Story Twelve

 •  7 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS
Dan. 6:1 to 28
THE lands which had been the Băb-y̆-lṓ an or Chal-dḗ an empire now became the empire of Pe͂ŕ s̝iȧ; and over these Dā̇-rī́ us was the king. King Dā̇-rī́ us gave to Dăń iel, who was now a very old man, a high place in honor and in power. Among all the rulers over the land Dăń iel stood first, for the king saw that he was wise, and able to rule. This made the other princes and rulers very jealous, and they tried to find something evil in Dăń iel, so that they could speak to the king against him.
These men knew that three times every day Dăń iel went to his room, and opened the window that was toward the city of Jē̇-rṳ́ sā̇-lĕm, and looking toward Jē̇-rṳ́ sā̇-lĕm made his prayer to God. Jē̇-rṳ́ sā̇-lĕm was at that time in ruins, and the Temple was no longer standing; but Dăń iel prayed three times each day with his face toward the place where the house of God had once stood, although it was many hundreds of miles away.
These nobles thought that in Dăń iel’s prayers they could find a chance to do him harm, and perhaps cause him to be put to death. They came to King Dā̇-rī́ us, and said to him:
"All the rulers have agreed together to have a law made that for thirty days no one shall ask anything of any god or any man, except from you, O king; and that if any one shall pray to any god, or shall ask anything from any man during thirty days, except from you, O king, he shall be thrown into the den where the lions are kept. Now, O king, make the law, and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, for no law among the Mēdes̝ and Pe͂r ́s̝ians̝ can be altered.”
The king was not a wise man, and being foolish and vain, he was pleased with this law which would set him even above the gods. So, without asking Dăń iel's advice, he signed the writing; and the law was made, and the word was sent out through the kingdom that for thirty days no one should pray to any god, or ask a favor of any man.
Dăń iel knew that the law had been made, but every day he went to his room three times, and opened the window that looked toward Jē̇-rṳ́ sā̇-lĕm, and offered his prayer to the Lord, just as he had prayed in other times. These rulers were watching nearby, and they saw Dăń iel kneeling in prayer to God. Then they came to the king, and said, "O King Dā̇-rī́ us, have you not made a law that if any one in thirty days offers a prayer, he shall be thrown into the den of lions?" "It is true," said the king. "The law has been made, and it must stand.”
They said to the king, "There is one man who does not obey the law which you have made. It is that Dăń iel, one of the captive Jews. Every day Dăń iel prays to his God three times, just as he did before you signed the writing of the law.”
Then the king was very sorry for what he had done, for he loved Dăń iel, and knew that no one could take his place in the kingdom. All day, until the sun went down, he tried in vain to find some way to save Dăń iel's life; but when evening came these men again told him of the law that he had made, and said to him that it must be kept. Very unwillingly the king sent for Dăń iel, and gave an order that he should be thrown into the den of lions. He said to Dăń iel, "Perhaps your God, whom you serve so faithfully, will save you from' the lions.”
They led Dăń iel to the mouth of the pit where the lions were kept, and they threw him in; and over the mouth they placed a stone; and the king sealed it with his own seal and with the seals of his nobles, so that no one might take away the stone and let Dăń iel out of the den.
Then the king went again to his palace, but that night he was so sad that he could not eat, nor did he listen to music as he was used to listen. He could not sleep, for all through the night he was thinking of Daniel. Very early in the morning he rose up from his bed, and went in haste to the den of lions. He broke the seal, and took away the stone, and in a voice full of sorrow he called out, scarcely hoping to hear any answer except the roaring of the lions, "O Dăń iel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to keep you safe from the lions?”
And out of the darkness in the den came the voice of Dăń iel, saying, "O king, may you live forever! My God has sent his angel, and has shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because my God saw that I had done no wrong. And I have done no wrong toward you, O king!”
Then the king was glad. He gave to his servants orders to take Dăń iel out of the den. Dăń iel was brought out safe and without harm, because he had trusted fully in the Lord God. Then, by the king's command, they seized those men who had spoken against Dăń iel, and with them their wives and their children, for the king was exceedingly angry with them. They were all thrown into the den, and the hungry lions leaped upon them, and tore them in pieces as soon as they fell upon the floor of the den.
It was very cruel and unjust to put to death with these men their wives and children, who had done no wrong, either to King Dā̇-rī́ us or to Dăń iel. But cruel and unjust as it was, such things were very common in all the lands of that part of the world. The lives of people were but little cared for, and children often suffered death for their parents' crime.
After this King Dā̇-rī́ us wrote to all the lands and the peoples in the many kingdoms under his rule, "May peace be given to you all abundantly! I make a law that everywhere among my kingdoms men fear and worship the Lord God of Dăń iel, for he is the living God, above all other gods, who only can save men.”
And Dăń iel stood beside King Dā̇-rī́ us unto the end of his reign, and afterward while Cȳ́ rus the Pe͂ŕ s̝ian was king over all the lands.
Dăń iel lived for a number of years after being saved from the lions. He had several wonderful dreams and visions, which showed him what would come to pass many years afterward, and even to the coming of Jesus Christ.
Lesson 41. Daniel.
(Tell Stories 10, 11, and 12 in Part Fifth.)
1. What came upon King Nebuchadnezzar? He lost his mind for seven years.
2. What became of the Babylonian kingdom when Nebuchadnezzar died? It lost its power.
3. Who was the last king in Babylon? Belshazzar.
4. What did Belshazzar see one night in his palace? A hand writing on the wall.
5. Who read the writing to the king? Daniel.
6. What did the writing mean? That his kingdom was ended.
7. How was the kingdom ended? The, city was taken and Belshazzar was killed.
8. What kingdom took the place of the Babylonian kingdom? The kingdom of Persia.
9. What was done to Daniel after this? He was thrown into a den of lions.
10. How was Daniel saved from the lions? The Lord shut the lions' mouths.