דניאל, פרק ב׳, פסוק כ״ג

In a moment of spiritual clarity following a narrow escape from a cruel death decree, Daniel breaks into a song of deep gratitude. His prayer is a blend of broad thanksgiving for the Creator's guidance and highly personal appreciation for the rescue of his own life and the lives of his companions [מלבי״ם].

Addressing God specifically as the God of his ancestors is a deliberate choice. Daniel attributes the divine revelation he received not to his own righteousness, but to the merit of his forefathers from the House of David, who were holy men and prophets [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, אלשיך]. This highlights his profound humility, as he consciously avoids claiming that his personal virtues earned him this miracle [אלשיך].

In his prayer, Daniel expresses gratitude for two specific gifts: wisdom and might. Commentators offer different perspectives on the nature of these gifts. Some understand them as a general strengthening of human intellect and understanding [מצודת דוד]. Others view them as the practical tools needed for survival. In this light, wisdom is the actual revelation of the hidden secret, while might is the ability to use that knowledge to save lives, since achieving rescue through wise speech is a true form of strength [יוסף אבן יחיא]. Another approach suggests that wisdom was the initial idea to approach the king and ask for more time, whereas might was the raw courage required to physically stand in the royal palace and speak with the monarch [אלשיך, מלבי״ם].

Although Daniel openly states that he was granted wisdom and might, this is not an expression of pride. When a person stands in prayer before God, who knows the absolute truth, it is entirely appropriate to speak honestly. There is no need to hide the spiritual virtues and abilities granted by Him from heaven [חומת אנך].

As the prayer continues, there is a distinct shift from speaking in the singular to speaking in the plural. Daniel first acknowledges that God made the secret known to him alone, reflecting the fact that the actual prophetic revelation was experienced uniquely by him [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם]. However, he immediately transitions to the plural, mentioning what they asked for and what God made known to them all. The primary approach among commentators is that Daniel deliberately wants to share the merit of the rescue with his friends [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, אלשיך]. He is quick to emphasize that God's answer did not arrive solely because of his own efforts, but rather as a result of the joint prayer of the entire group who sat together and begged for mercy. Because the revealed secret ultimately saved all of their lives, he concludes in the plural to avoid acting superior to his companions and to ensure he does not take all the glory for their shared salvation [אבן עזרא, אלשיך].