Commentary on Daniel 6:6-27

Week 3 (8/18/2024): Lions’ Pit

Daniel 6 is probably the most well-known of all the Danielic narratives, due in part to its popularity as a children’s tale. However, at the heart of this story lies a sinister plot conceived by jealous court administrators who seek to undermine Daniel’s position. Recognizing that Daniel leads a blameless life, they identify his unwavering faithfulness to his God as his sole vulnerability.

Exploiting King Darius’ vanity, these sly courtiers propose a decree stating, “Anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den” (6:7). Despite the decree, Daniel continues to pray as is his custom, leading to his discovery and the king’s reluctant decision to cast him into the den of lions.

Like in Daniel 3, however, the God of Daniel rescues him from a grisly death, preserving his body unscathed. The king is so overjoyed at the miraculous rescue that he punishes the conspiring courtiers and issues a letter that praises both God and Daniel. 

This is the final court tale in the book of Daniel, and it echoes many of the theological and literary themes that came before it. Daniel and his friends face many challenges as Jews serving in the courts of foreign kings. Those challenges range from angry kings to jealous and vengeful courtiers. In the thick of those challenges, however, the Jewish exiles find a way to remain faithful to their ancestral religion while also successfully navigating a social and cultural world not built for them. Their ability to survive and even flourish in the face of adversity testifies to their unwavering trust in a God who acts with kindness and mercy on their behalf.