Daniel in the Lion's Den
In this class, we are going to consider the literary form of the story and its context in a larger set of stories.
The Aramaic Stories
Daniel in the lions' den is one of six stories about Daniel written in Aramaic. The rest of the book is written in Hebrew. Aramaic is a sister language to Hebrew that was gaining popularity during the time the book of Daniel was being written.
The six stories written in Aramaic have some interesting connections.
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Nebuchadnezzar's Furnace
Nebuchadnezzar's Pride
Belshazar's Pride
Darius' Den of Lions
Daniel's Dream
If you look carefully at the stories, each one has a connection to another story. So if you pair them up, it can look like this:
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Nebuchadnezzar's Furnace
Nebuchadnezzar's Pride
Daniel's Dream
Darius' Den of Lions
Belshazar's Pride
Let's read the story of Nebuchadnezzar and the Fiery Furnace and see what similar ideas and themes connect it to the story of Daniel in the Lions' Den. Then come back here and use the discussion questions.
What was similar about the king making a rule? What was different?
What was similar in the accusation of the three Hebrew men to the accusation of Daniel?
How was the kings' reactions different?
What was similar about the death sentences in the two stories?
What was similar and different about the rescue in both stories?
How are angels mentioned in both stories?
What is different about the end result for the accusers in the two stories?
What was similar about the government's recognition of God? What was different?
Word Repetitions
Sometimes words that get repeated a lot have an important meaning in Bible stories. Look at how the word "to deliver" gets repeated in both stories:
Dan 3:15 [Nebuchadnezzar Speaking]: Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
Dan 3:17 [Their Reply]: If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:28 [Resolution]: Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.
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.”
What are all these repetitions trying to tell us about being delivered? Who delivers us? Were the kings ever able to deliver anyone?
After looking at these two stories carefully, do you feel like there is a connection between the two stories?