After the death of Baltasar, Darius the Mede became king. He also was pleased with Daniel, and set him over all his other officers.After the death of Baltasar, Darius the Mede became king. He also was pleased with Daniel, and set him over all his other officers.
Some years later Cyrus became king of Babylon. He too gave honors and powers to Daniel. Daniel tried to teach Cyrus about God. He told Cyrus that the false gods worshipped in Babylon could not help anyone. He said, "The God that I adore is the Living God. Your gods are false gods and do not live."
Beginning to believe Daniel's teaching, Cyrus allowed him to destroy some of the idols. At this the people of Babylon were made very angry. They went to Cyrus and demanded, "Give us Daniel, or we will kill you, and destroy your house."
The king was very much terrified, and so allowed the people to take Daniel. They led him to a den of lions, and threw him in to be devoured by the wild and hungry animals.
But the lions did not kill Daniel. They became tame as lambs, and did not hurt him in any way.
For six days Daniel stayed in the lions' den. Nobody brought him food, so that he became very hungry.
At that time, far from Babylon, there lived a prophet named Habacuc. He was one day taking some food to the workers in a field, when suddenly an angel took him by the hair of his head.
The angel carried Habacuc off to Babylon, and put him in the den where Daniel was. At the command of the angel, Habacuc gave the food he carried to Daniel. Then the angel lifted Habacuc up once more. and carried him back to his house. In this way God provided food for Daniel in the den of lions.
On the seventh day Cyrus went to see what had happened to Daniel. How great was his surprise when he saw Daniel sitting safe among the fierce lions!
Calling his servants, Cyrus ordered Daniel taken out and his enemies cast into the den instead. As soon as the enemies of Daniel were thrown in, the lions killed and hungrily devoured them.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines