Study Desk

^(F1)It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom,

and over them, three commissioners (of whom ^(C1)Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not ^(F1)suffer ^(C2)loss.

Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself ^(F1)among the commissioners and satraps because ^(F2)he possessed an ^(C1)extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the ^(C2)entire kingdom.

Then the commissioners and satraps began ^(C1)trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding ^(F1)government affairs; but they could find ^(C2)no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the ^(C1)law of his God."

Then these commissioners and satraps came ^(F1)by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: "King Darius, ^(C1)live forever!

"All the ^(C1)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have ^(C2)consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall ^(C3)be thrown into the lions' ^(F1)den.

"Now, O king, ^(C1)establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the ^(C2)law of the Medes and Persians, which ^(F1)may not be revoked."

Thereupon, King Darius ^(C1)signed the document, that is, the injunction.

Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open ^(C1)toward Jerusalem); and he continued ^(C2)kneeling on his knees three times a day, ^(C3)praying and ^(C4)offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously.

Then these men came ^(F1)(C1)by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God.

Then they approached and ^(C1)spoke before the king about the king's injunction: "Did you not sign an injunction that any person who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be thrown into the lions' den?" The king replied, "The statement is true, according to the ^(C2)law of the Medes and Persians, which ^(F1)may not be revoked."

Then they responded and spoke before the king, "^(C1)Daniel, who is one of the ^(F1)exiles from Judah, pays ^(C2)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day."

Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply ^(C1)distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him.