(KJV) Daniel 61

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⥃The Plot against Daniel

[1] It pleased Darius2 to set over the kingdom an3 hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; [2] And over these three presidents; of4 whom Daniel [was] first: that5 the princes might give accounts unto them, and the6 king should have no damage. [3] Then this Daniel was preferred7 above the presidents an8d princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought9 to set him over the whole realm.

[4] [¶]Then the presidents and princes sought10 to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but11 they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.12 [5] 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.13 [6] Then these presidents and princes assembled together14 to the king15, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. [7] All16 the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted17 together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree18, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall19 be cast into the den of lions. [8] Now, O king, establish20 the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according21 to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not22. [9] Wherefore king Darius signed23 the writing and the decree.

⥃Daniel in the Lions’ Den

[10] [¶]Now when24 Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows25 being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled26 upon his knees three27 times a day, and prayed, and gave28 thanks before his God, as he29 did aforetime. [11] Then these men assembled30, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. [12] Then they31 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 den32 of lions? The king answered and said, The thing33 [is] true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. [13] Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel34, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth35 not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. [14] Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore36 displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he37 laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. [15] Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know38, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. [16] Then the king39 commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God40 whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. [17] And a stone41 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] Then the king went to his palace, and passed42 the night fasting: neither were instruments43 of musick brought before him: and44 his sleep went from him. [19] Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.45 [20] 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, is46 thy God, whom thou servest47 continually, able48 to deliver thee from the lions? [21] Then said Daniel unto the king, O king49, live for ever. [22] My God50 hath sent51 his angel, and hath shut52 the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch53 as before him innocency was found in me; and also54 before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. [23] Then was55 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, because56 he believed in his God.

[24] [¶]And the king commanded, and they brought57 those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them58] into the den of lions, them, their children59, and their wives; and the lions60 had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

⥃Darius Honors God

[25] Then king61 Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace62 be multiplied unto you. [26] I make63 a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble64 and fear befor65e the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast66 for ever, and his kingdom67 [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end. [27] He delivereth68 and rescueth, and he69 worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power70 of the lions. [28] So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in71 the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

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  1. Dan 6:1, Daniel is made chief of the presidents; Dan 6:4, They, conspiring against him, obtain an idolatrous decree; Dan 6:10, Daniel, accused of the breach thereof, is cast into the lion’s den; Dan 6:18, Daniel is saved; Dan 6:24, his adversaries devoured; Dan 6:25, and God magnified by a decree. ↩

  2. Dan 5:31; 1Pet 2:14 ↩

  3. Exod 18:21-22; Esth 1:1 ↩

  4. Dan 2:48-49, Dan 5:16, Dan 5:29; 1Sam 2:30; Prov 3:16 ↩

  5. Matt 18:23; Luke 16:2 ↩

  6. Ezra 4:22; Esth 7:4; Prov 26:6; Luke 19:13-27; 1Cor 4:2 ↩

  7. Prov 22:29 ↩

  8. Dan 5:12, Dan 5:14, Dan 9:23; Gen 41:38-41; Neh 7:2; Prov 3:3-4, Prov 17:27; Eccl 2:13 ↩

  9. Intended to make him grand vizier or emiru l umra. Daniel had now been employed full sixty-five years as prime minister under the kings of Babylon; and was justly entitled, from his acknowledged wisdom, to this preference. ↩

  10. Dan 3:8; Gen 43:18; Judg 14:4; Ps 37:12-13, Ps 37:32-33; Prov 29:27; Eccl 4:4; Jer 18:18, Jer 18:23, Jer 20:10; Matt 26:4, Matt 27:18; Luke 20:20, Luke 22:2 ↩

  11. 1Sam 18:14, 1Sam 19:4-5, 1Sam 22:14; Luke 23:14-15; John 19:4; 2Cor 11:12; Phil 2:15; 1Tim 5:14; Titus 2:8; 1Pet 2:12, 1Pet 3:16, 1Pet 4:14-16 ↩

  12. Cir, am 3467, bc 537 ↩

  13. 1Sam 24:17; Esth 3:8; John 19:6-7; Acts 24:13-16, Acts 24:20-21 ↩

  14. or, came tumultuously, Dan 6:11; Ps 56:6, Ps 62:3, Ps 64:2-6; Matt 27:23-25; Luke 23:23-25; Acts 22:22-23 ↩

  15. Dan 6:21, Dan 2:4, Dan 3:9, Dan 5:10; Neh 2:3; Acts 24:2 ↩

  16. Dan 6:2-3, Dan 3:2, Dan 3:27 ↩

  17. Ps 2:2, Ps 59:3, Ps 62:4, Ps 83:1-3, Ps 94:20; Mic 6:5; Matt 12:14, Matt 26:4; Mark 15:1; John 12:10; Acts 4:5-7, Acts 4:26-28 ↩

  18. or, interdict ↩

  19. Dan 3:6, Dan 3:11; Ps 10:9; Nah 2:12 ↩

  20. Esth 3:12, Esth 8:10; Isa 10:1 ↩

  21. Dan 6:12, Dan 6:15; Esth 1:19, Esth 8:3 ↩

  22. Chal, passeth not, Matt 24:35 ↩

  23. Ps 62:9-10, Ps 118:9, Ps 146:3; Prov 6:2; Isa 2:22 ↩

  24. Luke 14:26; Acts 4:17-19 ↩

  25. 1Kgs 8:30, 1Kgs 8:38, 1Kgs 8:44, 1Kgs 8:48-50; 2Chr 6:38; Ps 5:7; Jonah 2:4; Heb 4:16 ↩

  26. 1Kgs 8:54; 2Chr 6:13; Ezra 9:5; Ps 95:6; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60, Acts 9:40, Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5; Eph 3:14 ↩

  27. Dan 6:13; Ps 55:17, Ps 86:3 *marg. Acts 2:1-2, Acts 2:15, Acts 3:1, Acts 10:9 ↩

  28. Ps 34:1; Phil 4:6; Col 3:17; 1Thess 5:17-18; Heb 13:15 ↩

  29. Neh 6:11; Ps 11:1-2; Matt 10:28-33; Luke 12:4-9; Acts 4:18-19, Acts 4:29; Acts 5:20, Acts 5:29, Acts 5:40-42, Acts 20:24; Phil 1:14, Phil 1:20; Rev 2:10, Rev 2:13 ↩

  30. Dan 6:6; Ps 10:9, Ps 37:32-33 ↩

  31. Dan 3:8-12; Acts 16:19, Acts 16:24, Acts 24:2-9 ↩

  32. It is probable that these lions were kept for the purpose of devouring certain criminals, whom the laws might consign to that kind of death. ↩

  33. Dan 6:8; Esth 1:19 ↩

  34. Dan 1:6, Dan 2:25, Dan 5:13 ↩

  35. Dan 3:12; Esth 3:8; Acts 5:29, Acts 17:7 ↩

  36. The king now clearly perceived for what purpose the decree had been solicited; and was exceedingly displeased with himself that he had suffered himself to be so deluded. Dan 3:13; Matt 27:17-24; Mark 6:26; Luke 23:13-21; John 19:7-12 ↩

  37. He strove during the whole day, by every means, to evade or annul the edict; but the foolish constitution of his government (exactly the reverse of the happy rule for the conduct of our gracious monarch) did not allow them to pardon any person who had broken one of their decrees, however arbitrary and unreasonable. 2Sam 3:28-29 ↩

  38. Dan 6:8, Dan 6:12; Esth 8:8; Ps 94:20-21 ↩

  39. 2Sam 3:39; Prov 29:25; Jer 26:14, Jer 38:5; Matt 14:8-10, Matt 27:23-26; Mark 6:25-28, Mark 15:14-15; John 19:12-16; Acts 24:27, Acts 25:9, Acts 25:11; Rom 13:3 ↩

  40. Dan 6:20, Dan 3:15, Dan 3:17, Dan 3:28; Job 5:19; Ps 37:39-40, Ps 91:14-16, Ps 118:8-9; Isa 43:2; Acts 27:23-24 ↩

  41. Lam 3:53; Matt 27:60-66; Acts 12:4, Acts 16:23-24 ↩

  42. 2Sam 12:16-17, 2Sam 19:24; 1Kgs 21:27; Job 21:12; Ps 137:2; Eccl 2:8; Isa 24:8-9; Amos 6:4-6; Jonah 3:3-9; Rev 18:22 ↩

  43. or, table ↩

  44. Dan 2:1; Esth 6:1; Ps 77:4 ↩

  45. Matt 28:1; Mark 16:2; 2Cor 2:13; 1Thess 3:5 ↩

  46. Dan 6:16, Dan 6:27, Dan 3:15, Dan 3:17, Dan 3:28-29 ↩

  47. 1Chr 16:11; Ps 71:14-18, Ps 73:23, Ps 119:112, Ps 146:2; Prov 23:17-18; Hos 12:6; Luke 18:1; Acts 6:4; Rom 2:7; Col 4:2; 1Thess 5:17-18; Jas 1:25 ↩

  48. Dan 3:17; Gen 18:14; Num 11:23, Num 14:15-16; Jer 32:17; Luke 1:37; 2Cor 1:10; 2Tim 1:12, 2Tim 4:16-18; Heb 7:25; Jude 1:24 ↩

  49. Dan 6:6, Dan 2:4; Neh 2:3 ↩

  50. Dan 6:20; 2Sam 22:7; Ps 31:14, Ps 38:21, Ps 118:28; Mic 7:7; Matt 27:46; John 20:17; John 20:18 ↩

  51. Dan 3:28; Num 20:16; 2Chr 32:21; Ps 34:7; Isa 63:9; Acts 12:11, Acts 27:23 ↩

  52. 1Sam 17:37; Ps 91:11-13; 2Tim 4:17; Heb 11:33 ↩

  53. Dan 6:23; Ps 18:19-24, Ps 26:6, Ps 84:11; Isa 3:10; Acts 24:16; 2Cor 1:12; 1John 3:19-21 ↩

  54. Gen 40:15; 1Sam 24:9-11, 1Sam 26:18; Ps 7:1-4; Acts 25:8-11 ↩

  55. Dan 6:14, Dan 6:18; Exod 18:9; 1Kgs 5:7; 2Chr 2:11-12 ↩

  56. Dan 3:25, Dan 3:27-28; 1Chr 5:20; 2Chr 20:20; Ps 37:40, Ps 118:8-9, Ps 146:3-6; Prov 18:10; Isa 26:3; Mark 9:23; Heb 11:33 ↩

  57. Deut 19:18-20; Esth 7:10, Esth 9:25; Prov 11:8 ↩

  58. This savage act accorded with the customs of those times; contrary to the Divine law which enacted that "the fathers should not be put to death for the children, nor the children for the fathers." ↩

  59. Deut 24:16; Josh 7:24-25; 2Kgs 14:6; Esth 9:10 ↩

  60. Dan 3:22; Ps 54:5; Isa 38:13 ↩

  61. Dan 4:1; Ezra 1:1-2; Esth 3:12, Esth 8:9 ↩

  62. Ezra 4:17; 1Pet 1:2; 2Pet 1:2; Jude 1:2 ↩

  63. Dan 3:29; Ezra 6:8-12, Ezra 7:12-13 ↩

  64. Ps 2:11, Ps 99:1-3, Ps 119:120; Isa 66:2; Jer 10:10; Luke 12:5; Heb 12:29 ↩

  65. Dan 4:34; Deut 5:26; 1Sam 17:26, 1Sam 17:36; Hos 1:10; Acts 17:25; Rom 9:26; 1Thess 1:9; Rev 4:10, Rev 5:14 ↩

  66. Ps 93:1-2, Ps 146:10; Mal 3:6; Heb 6:17-18; Jas 1:17 ↩

  67. Dan 2:44, Dan 4:3, Dan 4:34, Dan 7:14, Dan 7:27; Ps 29:10, Ps 145:12-13; Isa 9:7; Matt 6:13; Luke 1:33; Rev 11:15 ↩

  68. Job 36:15; Ps 18:48, Ps 18:50, Ps 32:7, Ps 35:17, Ps 97:10; Luke 1:74-75; 2Cor 1:8-10; 2Tim 4:17-18 ↩

  69. Dan 4:2-3, Dan 4:34; Jer 32:19-20; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 4:30; Heb 2:4 ↩

  70. Chal, hand ↩

  71. Dan 1:21; 2Chr 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-2; Isa 44:28, Isa 45:1 ↩