When Daniel is given the dream and its interpretation, he goes to Arioch. He asks to be presented to the king. It is clear that he is not seeking his own honour, because the first thing he says to Arioch is that he must not destroy the wise men of Babylon. Daniel does not regard these other scholars as his competitors. It is not as if he is hoping that these others will be put to death and that this will allow him to occupy a much more important place in the court. As a child of God, he is full of love and empathy for his neighbours; he is moved for them. Daniel does not seek his own wellbeing at the expense of others.
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”