Daniel and the lions

King Darius set many rulers over his kingdom, with three presidents above them. Daniel was one of the three. Daniel did his work so well that the king planned to place him over the whole kingdom.

The other leaders tried to find something wrong with Daniel's work, but they could not. They decided they would have to use Daniel's faithfulness to God's law against him. They persuaded the king to sign a law saying that for thirty days no one could ask anything from any god or person except the king. Anyone who broke the law would be thrown into a den of lions.

Daniel knew the law had been signed. He still went home, opened his windows toward Jerusalem, knelt down three times a day, prayed, and gave thanks to God as he had done before.

The leaders found Daniel praying and reported him. Darius wanted to save Daniel, but the law could not be changed. Daniel was put into the lions' den, and a stone was placed over it.

The king spent the night fasting and could not sleep. Early in the morning he hurried to the den. Daniel was alive. He said God had sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths.

Daniel was lifted out without injury because he believed in God. The king then punished Daniel's accusers and their families, and they died in the lions' den. Darius sent a message throughout his kingdom honoring Daniel's God, and Daniel prospered.

Darius organized his kingdom under one hundred and twenty princes and placed three presidents over them. Daniel was one of those presidents. Because Daniel had an excellent spirit and distinguished himself in his work, the king thought about setting him over the whole realm.

The other presidents and princes looked for a fault in Daniel's government work, but they could find no error or corruption. They decided the only way to accuse him was to create a conflict involving the law of his God.

They went to Darius and asked him to establish a royal law for thirty days: no one could make a request to any god or person except the king. Breaking the law would mean being cast into a den of lions. They reminded Darius that under the law of the Medes and Persians, a signed decree could not be changed. The king signed it.

Daniel knew the decree had been signed. He went to his house, where his windows were open toward Jerusalem, and knelt to pray three times that day, giving thanks before God just as he had done before. The men found him praying and brought the matter to Darius.

The king was deeply displeased with himself and worked until sunset to find a way to rescue Daniel. The officials reminded him that the decree could not be altered. Daniel was placed in the lions' den, and the entrance was closed with a stone and sealed. Darius told Daniel that the God he served continually would deliver him.

The king returned to his palace, fasted, refused entertainment and could not sleep. Very early the next morning he hurried to the den and called out to Daniel. Daniel answered that God had sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they had not hurt him.

Darius was very glad. Daniel was lifted out, and no injury was found on him because he believed in his God.

The chapter then records a hard part of the account. The men who had accused Daniel, together with their wives and children, were cast into the lions' den and died. Darius afterward sent a decree throughout his kingdom calling people to fear Daniel's God. Daniel continued to prosper during the reigns of Darius and Cyrus the Persian.