Daniel and the Priests of Bel

When King Asty′ages was laid with his fathers, Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.

And Daniel was a companion of the king, and was the most honored of his friends.

The king revered it and went every day to worship it. But Daniel worshiped his own God.

Then Daniel laughed, and said, “Do not be deceived, O king; for this is but clay inside and brass outside, and it never ate or drank anything.”

But if you prove that Bel is eating them, Daniel shall die, because he blasphemed against Bel.” And Daniel said to the king, “Let it be done as you have said.”

Now there were seventy priests of Bel, besides their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.

And when you return in the morning, if you do not find that Bel has eaten it all, we will die; or else Daniel will, who is telling lies about us.”

When they had gone out, the king set forth the food for Bel. Then Daniel ordered his servants to bring ashes and they sifted them throughout the whole temple in the presence of the king alone. Then they went out, shut the door and sealed it with the king’s signet, and departed.

Early in the morning the king rose and came, and Daniel with him.

And the king said, “Are the seals unbroken, Daniel?” He answered, “They are unbroken, O king.”

Then Daniel laughed, and restrained the king from going in, and said, “Look at the floor, and notice whose footsteps these are.”

Therefore the king put them to death, and gave Bel over to Daniel, who destroyed it and its temple.

Daniel Kills the Dragon

There was also a great dragon, which the Babylonians revered.

And the king said to Daniel, “You cannot deny that this is a living god; so worship him.”

Daniel said, “I will worship the Lord my God, for he is the living God.

Then Daniel took pitch, fat, and hair, and boiled them together and made cakes, which he fed to the dragon. The dragon ate them, and burst open. And Daniel said, “See what you have been worshiping!”

Going to the king, they said, “Hand Daniel over to us, or else we will kill you and your household.”

The king saw that they were pressing him hard, and under compulsion he handed Daniel over to them.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

They threw Daniel into the lions’ den, and he was there for six days.

There were seven lions in the den, and every day they had been given two human bodies and two sheep; but these were not given to them now, so that they might devour Daniel.

But the angel of the Lord said to Hab′akkuk, “Take the dinner which you have to Babylon, to Daniel, in the lions’ den.”

Then Hab′akkuk shouted, “Daniel, Daniel! Take the dinner which God has sent you.”

And Daniel said, “Thou hast remembered me, O God, and hast not forsaken those who love thee.”

So Daniel arose and ate. And the angel of God immediately returned Hab′akkuk to his own place.

On the seventh day the king came to mourn for Daniel. When he came to the den he looked in, and there sat Daniel.