ETB Daniel 6:10-24

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Understand the Context

Today we will be looking at a passage that many have heard about even if they do not attend church regularly. Daniel was captured in 605, today passage takes place around 538. This would place the event near the end of the 70 years of exile and Daniel would be an elderly man, not the young man portrayed in the famous Rubens painting. Today’s passage is also the only recorded “hardship” for Daniel in the book. Daniel’s friends were tempted to commit an act which was wrong in Chapter 3. In today’s passage Daniel was called upon to discontinue an activity that was right. [The Teacher’s Bible Commentary]

The prophet Daniel served under at least three kings. He first served under King Nebuchadnezzar (1:3-6; 2:26-49; 4:8-9). Second, he served King Belshazzar when he interpreted the handwriting on the wall for him (5:13-28). He also had two significant visions during Belshazzar’s reign (7:1; 8:1). Third, Daniel 6 records that Daniel served Darius, the first king of the Persian empire (6:1-2).

Darius appointed 120 officials called satraps to administer his recently acquired kingdom (5:31-6:1). He also chose three administrators, including Daniel, to oversee the satraps (6:2). Daniel distinguished himself in service so well that the king considered appointing him over the entire kingdom (6:3).

Darius’s favor toward Daniel did not please the other officials, but they could find no charge to bring against Daniel due to his trustworthiness (6:4). They finally decided perhaps they could trap him in something regarding his relationship with God (6:5). They suggested to the king that he establish a decree that for thirty days, anyone who petitioned or prayed to any god or person beside the king would face death in a den of lions (6:6-9). The king signed the edict, which meant it could not be changed.

[LifeWay Adults (2021). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022. LifeWay Press.]

Explore the Text

The Christian Standard Bible is what our lesson material is based on and that version there are two pericopes or “set of verses that forms one coherent unit or thought.” in our lesson passage. Here is a graphic of several versions with their pericope divisions. As you can see how the translators distinguish these groups of “thought” vary. In the ESV which I am using for the lessons all of Chapter 6 is one “thought”. Usually, I like the way the Lexham or the NASB version create these sections. If I were making the headings they would probably fall in the same places as the CSB version for today’s passage, but I would label them: Plots Against Daniel, Daniel Prays Anyway, God’s Protects Daniel, Darius Praises of God.

Whichever version you use, God can inspire, convict, and encourage you through it if you are willing to read it regularly and pray about what God is telling you through it.

Daniel 6:10–11 ESV

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, suggests he was not present when the other officials persuaded the king to enact the edict. Even though this had great repercussions his reaction was not to rush to into the king’s presence and beg for leniency, he already knew that was not option, so he took his requests before The King who alone had the power to change and walk through the coming situation.

As a “high official” he may have had this upper room with windows especially built in this fashion so has to be able to continually pray toward the city as instructed by Solomon in the prayer of dedication in 1Kings 8 ( 1 Ki. 8:30, 38, 44, 48–50). Once there he continued in his regular practice of communing with God of Jerusalem who was always with him in exile as well.

We see this phrase “before his God” several times throughout our passage today. It starts with an “Aramaic preposition meaning before, in the presence of. It refers to being in front of spatially or temporally, in time. [The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament]

Daniel spoke to God as if He were standing right there. The other men took their pleas “before the king,” that was their habit. Daniel’s habit was to take his cares “before his God.” This prayer time was not something that was just “started back up” since the signing of the document. The wording appears to indicate this was something that had been occurring for a long time into the past as was undeterred from happening even in the present situation. His disobedience is not motivated by spite—he simply refuses to compromise his religious convictions. [Faithlife Study Bible]

One might ask: Why didn’t Daniel simply pray in private for thirty days? Daniel wasn’t being asked to worship another god, after all; it would have been no sin to pray in private.

But Daniel believed it would be dishonoring to God to change his prayer routine. It would show that he feared Darius more than he feared God. His fellow Jews no doubt took encouragement from seeing Daniel pray at his open window, and they would have been disheartened if he had displayed a lack of courage. Like his three friends on the way to the fiery furnace, Daniel valued his relationship with God more than life itself. Therefore, he refused to compromise. [The Applied Old Testament Commentary]

Daniel’s continued prayer pattern was apparently what the other counselors were anticipating and “knew” would happen otherwise their proposal at the beginning of the chapter would not have entrapped Daniel within “the law of his God”. They thought he acted as they did toward their gods out of legalistic ritual. They did not understand his personal relationship with God and the willful loving desire to serve his Lord.

Daniel 6:12–14 ESV

Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.

The men come and ask, “did you not sign?” This is a completely rhetorical question only meant to show false deference to the king. It was however a more civil approach to confronting and accusing some else than what we read in other areas of Scripture where the accused are physically removed from the situation and either dragged out of the city or forced before those officials whom can delve out punishment (Acts 16:19; 23). This more drastic and humiliating approach is what pastors and church goers face in China and other eastern countries today.

Their edict is ridiculous in its stated scope. Did they really expect “every” person to bring “all” petitions or requests to come the king? “Oh mighty king what are having for dinner tonight”, “O great king, can I stay up past my bed time tonight”, “O great leader, will you read us bed time story?” Laws and mandates today are still allowed to be made with specific people groups or individuals targeted. This situation also shows the failure of governmental rule through law because it shows that a righteous person can be falsely accused, no matter how blameless they are. [Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ezekiel & Daniel.]

Notice also in the wording of their proposal how the king is referenced. “any god” or “any man” except “you”. They were declaring him to be both. This of course was a false deference on their part as in their minds they knew they were entrapping this “ignorant” official within the devised scheme.

The king responds as expected. When I read his answer, I always hear it in a rather annoyed tone, as he know the question was not really for information but for some other scheme that he was not aware of at that time.

Now the men reveal the true intent of their scheme, the trap is triggered. This Jew, Daniel is the target or “problem” that the king must now deal with. This is the same accusation brought against Daniel’s friends before the furnace incident (Dan 3:12). In today’s passage the “pays no attention” phrase is the contrast to the “man-god” expression that they were espousing to him. “We consider you our god and king, He does not recognize your authority.” And just to rub it in a little, they say he does it “three times a day.” Technically they were correct as Daniel recognized and attributed to Yahweh all power and authority, but he did not disrespect the king as a person of local authority. We can see this in their other direct interaction with each other within the rest of the chapter.

Once the king realizes that he has been manipulated it causes a visibly emotional change. An Aramaic verb meaning to be displeased or distressed is used. It is a verb expressing a strong feeling of distress with oneself and external circumstances. [The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament]. Darius was not only upset at the counselors, but also displease at himself for not seeing their scheme and preventing his apparent friend or at least his favorite “high official” in the kingdom from harm. Look at the efforts and changes to his personal patterns that the king did in his distress. These are not actions you take for just an “acquaintance.”

Possibly adding to the king’s disgust with himself is that although these men “say” he is god-king, they were able to trap him with the laws of the land to do that which he could not undo. They claimed he was their authority but now they held greater power through the country’s laws.

Despite his efforts, Darius cannot find a way to get his friend and advisor out from under the law’s requirements.

Daniel 6:15–18 ESV

Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

The king does a very regal thing and following through on what he is distasteful to himself but is legally correct for the sake of the kingdom. By speaking to Daniel on behalf of his God, the king realizes his authority in this matter has been removed from him and finds hope in Daniel’s original actions in appealing to a “higher authority” than his king. Knowing that he cannot deliver his friend from the trap that both he and Daniel were ensnared within, he hopes that His God will get them both out of the situation. There may have been a bit of self-preservation in the plea as well for if Daniel was somehow delivered then his “god-king” status may be bolstered within the realm. Twice within the passage the king mentions how Daniel serves God continually. This acknowledgement show there was at least some knowledge on the king’s part of Daniel’s lifestyle and integrity, this knowledge may have added to the king’s distress when the snare was sprung.

In a manner that shows distrust between the two groups, the stone is “sealed” shut. The seal on the document was probably waxed-based, this one was more like mud or mortar. It would still leave a recognizable impression like when kids press their hands into the concrete of the new sidewalks at their house. The king once again “seals the deal” but this time he makes the other men put their marks of authority on the “document” as well. The same phrasing for what was done for the edict at the beginning of the chapter is now used for how this stone over the entrance was proven to be shut. Breaking the seal would be that same as breaking the rules of the original edict - and incur the same punishment.

Another stone was sealed like this in the New Testament, and no one expected the one behind that seal to be alive either (Matt 27:66). A great victory for God’s people happens in both cases when the “victim” is vindicated in all of their claims and righteousness prevails. Christ’s resurrection allows all those who follow Him to have the confidence of Daniel that whenever trials which seem impossible to avoid come into our lives, they will be gone through with a personal guide and comforter regardless of the outcome.

King Darius however had to wait and agonizing night before he would see God’s victory. King David when facing the death of his first child with Bathsheba was also distressed and refrained from food for a time (2 Sam 12:16-17). It is unclear if Darius’ fast is motivated by a religious devotion, or if it was just the word most commonly used for going without food because distress or other emotional states. The rest of the verse infers that he made the withdrawal by choice as his apparent pattern of having things “distract” him from his troubles that so that he could sleep were also not taken advantage of. Again, this is not something you would do for just a trusted counselor, this was the king of most of the known world being greatly troubled for his friend and maybe himself and his position as king. If he could not protect his most valued and honored counselor in the kingdom then he was not as powerful as he thought, and his own life may be in danger next.

Daniel 6:19–24 ESV

Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

Rushing to what was thought to be Daniel’s “tomb” at the break of day is a foreshadowing of the future tomb being similarly sealed. In today’s passage we have a king rushing to a servant’s tomb, on that day it was servants going to the tomb of The King (Mat 28:1, Mar. 16:2). Although the edict at the beginning of the chapter did not specify a time limit for how long a person had to “stay” in the lion’s den apparently overnight was long enough to fulfill the “intent” of the law. It also shows how the satraps never even considered the possibility of surviving their plot. They “thought more highly of themselves then they ought” (Rom 12:3).

I don’t know, maybe others would do this, but if I expected someone to be dead, I would not yell at them with expectation of a response. The expression translated tone of anguish emphasized the king’s despair. He had no reasonable expectation Daniel was still alive. In fact, the words translated to Daniel could be rendered “for Daniel;” that is, the king may have been lamenting his decision to throw his trusted official to the lions. [Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022]

By stating “your God, whom your serve continually” again the king acknowledges that Daniel’s service to his god was acceptable and did not seem to conflict in his mind with service to himself in a governmental fashion. It was still the Israelite’s God though, not the one(s) that Darius served.

Daniel’s response to the king of “live forever” was Daniel’s typical greeting for most of the kings we read him interacting with. Although this is apparently the literal translation of the words, I doubt if this was the true expectation of Daniel as this was at least his third king to serve under. It is more like our phrase today of “long live the king” which is less about longevity of life for the monarch and more of the acceptance of their authority and desire for it to continue.

Being “found blameless before Him; and also before you” was the testimony of the satraps as well and why they hand to conspire to create an entrapping edict. “God has rewarded my faithfulness to Him and His ways and delivering me back to you as king as proof of my faithfulness to your rules as ways.”

Daniel was not claiming perfection in declaring that he was found innocent before God. Rather, Daniel claimed that his allegiance to God made him guiltless in this matter. It was Daniel’s faith in God, not his works, that brought him deliverance from the lions. [CSB Study Bible: Notes.]

The redeemed prophet also states that he had “done no harm.” We do not read of any resistance or mudslinging on the part of Daniel. He did not accuse or even malign the character of the other officials. He did no “harm” to anyone throughout this situation. We do not even read of him praying to God and asking for Him to enact vengeance or retributions for the false accusations. Maybe he did it in a way that honored God and His character like reciting some of the Psalms of lament (Psa 38:12-22). It may have happened, but that would be between him and God, we will have to wait and asking him about this when we get to heaven.

Daniel was willing to go through yet another trial fully dependent on God’s current protection or future promises of a Redeemer. Paul speaking of the Christ who had already come and to whom he was equally devoted and faithful expresses a similar sentiment in his second letter to the Corinthians - 2Cor 12:10 “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Daniel’s proclamation that “my God sent his angel” is very similar to Peter’s experience after being released from prison miraculously. They knew it was the Lord’s messenger that was before them but could not identify the deliverer definitively. In both case the outcome of the “hero” was not what was expected by their accusers (Acts 12:11).

The phrase “shut the lions’ mouth” brings up other images of deliverance. There are several other references to lions being overcome by “heroes of the faith” in Scripture, Samson and David are the two most prominent. 1 Peter 5:8-9 also uses a roaring lion as a description of Satan’s attempts to devour people with his evil plans. Although there is a reference in Hebrews to God working through His servants by their faith in Him to “stop” the mouths of lions it may not have been an allusion to only this event with Daniel (Heb 11:33).

The king now having his trusted servant returned to his side, turns his attention back to those who had caused this predicament. This overreaction is a pattern with some kings in the bible. Fasting and being distressed, then going overboard on the retribution of those who tricked or maligned them. King Ahasuerus hung Haman on the gallows that he had built and tried to trick the king into using it on Mordecai (Es 7:10). One commentator noted that while Daniel started the day at peace with God and trusted in The King’s power the entire time, the earthly king was enslaved to his emotions and laws.

Although it was definitely not the intent of either the king or the accusers, the principles of the God of Daniel were carried out. The Torah declares that it should be done to a malicious witness “as he intended to do to his brother” (Deut 19:19). The wisdom tradition agrees that “a false witness will not go unpunished” (Prov 19:5).[Understanding the Bible Commentary Series.]

In addition to plotting against Daniel, the men lied to the king and tricked him into condemning his most trusted advisor. [Faithlife Study Bible] We do not read of any of Daniel’s family being threatened or even being with him in exile, but all of the other counselor’s families were destroyed to prevent any future retribution from the patriarchs untimely demise at the command of the king. This was a typical pattern in those times but God had written that His people were to be different and only punish those who did the crimes (Deut 24:16). The expectations that the satraps had for the lions was fulfilled, just not the way they had imagined.

The lions “overpowered” those who were thrown into the pit after Daniel’s removal. This reaction by the lion disproves any ideas of the lions having been “overly feed” before Daniel’s arrival he some how “taming” them in the night to be afraid of humans. He was not spared on account of the lions’ lack of hunger; he was spared because of God’s intervention.[Faithlife Study Bible]

Notice,the brilliantly drawn contrast which underlies the entire narrative: both the plotters and the king were feverishly active in scheming and planning (Dan 6:3–9, 14). By contrast, Daniel’s life exuded regularity and spiritual integrity. Before v 21 he is portrayed as speaking to no-one but God. [New Bible Commentary]

Hebrews 11:35b-40 reminds us that God does not deliver every believer from harm or death. Throughout history, God has chosen to rescue people dramatically as He did with Daniel, his three friends, and many others. Others, however, glorified God through martyrdom—giving their lives for Him. The apostle Paul also suffered greatly as he walked with God (2 Cor. 11:23-33). We have the assurance that God always provides grace for His people, regardless of the earthly outcome (Acts 7:54-60; 12:1-2). God vindicates faithful believers, one way or another, for His honor. [Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022]

Apply the Text

The Applied Old Testament Commentary

Christians today should take note of Daniel’s example. Our tendency to compromise for convenience’ sake weakens us spiritually and jeopardizes our fellowship with God. However, it is essential that we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit; we must not invite unnecessary danger or look for trouble that God has not sent. It is not wrong to avoid trouble as long as it can be done with a clear conscience and without sinning. But if the Holy Spirit gives us the sense that we are compromising, then we must follow Daniel’s example and place the outcome in God’s hands.

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary Daniel’s Deliverance from the Den of Lions (Dan. 6:1–28)

The vindication of Daniel brings encouragement to us who find ourselves under pressure because of our attempt to hold high standards in contemporary life. Although we realize God does not work miracles lavishly, we still can be confident that he knows of our situation and will intervene at the proper time for our deliverance and honor us as we have sought to honor him. God may not come as quickly to our rescue as we feel he should, but faith continually whispers in times of discouragement that help is near and God will not tarry long.

The account of Daniel in the lions’ den reminds us that we can trust God in all circumstances. Others may try to limit our worship or discourage us from taking our faith too seriously. Sometimes we may even face persecution that challenges our faith and threatens our way of life and maybe life itself. Nevertheless, we can trust that God knows our situation, and will act in our situation to bring honor to Himself as we remain faithful to Him. [Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Winter 2022]