דניאל, פרק ו׳, פסוק י״ג

At the decisive moment when the royal ministers seek to bring down Daniel, they do not rush to accuse him directly. Instead, they carefully weave a sophisticated legal and psychological trap around the king. Rather than simply reporting Daniel’s violation of the newly established law, the ministers approach the king with what appears to be an innocent question about the decree. They ask him to confirm the law he recently signed.

This indirect approach is driven by their deep fear of the king's affection for Daniel. They know that if they immediately mention Daniel's name, the king will actively search for a legal loophole or reinterpret the decree to declare him innocent [מלבי״ם]. To further mask their conspiracy and prevent the king from sensing a planned plot, the ministers initially speak among themselves in his presence [אלשיך]. When they do address him, they emphasize the concept of nullifying a royal decree, playing on his sense of honor to frame any violation as a direct, personal attack on his authority [רש״י, אלשיך].

The ministers deliberately verify with the king that the prohibition applies universally to every single person and to every possible type of request. This calculated move is designed to preemptively block any defense the king might try to use later. For instance, he might argue that the law was only intended for local idol worshipers and not for a Jew praying to the God of Heaven [אלשיך], or he might claim that certain types of prayers were exempt [מלבי״ם]. They also remind him of the severe penalty for anyone who makes a request of any god or man other than the king for thirty days: being thrown into a specialized pit filled with lions, a place used for executing those sentenced to death and feeding the beasts [אבן עזרא].

Completely unaware that this entire conversation is a calculated snare designed to capture his beloved Daniel, the king falls right into the trap. He confirms that the matter is absolutely true and correct [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He proudly emphasizes that it is a firm, permanent law in accordance with the unalterable customs of Media and Persia [מצודת דוד]. Through this seemingly harmless confirmation, the king unknowingly seals his own fate, stripping himself of any future ability to save Daniel [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].