1 The identity of this Darius is a major problem in correlating the biblical material with the extra-biblical records of this period. Most modern scholars treat the reference as a mistaken allusion to Darius Hystaspes ( 522–486 b.c.). Others have maintained instead that this name is a reference to the Persian governor Gubaru. Still others understand the reference to be to the Persian king Cyrus (cf. 6:28, where the vav (ו) may be understood as vav explicativum, meaning “even”). Under either of these latter two interpretations, the first year of Darius would have been 538 b.c. Daniel would have been approximately eighty-two years old at this time.
2 The reads “Xerxes.” This is the reading used by some English versions (e.g., , , , ). Most other English versions retain the Hebrew name “Ahasuerus.”
3 The present translation follows the in reading a Hophal (i.e., passive). Theodotion, the , and the all presuppose the Hiphil (i.e., active). Even though this is the only occurrence of the Hophal of this verb in the Bible, there is no need to emend the vocalization to the Hiphil.
4 Heb “was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans.”

In other versions

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom—

In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by birth, who was made king over the Chaldean kingdom—

It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became king of the Babylonians.

In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, from the offspring of the Medes, who became king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

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