillius Laenas orders Antiochus IV out of Egypt at Eleusis (168 BC): 168 BC
    • Rededication of the Temple by Judas Maccabaeus (25 Chislev 148 SE, 165/164 BC): 165 BC – 163 BC
    • The closing dialogue by the river: the oath, the numbers and Daniel's dismissal (Dan 12:5–13): 536 BC – 535 BC
    • Gedaliah governs from Mizpah and is assassinated (2 Kgs 25:22–26): 589 BC – ?
    • Cyrus returns the Temple vessels to Sheshbazzar; the first return (Ezra 1:5–11): 538 BC – 530 BC
    • The altar rebuilt in Jerusalem and the Feast of Booths kept (Ezra 3:1–7): 538 BC – 530 BC
    • The return of the exiles with Zerubbabel and Jeshua; the list of returnees (Ezra 2): 538 BC – 531 BC
    • The foundation of the Second Temple laid (Ezra 3:8–13): 537 BC – 530 BC
    • Tattenai governor of Beyond the River inquires and writes to Darius (Ezra 5:3–17): 520 BC – 515 BC
    • Haggai and Zechariah stir the people; the Temple work resumes (Darius's second year, 520 BC): 520 BC – 519 BC
    • Opposition from the people of the land; the Temple work ceases until Darius's second year (Ezra 4:1–5, 24): 537 BC – 519 BC
    • Accusations to Ahasuerus and the Rehum–Shimshai letter to Artaxerxes; the city's rebuilding stopped (Ezra 4:6–23): 537 BC – ?
    • The returned exiles keep the Passover after the Temple's dedication (Ezra 6:19–22): 516 BC – 515 BC
    • Haggai's oracles of 24/IX, Darius year 2: "from this day I will bless you"; Zerubbabel the signet: 520 BC – 519 BC
    • Haggai's oracle on the latter glory of the house (21/VII, Darius year 2): 520 BC – 519 BC
    • Zechariah's first oracle: the call to return (8th month, Darius year 2): 520 BC – 519 BC
    • Zechariah's night visions (24 Shebat, Darius year 2; Zech 1:7–6:8): 520 BC – 519 BC
    • Crowns made from the exiles' gifts and set on Joshua; the oracle of the Branch (Zech 6:9–15): 520 BC – 515 BC
    • The Bethel delegation and the question of fasting; Zechariah's answer (4/IX, Darius year 4): 518 BC – 517 BC
    • Ezra's caravan from the Ahava to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7–10; 8): 459 BC – 457 BC
    • The mixed-marriages crisis: Ezra's confession, the assembly in the rain (20/IX) and the commission (Ezra 9–10): 459 BC – 457 BC
    • Nehemiah arrives, inspects the walls by night and calls for rebuilding (Neh 2:9–20): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall and gates, section by section (Neh 3): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Mockery, threats and the armed builders (Neh 4): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The debt crisis and the remission of pledges (Neh 5:1–13): 446 BC – 423 BC
    • Plots against Nehemiah: Ono, the open letter, Shemaiah (Neh 6:1–14): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The wall completed on 25 Elul after fifty-two days (Neh 6:15–19): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Nehemiah's first governorship: twelve years, 20th–32nd year of Artaxerxes (445–433 BC): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Jerusalem guarded under Hanani and Hananiah; the registry of the first returnees found (Neh 7:1–5): 446 BC – ?
    • Ezra reads the Law on the first day of the seventh month (Neh 7:73b–8:12): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The Feast of Booths kept "as it is written" (Neh 8:13–18): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The sealed covenant to keep the law and support the temple (Neh 9:38–10:39): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • The fast of the twenty-fourth day and the Levites' confession (Neh 9): 446 BC – 444 BC
    • Nehemiah's return and second-term reforms (Neh 13:4–31): 434 BC – 423 BC
    • Jerusalem repopulated: one in ten by lot (Neh 11): 446 BC – ?
    • The dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh 12:27–13:3): 446 BC – 423 BC
    • The priestly and Levitical registers to the days of Jaddua (Neh 12:1–26): 446 BC – ?
    • The first "burden" of Zechariah 9–11 (undated oracle collection): 518 BC – ?
    • The second "burden" of Zechariah 12–14 (undated oracle collection): 518 BC – ?
    • Malachi's disputations with priests and people (Mal 1–4; undated, mid-fifth century BC): 465 BC – 423 BC
    • Mordecai uncovers the plot of Bigthan and Teresh (Esth 2:19–23): 479 BC – 464 BC
    • Esther made queen in Tebeth of Xerxes's seventh year (Esth 2:1–18; winter 479/478 BC): 479 BC – 478 BC
    • Xerxes I (reign): 486 BC – 464 BC
    • Ahasuerus's third-year feast at Susa and the deposing of Vashti (Esth 1; 483/482 BC): 483 BC – 482 BC
    • Mordecai mourns; Esther resolves to go to the king (Esth 4): 474 BC
    • Haman casts pur and the decree against the Jews (Esth 3; Nisan 474 BC): 474 BC
    • Esther before the king; the first banquet; Haman's gallows (Esth 5): 474 BC
    • The sleepless king; Mordecai honoured by Haman (Esth 6): 474 BC
    • The institution of Purim; Mordecai second to the king (Esth 9:20–10:3): 474 BC – ?
    • The Jews defend themselves on 13–14 Adar (Esth 9:1–19; 473 BC): 474 BC – 473 BC
    • Mordecai's counter-decree of 23 Sivan (Esth 8; June 474 BC): 474 BC
    • The second banquet; Haman hanged (Esth 7): 474 BC
    • Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reign): 175 BC – 164 BC
    • Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV defeats Antiochus III (217 BC): 217 BC
    • Battle of Panium: Antiochus III defeats Scopas (c. 200–198 BC): 200 BC – 198 BC
    • Battle of Magnesia: Rome defeats Antiochus III (190 BC): 190 BC
    • Assassination of Seleucus IV and accession of Antiochus IV (175 BC): 175 BC
    • Death of Antiochus IV at Tabae in Persia (164 BC): 164 BC

    Ancient and modern geography

    Location confidence assumes the event as described. Whether it occurred is assessed in the claims below.

    PlaceConnection to this eventLocation identification
    BabylonBabil (ruins near Hillah)Seat of the kingdom (implied)Location confidence: proposed — possibleBabylon (Pleiades 893951): certain[8]

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    Claims, evidence and classifications

    Each claim is classified on its own. A classification describes the evidence for that specific claim, not for the event as a whole.

    Early Persian rule in Babylonia operated through appointed provincial governors.

    Independently corroboratedMachine-proposedExternal evidence

    The Chronicle records Gubaru appointing district officers in Babylon immediately after the conquest; Xenophon, Herodotus and Darius I's own inscription describe satrapal organisation.

    Supporting

    • Gubaru, Cyrus's district officer, appointed district officers in Babylon.[1]Strength: direct·iii 20·Claim checked
    • From Babylon Cyrus appointed satraps over conquered peoples, naming six.[2]Strength: indirect·8.6.1–7·Claim checked
    • Darius I established twenty satrapies with fixed tribute.[3]Strength: indirect·3.89·Claim checked
    • Darius I lists twenty-three lands that came to him.[4]Strength: direct·DB i 12–17 (§6)·Claim checked

    Limitations of this classification: Herodotus and Behistun describe Darius I's later system.

    Research date 2026-10-13

    Darius the Mede set 120 satraps over the kingdom.

    DisputedOwner review pendingHistorical reconstructionIn owner review queue

    No source gives 120 satraps. The empire-wide lists have 20 (Herodotus) or 23 lands (Behistun). Wilson argues the number fits sub-governors within Babylonia under Gobryas, on the analogy of the Chronicle; critics see a projection of Darius I's reorganisation. Material disagreement, dependent on the Darius identification.

    Supporting

    • Argues 120 officials could be installed in Babylonia alone, comparing the Chronicle's appointments by Gobryas and the elastic meaning of "satrap".[9]Strength: indirect·pp. 141–144·Claim checked

    Challenging

    • Darius I established twenty satrapies with fixed tribute.[3]Strength: indirect·3.89·Claim checked
    • Darius I lists twenty-three lands that came to him.[4]Strength: direct·DB i 12–17 (§6)·Claim checked

    Context

    • Gubaru, Cyrus's district officer, appointed district officers in Babylon.[1]Strength: direct·iii 20·Claim checked
    • ʾăḥašdarpan, "satraps", corresponding to Old Persian khshathra-pāvan; also used of Nebuchadnezzar's officials in Dan 3.[5]Strength: direct·H324·Claim checked

    Limitations of this classification: Wilson (1917) predates much later scholarship; Newsom & Breed known only via Wikipedia.

    Research date 2026-10-13

    The term rendered "satrap" (ʾăḥašdarpan) is an Old Persian administrative title.

    Independently corroboratedMachine-proposedExternal evidence

    The lexicon links the Aramaic word to Old Persian khshathra-pāvan; Herodotus uses "satrapy" for Persian provinces.

    Supporting

    • ʾăḥašdarpan, "satraps", corresponding to Old Persian khshathra-pāvan; also used of Nebuchadnezzar's officials in Dan 3.[5]Strength: direct·H324·Claim checked

    Research date 2026-10-13

    Daniel was one of three chief officials under Darius.

    No independent corroboration foundMachine-proposedBiblical text

    No source outside the Bible names Daniel.

    Research date 2026-10-13

    Evidence by type

    The same evidence regrouped by kind of source. Each item names the claims it bears on.

    Archaeological evidence

    None recorded for this event.

    Scientific findings

    None recorded for this event.

    Ancient documents

    Modern news and announcements

    None recorded for this event.

    Reference works and summaries

    Historical disputes and competing reconstructions

    Disputed claims: Darius the Mede set 120 satraps over the kingdom.

    • 120 officials within Babylonia under Gobryas

      R. D. Wilson (1917)

      Wilson identifies Darius the Mede with Gobryas and compares the 120 "satraps" with the governors Gubaru appointed in Babylon; the term was elastic, so 120 sub-governors in one large province is possible.[1, 9]

    • Darius I's satrapy system projected back

      C. Newsom & B. Breed (2014), via Wikipedia; critical scholarship generally

      The organisation of the empire into satrapies is associated with Darius I; the author of Daniel is thought to have modelled his Darius on the later king. The count of 120 matches no known satrapy list (cf. 127 provinces in Esther 1:1).[3, 10]

    • The two reigns in 6:28 are one (Darius = Cyrus)

      D. J. Wiseman (1965); via Wikipedia and Guzik

      Reads 6:28 appositionally: "the reign of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian".[10, 11]

    Related passages and events

    FromRelationshipToBasis
    this eventPreceded byhigh · Biblical textBelshazzar slain; Darius the Mede receives the kingdom (Dan 5:30–31)Darius receives the kingdom (5:31) and then organises it (6:1).
    this eventThematic parallelmedium · Biblical textEsther 1:1Esther gives 127 provinces for the Persian empire under Ahasuerus; compared with Daniel's 120 satraps.[9]
    this eventThematic parallelhigh · Biblical textDaniel 10:1Daniel is still active in Cyrus's third year, consistent with 6:28.
    Darius the MedePossible identityspeculative · Historical reconstructionDarius I (the Great)Critical scholars see Darius I as the model for the literary Darius the Mede (a source of the portrait, not a claim that the narrative describes Darius I's reign).[10]

    Prophetic relationships

    No prophecy or proposed-fulfillment relationships have been recorded for this event.

    Commentary references

    Layer: Interpretation. This is commentary, not historical evidence.

    Guzik notes that no Darius is known for this time and place, weighs Cyrus, Cambyses and Gubaru, and prefers Gubaru, suggesting "Darius" may be an honorific. He reads the three chief officials as answerable directly to the king, with Daniel distinguished by "an excellent spirit".[11]

    Unanswered questions and research gaps

    • Naqsh-i Rustam inscription not read.
    • Modern studies of Achaemenid administration of Babylonia not consulted this session.
    • The Naqsh-i Rustam list of lands (cited by Wilson) was not read.
    • Gubaru's later contracts as governor of Babylon were not read.

    Research process

    7 logged searches
    DateQueryWhereUseful
    2026-10-13Enduring Word Daniel 6web fetch1
    2026-10-13Behistun inscription Old Persian §§4–9 (Livius T 02, T 03)Livius section page 1–10 returned HTTP 500; T 06 covers §§12–13.web fetch2
    2026-10-13Herodotus 3.89, 3.118–119; Xenophon Cyropaedia 8.6 (Gutenberg)local text3
    2026-10-13Ammianus 23.6.81; Diodorus 17.30 (LacusCurtius)Diodorus 17C page covered 40–63; 17B used.web fetch2
    2026-10-13archive.org: R. D. Wilson, Studies in the Book of Daniel (1917)OCR text read, pp. 141–144.archive.org1
    2026-10-13Wikipedia: Daniel in the lions' den; Satrap; Lion Hunt of AshurbanipalSatrap article tagged as needing citations; its satrapy counts were not used.web fetch2
    2026-10-13Bible Hub Strong's H324web fetch1

    Sources

    1. 1.
      Lendering, Jona (ed.). ABC 7 (Nabonidus Chronicle) — English translation on Livius.org. Livius.org. www.livius.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textFull translation page read. The page gives no museum number and no Julian dates.Verification log
    2. 2.
      Xenophon, Dakyns, Henry Graham (trans.). Xenophon, Cyropaedia 8.6 (trans. H. G. Dakyns). Project Gutenberg #2085. www.gutenberg.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textVerification log
    3. 3.
      Herodotus, Macaulay, G. C. (trans.). Herodotus, Histories 3.89 (trans. G. C. Macaulay). Project Gutenberg #2707. www.gutenberg.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textVerification log
    4. 4.
      Darius I, King, L. W. & Thompson, R. C. (trans., adapted). Behistun inscription, Old Persian text, col. i 9–26 — Livius.org (after King & Thompson 1907). Livius.org. www.livius.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textPages T 02 (i 9–17) and T 03 (i 18–26) read; the overview page returned HTTP 500.Verification log
    5. 5.
      Brown, Driver, Briggs (BDB), Bible Hub. Strong's Hebrew/Aramaic 324, ʾăḥašdarpan — Bible Hub (BDB). Bible Hub. biblehub.comClaim checkedHistorical referenceVerification log
    6. 6.
      Parker, Richard A., Dubberstein, Waldo H.. Babylonian Chronology 626 B.C.–A.D. 45 (SAOC 24). University of Chicago Press (Oriental Institute). archive.orgClaim checkedAcademic monographRead through the Internet Archive OCR text of the Oriental Institute PDF; OCR has digit errors (e.g. "589" for 539) checked against context. The 1956 revised edition was not consulted.Verification log
    7. 7.
      Cogan, Mordechai (trans., COS 2003), Schaudig, Hanspeter (edition), van der Spek, R. J.. Cyrus Cylinder — English translation on Livius.org. Livius.org. www.livius.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textPage states only that the cylinder is in the British Museum.Verification log
    8. 8.
      Pleiades contributors. Babylon — Pleiades place 893951. Pleiades (pleiades.stoa.org). pleiades.stoa.orgClaim checkedInstitutional databaseRepresentative point read from the Pleiades JSON record: lon 44.42497815, lat 32.53729695.Verification log
    9. 9.
      Wilson, Robert Dick. Studies in the Book of Daniel: A Discussion of the Historical Questions. G. P. Putnam's Sons. archive.orgClaim checkedAcademic monographRead through the Internet Archive OCR text (Cornell copy).Verification log
    10. 10.
      Wikipedia contributors. Darius the Mede — Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. en.wikipedia.orgClaim checkedPopular summaryVerification log
    11. 11.
      Guzik, David. Daniel 6 — Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Enduring Word. enduringword.comClaim checkedTheological commentaryInterpretive resource — not historical corroboration.Verification log