The story of Daniel in the lions' den is found in the sixth chapter of the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. Daniel is an official in the Persian empire under King Darius, who (at the instigation of his other officials) had made a decree that no-one was to offer prayer to any god or man except him for a period of thirty days. Daniel continued to pray as was his habit, and for this he was arrested and thrown into a lions' den. However, he was unharmed, and after he was released the following morning, the people who had cajoled the king into making the decree (which was for the sole purpose of getting at Daniel) were thrown into the lions' den themselves.

According to the Book of Daniel, Darius the Mede took over the kingdom of Babylon when he was sixty-two years of age. This introduces the sixth chapter where Daniel is appointed to serve as one of three royal administrators over the satraps who governed throughout the kingdom.

Daniel was a distinguished government official who possessed exceptional qualities that won the favor of Darius. This caught the attention of other administrators in the same service as well as the satraps themselves. They investigated Daniel for any corruptible behavior that they could use against him, but found nothing. So, they resorted to conspire against Daniel by urging the king to issue this decree: that anyone in the next thirty days, found praying to god or man, other than the king, shall be fed to the lions.

Darius put the prayer decree in writing in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians. The conspirators used this as leverage to convict Daniel of treason since they knew he prays to his God, YHVH, three times a day. As soon as they caught him, they apprehended Daniel and addressed the King about what they’ve discovered. Per the law, Darius was forced to have Daniel thrown into the lions’ den.

Subsequently, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den and a stone was placed over the mouth of the entrance. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles. Darius was so upset with what he was forced to do, that he couldn’t eat, sleep or be entertained. The next morning, Darius calls to Daniel to find out if his God has rescued him. Daniel replies that God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions so as not to hurt him. He is then brought out of the den unscathed, due to his faith in God.

Daniel’s accusers and their families, however, are thrown into the lions’ den and do not even reach the bottom of the pit before being consumed by the lions. Darius then writes a letter to all the peoples, nations and tongues magnifying the God of Daniel, YHVH. Daniel thus prospers in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

M11 U4 Grammar:

  Daniel in the lion's den : The allusion refers to someone facing a difficult task.