1 IT pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
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.
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.
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 counsellers, 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.
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.
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.
11 Then 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.
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.
19 Then 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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

1It pleased Darius to set ouer the kingdome an hundred and twenty Princes, which should be ouer the whole kingdome.

2And ouer these, three Presidents, (of whom Daniel was first) that the Princes might giue accompts vnto them, and the King should haue no damage.

3Then this Daniel was preferred aboue the Presidents, and Princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him ouer the whole realme.

4 Then the Presidents and Princes sought to finde occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdome, but they could finde none occasion, nor fault: forasmuch as he was faithfull, neither was there any errour or fault found in him.

5Then said these men, We shall not finde any occasion against this Daniel, except wee finde it against him concerning the Law of his God.

6Then these Presidents and Princes assembled together to the king, and said thus vnto him, King Darius, liue foreuer.

7All the Presidents of the kingdome, the gouernours, and the Princes, the counsellers and the captaines haue consulted together to establish a royall statute, and to make a firme decree, that whosoeuer shall aske a petition of any God or man for thirty dayes, saue of thee, O King, hee shall be cast into the denne of Lions.

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

9Wherefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, hee went into his house, and his windowes being open in his chamber toward Ierusalem, hee kneeled vpon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gaue thankes before his God, as hee did afore time.

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

12Then they came neere, and spake before the king concerning the kings decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that euery man that shall aske a petition of any God or man, within thirty dayes, saue of thee, O king, shalbe cast into the denne of Lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13Then answered they and said before the king; That Daniel which is of the captiuity of the children of Iudah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14Then the king, when hee heard these wordes, was sore displeased with himselfe, and set his heart on Daniel to deliuer him: and he laboured till the going downe of the sunne, to deliuer him.

15Then these men assembled vnto the king, and said vnto the king, Know O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute which the king establisheth, may bee changed.

16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the denne of Lions: now the king spake and saide vnto Daniel; Thy God, whom thou seruest continually, he will deliuer thee.

17And a stone was brought and laid vpon the mouth of the denne, and the King sealed it with his owne 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 musicke brought before him, and his sleepe went from him.

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

20And when he came to the den, he cryed with a lamentable voice vnto Daniel, and the king spake and said to Daniel: O Daniel, seruant of the liuing God, Is thy God whom thou seruest continually, able to deliuer thee from the Lyons?

21Then said Daniel vnto the king, O king, liue for euer.

22My God hath sent his Angel, and hath shut the lyons mouthes that they haue not hurt me: forasmuch as before him, innocencie was found in me; and also before thee, O king, haue I done no hurt.

23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel vp out of the denne: so Daniel was taken vp out of the den, and no maner of hurt was found vpon him, because he beleeued 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 Lyons, them, their children, and their wiues: and the Lyons had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or euer they came at the bottome of the den.

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

26I make a decree, That in euery dominion of my kingdome, men tremble and feare before the God of Daniel: for he is the liuing God, and stedfast for euer, and his kingdome that, which shal not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be euen vnto the end.

27He deliuereth and rescueth, and he worketh signes and wonders in heauen and in earth: who hath deliuered Daniel from the power of the lyons.

28So this Daniel prospered in the reigne of Darius, and in the reigne of Cyrus the Persian.

I == Esth 1:1

III == Dan 5:12

IV == Eccl 4:4

VI == Neh 2:3 ; Dan 2:4 ; 6:21

VIII == Esth 1:19 ; 8:8

X == 1st Kings 8:44 , 48 ; Ps 5:7 ; 55:17 ; Jon 2:4 ; Acts 2:1-2 , 15 ; 3:1 ; 10:9

XII == Dan 3:8 ; 6:8

XIII == Dan 1:6 ; 3:12 ; 5:13

XIV == Mark 6:26

XV == Dan 6:8

XVII == Lam 3:53 ; Matt 27:66

XVIII == Dan 2:1

XX == Dan 3:15

XXI == Dan 2:4

XXII == Dan 3:28 ; Heb 11:33

XXIII == Heb 11:33

XXIV == Deut 19:19 ; 24:16 ; 2nd Kings 14:6 ; Esth 9:10

XXV == Dan 4:1

XXVI == Ps 99:1 ; Dan 2:44 ; 3:29 ; 4:3 , 34 ; 7:14 , 27 ; Luke 1:33

XXVII == Dan 4:3

XXVIII == Ezra 1:1-2 ; Dan 1:21

1 And Darius the Mede succeeded to the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.

2 Darius decided to appoint over his entire kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to safeguard his interests;

3 these were accountable to three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel.

4 Daniel outshone all the supervisors and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king thought of giving him authority over the entire kingdom.

5 Therefore the supervisors and satraps tried to find grounds for accusation against Daniel as regards the administration. But they could accuse him of no wrongdoing; because he was trustworthy, no fault of neglect or misconduct was to be found in him.

6 Then these men said to themselves, "We shall find no grounds for accusation against this Daniel unless by way of the law of his God."

7 So these supervisors and satraps went thronging to the king and said to him, "King Darius, live forever!

8 All the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, nobles, and governors are agreed that the following prohibition ought to be put in force by royal decree: no one is to address any petition to god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king; otherwise he shall be cast into a den of lions.

9 Now, O king, issue the prohibition over your signature, immutable and irrevocable under Mede and Persian law."

10 So King Darius signed the prohibition and made it law.

11 Even after Daniel heard that this law had been signed, he continued his custom of going home to kneel in prayer and give thanks to his God in the upper chamber three times a day, with the windows open toward Jerusalem.

12 So these men rushed in and found Daniel praying and pleading before his God.

13 Then they went to remind the king about the prohibition: "Did you not decree, O king, that no one is to address a petition to god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king; otherwise he shall be cast into a den of lions?" The king answered them, "The decree is absolute, irrevocable under the Mede and Persian law."

14 To this they replied, "Daniel, the Jewish exile, has paid no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you issued; three times a day he offers his prayer."

15 The king was deeply grieved at this news and he made up his mind to save Daniel; he worked till sunset to rescue him.

16 But these men insisted. "Keep in mind, O king," they said, "that under the Mede and Persian law every royal prohibition or decree is irrevocable."

17 So the king ordered Daniel to be brought and cast into the lions' den. To Daniel he said, "May your God, whom you serve so constantly, save you."

18 To forestall any tampering, the king sealed with his own ring and the rings of the lords the stone that had been brought to block the opening of the den.

19 Then the king returned to his palace for the night; he refused to eat and he dismissed the entertainers. Since sleep was impossible for him,

20 the king rose very early the next morning and hastened to the lions' den.

21 As he drew near, he cried out to Daniel sorrowfully, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has the God whom you serve so constantly been able to save you from the lions?"

22 Daniel answered the king: "O king, live forever!

23 My God has sent his angel and closed the lions' mouths so that they have not hurt me. For I have been found innocent before him; neither to you have I done any harm, O king!"

24 This gave the king great joy. At his order Daniel was removed from the den, unhurt because he trusted in his God.

25 The king then ordered the men who had accused Daniel, along with their children and their wives, to be cast into the lions' den. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

26 Then King Darius wrote to the nations and peoples of every language, wherever they dwell on the earth: "All peace to you!

27 I decree that throughout my royal domain the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared: "For he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be without end.

28 He is a deliverer and savior, working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, and he delivered Daniel from the lions' power."

29 So Daniel fared well during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

There are various interpretations of v 28, the reign of Darius and of Cyrus. The best seems to be that Darius was appointed by Cyrus to govern just the Babylonian area.

v 1-3. This begins the second stage of the Times of the Gentiles as revealed to king Nebuchadnezzar. Darius reorganized  the Babylonian portion of the kingdom under 120 satraps who would be under three administrators of whom Daniel was one. He had 50 years experience, excellent attitude, and his interpretations were probably   known by Darius and the whole area, so he was made chief over all the others.

v 4,5. The satraps and two other rulers were jealous of a Judean being in first place, but they could find no fault unless they could get him for his religious beliefs.

v 6-9. They lied that all agreed that if anyone addressed prayer to anyone but the king for 30 days they would be thrown in the den of lions. They knew Daniel would not. The king was flattered and agreed without realizing, and the order was irrevocable.

v 10,11. Daniel was now past 80, but still called on God for guidance and giving thanks, and made no effort to hide it. The men caught him at it as planned.

v 12-15. In bringing their information to the king, they derided Daniel as a Judean. The king was sorry for what he had done and tried to think of some way to preserve Daniel, but by night had to admit that his decree could not be altered.

V 16,17. He then put him in the lion’s den, but hoped Daniel’s God would deliver.

v 18. The king spent a sleepless night, fasting in hope Daniel would be delivered.

v 19-23. Very early the king went in great anguish and called to Daniel if his God had delivered him. Daniel reported that an angel (possibly the incarnate Christ and the one who preserved the three in the fiery furnace) had shut the lion’s mouths. He was preserved because of his flawless life and his belief in God, not necessarily that God would spare his life, as the three young men in 3:17. The king was very glad.

v 24. The scheme of the wicked leaders backfired on them just as Haman’s did on him, Esther 7:9-10. The king had them and their families thrown in the lion’s den to immediate destruction, just as they had planned for Daniel.

V 25-28. The king who was to be revered for a month now issued a letter of peace to all known nations on earth, and ordered that all in his dominion were to fall before the God of Daniel. He recognized him as the living, everlasting God, not dead like idols. He recognized God’s works in the heavens as well as on earth, and specifically His deliverance of Daniel. Daniel lived out his days under Cyrus and Darius.