Daniel
Chapter 6
Darius the Mede, at the age of sixty-two, took over the kingdom.
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Darius appointed a hundred and twenty satraps across the entire kingdom. They were held accountable to three administrators, one of whom was Daniel. This was to ensure that no loss or harm would come to the king.
Because of the extraordinary spirit within him, Daniel excelled above all the other administrators and satraps, leading the king to plan to give him authority over the entire kingdom.
This caused envy among the administrators and satraps, who tried to find reasons to accuse Daniel of misconduct in his official duties. But he was so trustworthy that no corruption or negligence could be found in him.
Finally, the men decided: “We will never find any grounds for charges against this man Daniel except in something related to the law of his God.”
These administrators and satraps, therefore, went as a group to the king and said to him: “Live forever, O king Darius!
The administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors agreed that the king should issue and enforce a decree, stating that anyone who prays and makes petitions to any god or man within the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.
And now, O king, put the decree in writing and have it signed immediately so that it cannot be altered or annulled, in accordance with Medo-Persian laws.”
King Darius put in writing and signed the decree, thus making it a law.
Daniel heard about the new law, but just like always, he went home and prayed three times a day, thanking his God in his upstairs room with the windows open toward Jerusalem.
There, the men spying on him saw Daniel kneeling in prayer and asking God for help.
So they went to the king and reminded him about the decree: “O king, did you not publish a decree that anyone who prays or makes a petition to any god or man except to you would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered: “Yes, and the decree stands, in accordance with Medo-Persian laws which cannot be altered or annulled.”
Then they said: “But the Jewish exile Daniel pays no attention to you or your decree. Three times a day, he still prays to some god other than you.”
Greatly distressed by what he heard, the king decided to help Daniel. He made every effort until sundown to save him.
But the men kept approaching him and insisting: “Remember, O king, that under the Medo-Persian laws, every decree or prohibition issued by the king is final.”
The king, therefore, could not help but order that Daniel be brought and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel: “May your God, whom you serve faithfully, save you.”
A stone was placed at the entrance of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring along with those of his nobles to keep Daniel’s situation unchanged.
Then the king returned to his palace and had a restless night, refusing food and entertainment.
Early the next morning, he got up quickly and hurried to the lions’ den.
As he approached, he called out in a distressed voice: “Daniel, servant of the living God, did your God, whom you serve faithfully, save you from the lions?”
Daniel answered: “Live forever, O king!
My God sent his angel, who shut the lions’ mouths so they wouldn’t hurt me. God did this because I am innocent in his sight. I have not wronged you, O king.”
The king felt pleased and ordered Daniel to be released from the lions’ den. No injuries were found on him because he trusted in his God.
At the king’s command, the men who had accused Daniel were thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. As soon as they hit the floor of the den, the lions lunged at them and tore them apart.
King Darius sent a message to all nations and peoples of every language, saying: “Peace to you all!
I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should respect and fear the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, and forever he endures; his kingdom will not be crushed, his dominion will never cease.
He rescues and he delivers; he performs signs and wonders both in heaven and on earth. And he came to Daniel’s rescue saving him from the lions’ power.”
Daniel prospered greatly during the reigns of Darius and Cyrus the Persian.
Commentaries
The Banquet of Belshazzar.
In reality, Belshazzar was not Nebuchadnezzar’s son but his grandson, and he was never king; instead, he served as regent for his father, Nabonidus, after Nabonidus retired to the desert. This shows that the Bible is not a book of absolute historical facts. What is important is God’s message: The three words written on the wall are measures of weight and signify that the days of Belshazzar’s reign, who had desecrated the sacred vessels, are numbered. One does not trifle with the “Most High God” (21-22).
Daniel in the Lions’ Den.
The final part of the first section of the book (chapters 1-6) is set during the reign of a specific Median king, Darius. In fact, the conqueror of Babylon was Cyrus of Persia (Is 45:1). In this book, the sequence of peoples who ruled Israel is: Babylon, Media, Persia, and Greece. The author’s primary focus is on the situation of religious persecution during the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.). Throughout all these stories, the core message remains the same: the Lord is the only king who holds dominion and wisdom. Although the Jews have lost their land, their temple, and their monarchy, they can still trust in their God.