Daniel in the Lions' Den

During the reign of King Darius in Babylon, Daniel was appointed as one of three presidents over one hundred and twenty princes. Because an excellent spirit was in him, the king thought to set him over the whole realm (Daniel 6:3). The other presidents and princes sought to find an occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no fault because he was faithful. These men induced Darius to sign a royal statute and a firm decree that whoever asked a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of the king, should be cast into the den of lions (Daniel 6:7). Despite knowing the writing was signed, Daniel went into his house and prayed three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem.

The men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. They informed the king, reminding him that the law of the Medes and Persians could not be altered. The king was sore displeased with himself and labored until the going down of the sun to deliver Daniel, but the men insisted the decree must stand. Therefore, the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions, though the king expressed a hope that Daniel's God would deliver him (Daniel 6:16). A stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet. The text does not say what the interior of the den looked like or how many lions were present.

The king spent the night fasting and went early in the morning to the den, crying out with a lamentable voice to see if Daniel survived. Daniel replied that his God had sent His angel to shut the lions' mouths because innocency was found in him (Daniel 6:22). Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him because he believed in his God. By the king's command, the men who had accused Daniel, along with their children and wives, were cast into the den, and the lions mastered them before they reached the bottom of the den.