DanielLions

The most famous story about Daniel, a Jew living in exile in Babylon, tells of his miraculous survival after spending a night in a lion's den.

Even though he was a foreigner, Daniel was a high-ranking official under Darius, the king of Persia. When jealous rivals discovered that Daniel was about to be given a powerful new position, they plotted against him. knowing that it was a Jewish custom to pray to God three times a day, they convinced Darius to issue a law forbidding prayers to anyone other than the king himself for 30 days. Anyone disobeying this law would be thrown to the lions. When the pious Daniel continued praying to God, his rivals gleefully reported him to the king.

Darius realized he had been tricked into condemening his favorite official and tried desperately to find a way to spare Daniel, but Darius could not. That evening he had Daniel sent to the lions' den.

After a sleepless night, the king rushed to the den and called Daniel: "Has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?" Daniel, unharmed, answered, "My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths" (Dan 6:20-22).

Greatly relieved, the king had Daniel released and his accusers thrown to the lions. He then wrote a decree instructing the people to respect the God of Daniel, "for he is the living God, enduring forever" (Dan 6:26).

Did you know? Executed with Daniel's accusers were their wives & children. A man's family was considered part of his possessions and consequently was destroyed with him.