rd

Daniel 6

1 Daniél is made ruler over the governours. 5 An act against Daniél 16 He is put into a den of lyons by the commandment of the King 23 He is delivered by faith in God 24 Daniél’s accusers are put unto the lyons. 25 Darius by a decree magnifieth the God of Daniél
1.It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom aan hundreth and twentie governours, which should be over the whole kingdom.
2.And over these, three rulers (of whom Daniél was one) that the governours might give accompts unto them, and the King should ^have no damage.
3.Now this Daniél bwas preferred above the rulers and governours, because the spirit was excellent in him, and the King thought to set him over the whole realm.
4.¶ Wherefore the rulers and governours csought an occasion against Daniél concerning the kingdom: but they could find none occasion nor faute: for he was so faithful that there was no blame nor faute found in him.
5.Then said these men, We shal not find an occasion against this Daniél, except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God.
6.Therefore the rulers and these governours went together to the King, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7.All the rulers of thy kingdom the officers and governours, the counsellors, and dukes have consulted together to make a decree for the King and to establish a statute, that whosoever shal ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days save of thee, ô King, he shalbe cast into the den of lyons.
8.Now, ô King, confirm the decree, and seal the writing, that it be not changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9.Wherefore King Darius dsealed the writing and the decree.
10.¶ Now when Daniél understood that he had sealed the writing, he went into his house, & his ewindow being open in his chamber toward Jerusalém, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and praised his God, as he did afore time.
11.Then these men assembled, and found Daniél praying, and making supplication unto his God.
12.So they came, and spake unto the King concerning the King’s decree, Hast thou not sealed the decree, that every man that shal make request to any god or man within thirty days, save to thee, ô King, shalbe cast into the den of lyons? 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 unto the King, This Daniél which is of the children of the captivity of Judáh, regardeth not thee, ô King, nor the decree, that thou hast sealed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14.When the King heard these words, he was sore displeased with him self, and set his heart on Daniél, to deliver him: and he laboured til the sun went down, to deliver him.
15.Then these men assembled unto the King, and said unto the King, Understand, ô King, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute, which the King confirmeth, may be faltered.
16.¶ Then the King commanded, and they brought Daniél, and cast him into the den of lyons: now the King spake, and said unto Daniél, Thy God, whom thou alway servest, even he will deliver thee.
17.And a stone was brought, and layed upon the mouth of the den, and the King sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his princes, that the purpose might not be changed, concerning Daniél.
18.Then the King went unto his palace, and remained fasting, neither were the instruments of musicke brought before him, and his sleep went from him.
19.¶ Then the King arose early in the morning, and went in all haste unto the den of lyons.
20.And when he came to the den, he cryed with a lamentable voice unto Daniél: and the King spake, and said to Daniél, O Daniél, the servant of the living God, is not thy God (whom thou alway servest) gable to deliver thee form the lions?
21.Then said Daniél 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: for hmy justice was found out before him: and unto thee, ô King, I have done ino hurt.
23.Then was the King exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniél out of the den: so Daniél was brought out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he kbelieved in his God.
24.And by the commandment of the King these men which had accused Daniél, were brought, and were lcast into the den of lions, even they, their children, and their wives: and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones a pieces, or ever they came at the ground of the den.
25.¶ Afterward King Darius wrote, Unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the world: Peace be multiplied unto you.
26.I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear mbefore the God of Daniél: for he is the nliving God, and remaineth for ever: and his kingdom shal not perish, and his dominion shalbe everlasting.
27.He rescueth and delivereth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth: who hath delivered Daniél from the power of the lyons.
28.So this Daniél prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus of Persia.

Notes

1-a.
Read Ester Ch. 1.1.
2-^.
Or, not be troubled.
3-b.
This heathen King preferred Daniel a stranger to all his nobles, and familiars, because the graces of God were more excellent in him then in others.
4-c.
Thus the wicked can not abide the graces of God in others, but seek by all occasions to deface them: therefore against such assaults there is no better remedy then to walk uprightly in the fear of God, and to have a good conscience.
9-d.
Herein is condemned the wickedness of the King, who would be set up as a god, and passed not what wicked laws he approved for the maintenance of the same.
10-e.
Because he would not by his silence show that he consented to this wicked decree, he set open his windows toward Jerusalem, when he prayed: both to stir up himself with the remembrance of God’s promises to his people when they should pray toward that Temple, and also that others might see that he would neither consent in heart nor deed for these few days to any thing that was contrary to God’s glory.
15-f.
Thus the wicked maintain evil laws by constancy, and authority, which is oft times either lightness, or stubbornness when as the innocents thereby perish: and therefore governors neither ought to fear nor be ashamed to break such.
20-g.
This declared that Darius was not touched with the true knowledge of God, because he doubted of his power.
22-h.
My just cause, and uprightness in this thing, wherein I was charged, is approved of God.
22-i.
For he did disobey the King’s wicked commandment to obey God, and so did no injury to the King who ought to command nothing, whereby God should be dishonoured.
23-k.
Because he committed himself wholly unto God whose cause he did defend, he was assured, that nothing but good could come unto him: wherein we see the power of faith, as Ebr. 11.33.
24-l.
This is a terrible example against all the wicked, which do against their conscience make cruel laws to destroy the children of God and also admonishes princes how to punish such, when their wickedness is come to light: though not in every point or with like circumstances, yet to execute true justice upon them.
26-m.
This proves not that Darius did worship God aright, or els was converted: for then he would have destroyed all superstition and idolatry, and not only given God the chief place, but only have set him up, and caused him to be honoured according to his word: but this was a certain confession of God’s power, whereunto he was compelled by this wonderful miracle.
26-n.
Which has not only life in himself, but is the only fountain of life, and quickens all things, so that without him there is no life.