דניאל, פרק ה׳, פסוק י״ד

A desperate ruler turns to a legendary figure he had previously ignored, marking a dramatic shift in power within the palace. The king addresses Daniel not out of personal familiarity, but because of an immense reputation that precedes him. Daniel is widely considered a man of high standing purely based on this widespread fame [מלבי״ם].

The king openly acknowledges the extraordinary reports he has received. He praises Daniel as someone upon whom the spirit of God rests, possessing a rare combination of illumination, the light of knowledge, sharp intellect, and exceptional, abundant wisdom [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

However, beneath these glowing praises lies a layer of political and psychological complexity. A subtle shift in the king's language reveals an attempt to justify his past behavior. Earlier, the queen had described Daniel as possessing the spirit of the holy gods. Yet, when the king speaks to him, he deliberately omits the word "holy" [מנחת שי].

This change is highly intentional. A man with such unparalleled wisdom, unmatched by any of the kingdom's wise men, should have been immediately brought into the palace and granted the highest seat of honor. To excuse his failure to recognize Daniel sooner, the king subtly downgrades his praise. In the Babylonian worldview, standard deities represented lower, physical forces, whereas the addition of "holy" referred to higher, spiritual powers. By using the lesser description, the king slightly diminishes the miraculous nature of Daniel's abilities. This calculated choice of words provides the king with a convenient excuse for why he did not rush to elevate Daniel until a moment of absolute helplessness forced his hand [אלשיך].