The Skeptics Annotated Bible (670 page)

(6.3-9) The king preferred Daniel above everyone else in his kingdom because Daniel was such a perfect (and modest) guy. The other administrators tried to find something wrong with him, but they couldn’t. So they came up with another plan: attack his religion. Have the king sign a decree saying that anyone who asked any god or man (other than the king) for anything in the next thirty days will be fed to the lions.

3 Then this
Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him
; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

(6.3) “Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him.”

4 Then
the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom
; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

(6.4) “The presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel … but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

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
.

(6.5) “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.”

6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7
All
the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have
consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

(6.7) “All … consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.”

8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9
Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree
.

(6.9) “Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.”

(6.10-16) When Daniel heard about the new decree, he immediately broke it by going to his room to pray. The conspirators caught him in the act and told the king, who cast Daniel into the lion den saying, “Don’t worry. God will deliver you.”

10 Now
when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed
, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

(6.10)
“When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed.”
(Why don’t Christians and Jews pray three times a day while facing Jerusalem?)

11 Then
these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

(6.11)
“These men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.”

12 Then they 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 den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth 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 sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, 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 king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee
.

(6.16)
“The king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.”

17 And a stone 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 passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

(6.19-23) The next morning the king went to see how Daniel and the lions were doing. Daniel told him that God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths. God saved him because he was such a perfect (and modest) guy and he believed in God. (Nothing bad ever happens to good, religious people.)

19 Then
the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

(6.19)
“The king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.”

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, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

(6.20)
“When he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice … and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”

21
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

(6.21)
“Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.”

22
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me
; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

(6.22)
“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me.”

23 Then was 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, because he believed in his God.

(6.23)
“So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

24 And
the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces
or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

(6.24)
“The king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces.”
King Darius, after trying to feed Daniel to the lions, orders those who accused Daniel (and their wives and children) to be cast into the lion den. “And the lions … brake all their bones in pieces.”

25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel
: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

(6.26)
“I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.”
Darius makes a decree, “that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.”