Arioch

August 2, 2017

The response of Daniel (Dan 2:14-2:16)

“Then Daniel responded

With prudence,

As well as discretion,

To Arioch,

The king’s chief executor.

Arioch had gone out

To execute

The wise men

Of Babylon.

Daniel asked Arioch,

The royal official.

‘Why is the decree

Of the king

So severe?’

Then Arioch explained

The matter

To Daniel.

Thus,

Daniel went in

To see the king.

He requested

That the king

Give him time.

He would tell the king

The interpretation.”

Daniel was less confrontational, since he was prudent and discrete. He met the king’s chief executor, Arioch, the royal official in charge of the execution of these wise men. Daniel wanted to know what was going on. Why was the king so severe to these wise men of Babylon? After Arioch explained the situation to Daniel, Daniel decided to go to see the king himself. He told the king that he needed more time, but that he would provide an interpretation for the king’s dream.

March 13, 2015

King Nebuchadnezzar’s army (Jdt 1:5-1:6)

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar made war against King Arphaxad in the great plain that is on the borders of Ragau. There rallied to him all the people of the hill country. All those who lived along the Euphrates and the Tigris River were with him. The people along the Hydaspes River and on the plain were with him also. Arioch, the king of the Elymaeans was on his side. Thus many nations joined the forces of the Chaldeans.”

King Nebuchadnezzar was not alone. He had a lot of allies. The battle was to be on the plains next to Ragau, a city in northeastern Media, about 5 miles southeast of Teheran, near the Caspian Sea, about 200 miles northeast of Ecbatana. The Hydaspes River is either near the Tigris and Euphrates or somewhere in India. The Elymaeans may refer to the people of Elam or the Elamites. They could be from Elam also, near the Persian Gulf or part of Media. Obviously, King Nebuchadnezzar had a lot of people on his side.