Daniel
Taken captive as a young man, and he never stopped praying.
Old Testament · 6th century BC · Daniel, Ezekiel, Matthew · Also known as Belteshazzar
About Daniel
Daniel was taken from Jerusalem to Babylon as a young man when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah. Trained to serve in the king’s court, he quietly refused the king’s food, interpreted dreams no one else could, and rose to high office under several kings. When a law forbade praying to anyone but the king, Daniel kept praying three times a day as he always had, and was thrown to the lions.
Babylon conquered Jerusalem in stages (from about 605 BC), taking many of its people into exile. The book of Daniel has stories (chapters 1–6) and visions (chapters 7–12); the visions are apocalyptic, and their dating and interpretation are debated. Part of the book is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.
The story
A different diet
"Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat." He asked to eat vegetables and drink water for ten days. At the end, he and his friends looked healthier than everyone else.
Daniel 1:8-16
The king’s dream
Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his wise men tell him both his dream and its meaning. No one could. Daniel and his friends prayed, and the secret was revealed. "There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets," Daniel told the king.
Daniel 2:1-47
Writing on the wall
At King Belshazzar’s feast, a hand appeared and wrote on the wall: "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN." Only Daniel could read it: the kingdom had been weighed and found wanting. That night the kingdom fell.
Daniel 5:1-30
Three times a day
Jealous officials persuaded King Darius to forbid prayer to anyone but the king. Daniel went home, opened his windows toward Jerusalem, "he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."
Daniel 6:1-10
The lions’ den
Daniel was thrown into the den of lions. At dawn the king ran to the den and called out. Daniel answered: "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me." "No manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God."
Daniel 6:16-23
Key moments
- Refuses the king’s food: Ten days of vegetables and water. (Daniel 1:8)
- Reveals the king’s dream: "A God in heaven that revealeth secrets." (Daniel 2:28)
- Reads the writing on the wall: Weighed and found wanting. (Daniel 5:25-28)
- Keeps praying: Three times a day. (Daniel 6:10)
- Safe among lions: An angel shut their mouths. (Daniel 6:22)
Questions about Daniel
In meetBible these answers are given in Daniel’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Were you afraid in the lions’ den?
Scripture doesn’t record my feelings that night. It records what I told the king at dawn: "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me." And it says why: "no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God."
Why wouldn’t you eat the king’s food?
Scripture records that I purposed in my heart not to defile myself with the king’s food and wine. It doesn’t spell out exactly why. Many readers point to God’s food laws, or food offered to idols, or simply keeping my loyalty to God in a foreign court.
What did the writing on the wall mean?
The words were "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN." I told King Belshazzar: "MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." That same night the kingdom fell.
Connected people
- Esther: Also served a foreign king
- Jesus: Quoted Daniel
- Nebuchadnezzar: King of Babylon
- Darius: King at the lions’ den
- Shadrach: Friend
Read it yourself
Start with Daniel 1; 6.