Daniel in the Lion's Den
Let's look at how the literary form of the story. See what new meanings may jump out about the point of the story.

Story Outline
If we outline the story into some key moments, it might look something like this:
- Daniel’s excellent character recognized by government
- The Supervisors Lay a Trap
- The Trap Closes and Daniel is put in the den of lions
- Daniel is saved by God
- The Trap Opens and Daniel is released from the den of lions
- The Supervisors’ Trap Springs on Them
- Daniel’s God recognized by government
In ancient Hebrew literature, the climax of the story often happens in the middle. On either side of the climax there are often parts of the story that mirror each other in interesting ways.
- Daniel’s excellent character recognized by government
- The Supervisors Lay a Trap
- The Trap Closes and Daniel is put in the den of lions
- Daniel is saved by God
- The Trap Opens and Daniel is released from the den of lions
- The Trap Closes and Daniel is put in the den of lions
- The Supervisors’ Trap Springs on Them
- The Supervisors Lay a Trap
- Daniel’s God recognized by government
Discussion Question #1
Let's compare a few parts of the story and think about the meaning.
Daniel being saved by God is the climax of the story. Does Daniel say why God saves him? Is the reason Daniel gives a central point of the story?
Discussion Question #2
On either side of the climax, there is a question if God will be able to save Daniel:
Dan 6:16 [Throwing Daniel to the lions]: Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
Dan 6:20 [Returning to Daniel]: As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
Do you feel like the question of whether God is able to deliver or rescue is answered in this story?
Discussion Question #3
Discussion Question #4
Repeated Words
Sometimes words that get repeated a lot have an important meaning in Bible stories. Look at how the word "to deliver" gets repeated:
Dan 6:14 [The king trying to save Daniel]: Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.
Dan 6:16 [Throwing Daniel to lion]: Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
Dan 6:20 [Returning to Daniel with the lions]: As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
Dan 6:21 [King's Poem about God]:
He delivers and rescues;
he works signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”