Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
King Darius appoints Daniel to a prominent administrative position, and a group of covetous ministers plot to have Daniel killed. When Daniel breaks a new law that bans prayer, the ministers have him thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel emerges unscathed, and Darius has the ministers killed along with their families. He also sends a letter to all citizens praising Daniel’s God.
II. Photo
Verse 17 says: “By the king’s order, Daniel was then brought and thrown into the lions’ den. The king spoke to Daniel and said, ‘Your God, whom you serve so regularly, will deliver you.’”
III. Important Verses
v. 11: When Daniel learned that it had been put in writing, he went to his house, in whose upper chamber he had had windows made facing Jerusalem, and three times a day he knelt down, prayed, and made confession to his God, as he had always done.
vv. 22-23: Daniel then talked with the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel, who shut the mouths of the lions so that they did not injure me, inasmuch as I was found innocent by Him, nor have I, O king, done you any injury.”
vv. 26-28: Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language that inhabit the earth, “May your well-being abound! I have hereby given an order that throughout my royal domain men must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God who endures forever; His kingdom is indestructible, and His dominion is to the end of time; He delivers and saves, and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, for He delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
IV. Outline
1. Darius the Mede takes control of the Empire
2-4. Daniel rises in stature
5-6. Other ministers conspire against Daniel
7-10. Darius decrees that all petitions must be made to himself, not any other god or man
11. Daniel prays to God
12-18. Darius reluctantly sends Daniel to the lion’s den
19-24. Daniel emerges unscathed
25. Darius throws the plotters to their deaths in the lions den
26-28. Darius publicly praises God
29. Conclusion
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo taken from http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/04/23/PH2009042301696.jpg
