1Darius decided Lit It was pleasing before Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm,

2and over them three administrators, including Daniel. Dn 2:48-49; 5:16,29 These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. Ezr 4:22; Est 7:4

3Daniel Lit Now this Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, Dn 5:12,14; 9:23 so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. Gn 41:40; Est 10:3

4The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel 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, 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.” 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. Neh 2:3; Dn 2:4; 5:10; 6:21

7All the administrators of the kingdom, 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 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den. Ps 10:9; Dn 3:6; 6:16

8Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict 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.” Est 1:9; 8:8; Dn 6:12,15

9So King Darius signed the document. Ps 118:9; 146:3

10When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, 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, 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 Ps 37:32,33; Dn 6:6 Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.

12So they approached the king Dn 3:8-12; Ac 16:19-21 and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den? ”

13Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, 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 Mk 6:26 and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

15Then these men went to the king and said to him, “You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.” 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. 2Sm 3:39; Jr 38:5; Dn 6:7 The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, 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. 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. 2Sm 12:16,17 No diversions Hb obscure were brought to him, and he could not sleep. Est 6:1; Ps 77:4; Dn 2:1

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, Lit said to Daniel “has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you 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 Nm 20:16; Is 63:9; Dn 3:28; Ac 12:11; Heb 1:14 and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.”

23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God. 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 Lit had eaten his pieces Dn 3:8; 6:12-13 were brought and thrown into the lions’ den — they, their children, and their wives. 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.

25Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: “May your prosperity abound. Ezr 4:17; 1Pt 1:2

26I issue a decree 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: Dn 5:19

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