יחזקאל, פרק כ״ח, פסוק ג׳

The prophet directly confronts the immense arrogance of the King of Tyre, a ruler who views himself as the greatest of all sages and believes his knowledge to be absolute. The prophet challenges this delusion with a biting, rhetorical question, asking in sheer astonishment if the king truly considers himself wiser than Daniel [מצודת דוד]. Daniel is specifically chosen for this comparison because his profound wisdom was famous and widely respected throughout the Babylonian empire [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This comparison carries a sharp, ironic sting. When King Nebuchadnezzar witnessed Daniel's extraordinary wisdom, he sought to worship him, offer him gifts, and treat him as a deity. Daniel, however, firmly rejected this worship. In stark contrast, the King of Tyre is so blinded by pride in his own intellect that he actively elevates himself to the status of a god [רש״י, מלבי״ם]. The prophet mocks the king, pointing out that his supposed brilliance exists only in his own mind [רד״ק]. This delusion is likely fueled by his extensive education and vast wealth, traits that often trick a person into believing their understanding has no limits [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The mockery deepens as the prophet questions the king's claim to absolute clarity. He asks if there is truly no secret hidden or obscured from his view, comparing such concealed knowledge to gold that has lost its shine [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם]. The prophet wonders if every mystery is genuinely clear and obvious to the king [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם]. This challenge once again points directly to the legacy of Daniel, who was famous precisely because no secret or mystery was ever hidden from him [רש״י, מצודת דוד].