A royal court faces a terrifying mystery, and the queen steps forward to offer a solution by recommending a man of unmatched intellect. She firmly vouches for Daniel's unique abilities, emphasizing that his deep wisdom is an inherent trait rather than the result of outside influences. Daniel possessed the rare ability to solve riddles, clarify hidden matters, and untangle the most complex problems. This was not merely general intelligence. He was granted an extraordinary divine spirit, complete with the intellect and insight needed to interpret dreams and uncover secrets [יוסף אבן יחיא]. This special spirit, given directly by God for the specific purpose of solving mysteries, is what elevated him to become the greatest of all the kingdom's advisors and wise men [מלבי״ם]. The queen suggests bringing him in with the hope that he might deliver favorable news. Yet, even if his interpretation foretells disaster, it would at least allow the king to be informed and take necessary precautions [מצודת דוד].
A central issue in the queen's recommendation revolves around Daniel's dual names. Originally, due to his immense and proven wisdom, King Nebuchadnezzar chose to honor Daniel by renaming him Belteshazzar, after the Babylonian god [מצודת דוד, אלשיך]. However, the queen now insists that he be called by his original name, Daniel. Commentators offer different perspectives on this shift. One approach suggests a practical, political reason: since the current king is named Belshazzar, it would be highly inappropriate for a subject to carry a name so similar to the king's title of honor [מלבי״ם].
Another perspective presents a deeper psychological and theological motive. Using the name Daniel ensures that he himself does not mistakenly attribute his divine gifts to the Babylonian gods. Furthermore, the queen anticipates the king's potential fears and seeks to calm him. The king might worry that Daniel's power was drawn from the Babylonian idol associated with the name Belteshazzar, and that reverting to his Hebrew name would weaken his abilities. To prevent this doubt, the queen highlights that all of Daniel's exceptional wisdom was fully present when he was originally known as Daniel. In fact, that exact wisdom was the reason his name was changed to begin with. Therefore, even now, when called by his original name, his abilities remain completely undiminished, and he is just as capable of solving the current mystery as he was in the past [אלשיך].