CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Daniel 6
Chapter 6 of 12
Chapter Overview
What happens in Daniel 6
Under the new ruler Darius the Mede, Daniel is promoted to a top position. Jealous officials trick the king into making a law that forbids prayer to anyone except the king. Daniel continues to pray to God and is thrown into a den of lions, but God protects him.
Scripture
Daniel 6
Daniel Rises to Power
Study note
Darius the Mede organized his new kingdom with 120 regional governors and three chief administrators. Daniel was one of the three top leaders and quickly stood out because of his excellent spirit. The king planned to put Daniel over the entire kingdom.
1 Darius set up his kingdom. He chose 120 rulers to manage its parts. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 Over those governors, he placed three chief administrators, and Daniel was one of them. The governors reported to these three men to protect the king's interests. And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3 Daniel quickly stood out from all the other leaders because of his great character. In fact, the king was planning to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
A Trap Is Set for Daniel
Study note
The other officials were jealous of Daniel and tried to find something wrong with his work, but they could not. They realized the only way to trap him was through his faithfulness to God. The law of the Medes and Persians could not be changed, even by the king himself.
4 This made the other administrators and governors jealous. They searched hard for something Daniel had done wrong in his government work, but they came up completely empty. He was honest, responsible, and made no mistakes. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 At last they said this. "We will never catch Daniel doing wrong. The only way is to use his loyalty to his God against him." Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6 So these officials went as a group to see the king. "King Darius, may you live forever!" they said. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 "All of your top administrators, governors, counselors, captains, and officials have agreed on a new law. For the next thirty days, no one should pray to any god or person except to you, your majesty. Anyone who breaks this law will be thrown into the lions' den." All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 "Please sign this into law so it cannot be changed. It must follow the law of the Medes and Persians, which can never be undone." Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 King Darius signed the law. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Daniel Continues to Pray
Study note
Daniel knew about the new law but continued his regular practice of praying three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem. This showed his faith and courage. The officials caught him praying and reported it to the king, who realized too late that he had been tricked.
10 When Daniel found out the law had been signed, he went home. He climbed the stairs to his upstairs room where the windows faced Jerusalem. He did exactly what he always did. He got on his knees three times that day and prayed, thanking his God. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 The other officials went together and caught Daniel in the act — praying and asking God for help. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 They ran to the king and reminded him about his new law. "Did you not sign a law saying that for thirty days, anyone who prays to any god or person besides you will be thrown to the lions?" The king replied, "Yes, and it follows the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed." Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then they told the king, "That Daniel — the captive from Judah — completely ignores you and your law. He is still praying to his God three times every day." Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 The king was devastated when he heard this. He spent the rest of the day trying desperately to find a legal way to save Daniel. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 But the officials came back and urged him, "Remember, your majesty! The law of the Medes and Persians says that no royal law or order can ever be changed." Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Daniel in the Lions' Den
Study note
King Darius was forced by his own law to throw Daniel into the lions' den. He spent the night fasting and could not sleep. Early the next morning, he rushed to the den and called out to Daniel. God had sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths because Daniel was innocent.
16 The king had no choice. He gave the order, and Daniel was thrown into the lions' den. But the king said to Daniel, "I pray that your God, whom you serve so faithfully, will rescue you!" Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
17 A heavy stone was rolled over the opening. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and the rings of his officials so nothing about Daniel's situation could be tampered with. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 The king went back to his palace but could not eat, could not sleep, and refused any entertainment that night. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 At the very first light of dawn, the king jumped up and raced to the lions' den. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 When he got there, he called out in a shaky voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to save you from the lions?" And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Daniel's voice came back: "Long live the king!" Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 "My God sent his angel, who closed the lions' mouths tight. They did not lay a tooth on me, because God found me innocent. And I have never done anything wrong to you either, your majesty." My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 The king was overjoyed. He ordered Daniel pulled out immediately. When they lifted him from the den, there was not a single scratch on him — because he had put his trust in God. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Daniel's Accusers Punished
Study note
The men who accused Daniel were thrown into the lions' den themselves. King Darius wrote a decree to his whole kingdom, declaring that everyone should fear and respect Daniel's God. Daniel continued to serve through the reign of Darius and into the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
24 Then the king ordered the men who had accused Daniel to be thrown into the lions' den — along with their wives and children. Before their bodies even hit the ground, the lions pounced and crushed every bone. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
25 After this, King Darius wrote to all the peoples and nations in his kingdom. He said, "May you have great peace!" Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 "I am making a new law: In every corner of my kingdom, people must tremble with respect before Daniel's God. He is the living God who lasts forever. His kingdom will never be overthrown, and his rule has no end." I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 "He rescues and saves people. He performs amazing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from being eaten by lions." He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So Daniel did well during the time of Darius. He kept on doing well during the time of Cyrus the Persian. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Key Themes
Themes in Daniel 6
Faithful prayer lifeGod shuts the mouths of lionsIntegrity that invites jealousyCivil disobedience for GodGod rescues the faithful
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Daniel 22 Hebrews 11:33
The author of Hebrews lists those who 'shut the mouths of lions' among the heroes of faith, a direct reference to God's deliverance of Daniel in the lions' den.
Apply This Today
Living Daniel 6
Daniel's enemies could find no corruption in Him — the only thing they could attack was His faithfulness to God. What a testimony! This chapter challenges us to live with such integrity that the only thing people can criticize is our devotion to God. It also reminds us that a consistent prayer life is not optional — it is the foundation of a faithful life.
Go Deeper
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