Daniel 6

The Plot against Daniel

1Darius decided # 6:1 Lit It was pleasing before Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2and over them three administrators, including Daniel. # 6:2 Dn 2:48–49; 5:16,29 These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. # 6:2 Ezr 4:22; Est 7:4 3Daniel # 6:3 Lit Now this Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, # 6:3 Dn 5:12,14; 9:23 so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. # 6:3 Gn 41:40; Est 10:3 4The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel # 6:4 Gn 43:18; Jdg 14:4; Jr 20:10; Dn 3:8; Lk 20:20 regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, # 6:4 Dn 6:22; Lk 20:26; 23:14; Php 2:15; 1Pt 2:12; 3:16 for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.” # 6:5 Ac 24:13–16,20–21

6So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever. # 6:6 Neh 2:3; Dn 2:4; 5:10; 6:21 7All the administrators of the kingdom # 6:7 Dn 3:2,27 — the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors — have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that, for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den. # 6:7 Ps 10:9; Dn 3:6; 6:16 8Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict # 6:8 Est 3:12; 8:10; Is 10:1 and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.” # 6:8 Est 1:9; 8:8; Dn 6:12,15 9So King Darius signed the written edict. # 6:9 Ps 118:9; 146:3

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, # 6:10 1Kg 8:44–49; Ps 5:7; Jnh 2:4 and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, # 6:10 Ps 34:1; Dn 9:4–19; Php 4:6; 1Th 5:17–18 just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found # 6:11 Ps 37:32–33; Dn 6:6 Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12So they approached the king # 6:12 Dn 3:8–12; Ac 16:19–21 and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den? ”

The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands # 6:12 Lit the word is certain and is irrevocable.” # 6:12 Est 1:19; Dn 6:8,15

13Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, # 6:13 Est 3:8; Dn 3:12; Ac 5:29 the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel # 6:14 Mk 6:26 and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

15Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.” # 6:15 Est 8:8; Ps 94:20,21; Dn 6:8,12

16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. # 6:16 2Sm 3:39; Jr 38:5; Dn 6:7 The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve, # 6:16 Jb 5:19; Ps 37:39–40; Is 41:10; 2Co 1:10 rescue you! ” 17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. # 6:17 Lm 3:53; Mt 27:66 The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. 18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. # 6:18 2Sm 12:16,17 No diversions # 6:18 Aramaic obscure were brought to him, and he could not sleep. # 6:18 Est 6:1; Ps 77:4; Dn 2:1

Daniel Released

19At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said, # 6:20 Lit said to Daniel “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you # 6:20 Gn 18:14; Nm 11:23; Jr 32:17; Dn 3:17 from the lions? ”

21Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. 22My God sent his angel # 6:22 Nm 20:16; Is 63:9; Dn 3:28; Ac 12:11; Heb 1:14 and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”

23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God. # 6:23 1Ch 5:20; 2Ch 20:20; Ps 118:8–9; Is 26:3; Dn 3:17–18 24The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel # 6:24 Lit had eaten his pieces,# 6:24 Dn 3:8; 6:12–13 were brought and thrown into the lions’ den — they, their children, and their wives. # 6:24 Dt 24:16; 2Kg 14:6; Est 9:10 They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Darius Honors God

25Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live on the whole earth: “May your prosperity abound. # 6:25 Ezr 4:17; 1Pt 1:2 26I issue a decree # 6:26 Ezr 6:8–12; 7:13,21; Dn 3:29; 4:6 that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: # 6:26 Dn 5:19

For he is the living God,

and he endures forever;

his kingdom will never be destroyed, # 6:26 Ps 93:1–2; Dn 2:44; 7:14; Mal 3:6

and his dominion has no end.

27He rescues and delivers;

he performs signs and wonders

in the heavens and on the earth, # 6:27 Dn 4:2–3

for he has rescued Daniel

from the power of the lions.”

28So Daniel prospered # 6:28 Dn 1:21 during the reign of Darius and # 6:28 Or Darius, even the reign of Cyrus the Persian. # 6:28 2Ch 36:22–23; Dn 10:1

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Daniel 6: CSB

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Daniel 6

1And Daryavesh the Mede took the malchut, being about 62 years old. 2 It pleased Daryavesh to set over the malchut an hundred and twenty satraps, which should be over the whole malchut; 3 And over these three overseers, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give accounts unto them, and that the king should suffer no loss. 4 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the overseers and satraps, because an excellent ruach was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole malchut. 5 Then the overseers and satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the malchut; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was trustworthy, neither was there any negligence or corrupt thing found in him.

6 Then said these anashim, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the dat (law, religion) of his G-d. 7 Then these overseers and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Daryavesh, L'olam yicheyeh (live for ever!) 8 All the overseers of the malchut, the administrators, and the satraps, the counselors, and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall make a petition of any g-d or man for shloshim yom (thirty days), except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 9 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the ketav (writing, document), that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 10 Wherefore king Daryavesh signed the written decree.

11 Now when Daniel knew that the ketav was signed, he went into his bais; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Yerushalayim, he kneeled down three times that day, and davened, and gave thanks before his G-d, as he had been doing before this. 12 Then these anashim assembled, and found Daniel davening and making supplication before his G-d. 13 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the kingʼs decree: Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall make a petition of any g-d or man within shloshim yom, except 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 cannot be changed. 14 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the Bnei Golus of Yehudah, shows no regard for thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

15 Then the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he did strive till the going down of the shemesh to deliver him. 16 Then these anashim assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Have da'as, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

17 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Eloheicha (Thy G-d) whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. 18 And an even (stone) was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring, and with the signet ring of his nobles, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 19 Then the king went to his heikhal, and spent the night fasting, neither were entertainments brought before him, and his sheynah fled from him. 20 Then the king arose very early in the boker, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 21 And when he came to the den, he cried with an anguished voice unto Daniel; and the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, eved of HaElohim HaChai, is thy G-d, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 22 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, L'olam yicheyeh (live for ever). 23 My G-d hath sent his malach, and hath shut the lionsʼ mouths that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before Him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no rah (wrong). 24 Then was the king exceedingly 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 had emunah in his G-d. 25 And the king commanded, and they brought those anashim which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

26 Then king Daryavesh wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in kol ha'aretz; Shalom aleichem l'machbir (Peace be multiplied unto you). 27 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my malchut men must tremble and fear before the G-d of Daniel,

for He is HaElohim HaChai,

and stedfast l'olamim (forever),

and His malchut that which shall not be destroyed,

and His dominion shall be even ad hasof (unto the end).

28 He delivereth and rescueth,

and He worketh otot and mofetim

in Shomayim and in ha'aretz,

Who hath delivered Daniel

from the power of the lions.

29 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Daryavesh, and in the reign of Koresh (Cyrus) the Persian.

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