WHEN Darius came to the throne, upon the death of Belshazzar, he set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes. Over these he appointed three presidents, of whom Daniel was first.

Now the princes and other presidents were jealous of Daniel, and sought to find some fault against him; but they could not, as he was a faithful servant of the King. Then they tried to injure him because of his praying to God. So they came to the King, and said, "King Darius, live for ever: all the great officers of thy kingdom have consulted together to establish a royal law, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, 0 King, he shall be cast into a den of lions."

The King agreed to the law, and signed the writing establishing the law. But Daniel still knelt and prayed to the true God three times a day as before, with his windows open, without attempting to conceal his praying.

His enemies saw him praying to the true and living God, and told the King, urging him to carry out the law. But the King was angry with himself that he had agreed to such a law, and tried to think of some way to save Daniel. Then these men urged that the law could not be altered. So Daniel was cast into the den of lions, and a stone was put over the mouth of the den, which was sealed by the King and the lords. But meantime the King had said to Daniel, "Thy God whom thou servest will deliver thee."

The King passed the night in fasting, very restless, and could not sleep. In the morning, very early, he arose and went to the den of lions, and cried with a lamentable or sad voice, "0 Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God able to deliver thee from the lions?" Then Daniel said, "0 King, live for ever. My God hath sent His angel and shut the lions' months."

Then Daniel was released from the den of lions, and restored to his position of power as the King's trusted aid. And the wicked men who had plotted against Daniel were cast into the lions den and promptly eaten by the hungry lions.

Back To Bible Stories Index