Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 6:3

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

There were three things that made Darius greatly favour Daniel. 1. Because he Prophesied the destruction of Belshazzar and his Reign, for which cause the King of Babylon favoured Ieremiah the Prophet, chap. 39.11. &c. 2. Because he saw so noble a spirit in him, the spirit of the holy God. 3. Because Darius himself was old and unfit for Government, and therefore took Daniel with him into Media, Ios. Antiq[illegible: 1 letter]. 10.12. whereby the Lord by advancing Daniel made careful provision for his Church. This was an act of great wisdom in Darius to prefer men for their parts and merit, and to make them that have most of God in them to be their chief favourites, a thing rarely minded by the Princes of the World, who favour them usually most, that do most gratifie their lusts.