Early in the morning, the king approaches the sealed lions' den filled with anxiety, desperate to discover the fate of his beloved minister. Because Daniel is deep inside the pit and completely hidden from view, the king is forced to shout down to him as he draws near [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. His voice rings out bitter, pained, and heavy with sadness [אבן עזרא, יוסף אבן יחיא] as he calls out to ask if the God whom Daniel serves constantly [אבן עזרא] has managed to save him.
Rather than simply calling Daniel's name and waiting for a response, the king speaks a long and detailed sentence before even knowing if the man is still alive. Some commentators explain that this is because Daniel does not answer the initial call. The king's voice is so distorted by deep sadness that Daniel fails to recognize him, forcing the king to continue speaking [מלבי״ם]. Another approach suggests that the king is acting with careful wisdom. Aware that Daniel might fear his enemies are standing at the opening of the pit trying to trick him, the king intentionally speaks at length. By mentioning Daniel's devotion to God and recalling the content of their private conversation from the day before, the king provides clear proof of his identity. This reassures Daniel that the person calling down to him is indeed the king who seeks his safety, rather than a hostile enemy [אלשיך].
As the king speaks, he questions whether God was actually able to save Daniel. This raises a difficult question regarding why the king would cast doubt on God's abilities. One perspective is that while the king understands God is a living God who surely wants to protect His followers, he is genuinely unsure if God possesses the actual power to rescue a man from wild beasts [מלבי״ם]. Conversely, a deeper view argues that the king never questions God's strength, as His miracles are already known throughout the world. Instead, the king's doubt centers entirely on Daniel's own merit. He wonders whether Daniel's decision to pray in direct defiance of the royal decree will be viewed by heaven as a worthy act of devotion, or as a fault for taking an unnecessary risk and disobeying the crown. The king is therefore asking if Daniel's constant service provides enough spiritual merit to empower God to save him completely, bypassing any strict heavenly judgment that might hold him accountable [אלשיך].