Bel and the Serpent
Daniel 14, verse 1. When King Astyages was gathered to his fathers, Cyrus of Persia received his kingdom. Daniel 14, verse 2. Daniel was a confidant of the king and was honored above all his friends. Daniel 14, verse 3. Now the Babylonians had an idol whose name was Bel, and every day they spent on it twelve bushels of fine flour, forty sheep, and six vessels of wine. Daniel 14, verse 4. The king adored it and went every day to worship it; but Daniel worshiped his own God. So the king asked him, “Why do you not worship Bel?” Daniel 14, verse 5. Daniel answered, “Because I do not worship idols made with hands, but only the living God who created heaven and earth and has dominion over all flesh.” Daniel 14, verse 6. The king said to him, “Do you not think Bel is a living god? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?” Daniel 14, verse 7. Daniel smiled and said, “Do not be deceived, O king, for it is but clay inside and bronze outside, and it has never eaten or drunk anything.”
Bel Is Deposed
Daniel 14, verse 8. Very angry, the king summoned his priests and said to them, “If you do not tell me who it is that consumes these provisions, you shall die. Daniel 14, verse 9. But if you can prove Bel consumes them, then Daniel shall die, because he blasphemed against Bel.” So Daniel said to the king, “Let it be according to your word.” Daniel 14, verse 10. Now there were seventy priests of Bel, besides their wives and children, and the king went with Daniel into the temple. Daniel 14, verse 11. Then the priests of Bel said, “Look, we will step outside. You, O king, set out the food and prepare the wine, then shut the door and seal it with your signet. Daniel 14, verse 12. If you do not find Bel has eaten it all when you come tomorrow, we will suffer death—or else Daniel shall die, who speaks lies against us.” Daniel 14, verse 13. They were unconcerned, for under the table they had made a secret entrance through which they always came in to consume the provisions. Daniel 14, verse 14. So when they had all gone, the king set out the food for Bel. And Daniel ordered his servants to bring in ashes, which they sprinkled throughout all the temple in the presence of the king alone. Then they went out, shut the door, sealed it with the king's signet, and departed. Daniel 14, verse 15. During the night the priests came with their wives and children, as they usually did, and ate and drank everything. Daniel 14, verse 16. The king rose early the next morning, and Daniel with him. Daniel 14, verse 17. Then the king said, “Are the seals intact, Daniel?” Daniel answered, “They are intact, O king.” Daniel 14, verse 18. As soon as the doors were opened, the king looked at the table and cried out in a loud voice, “Great are you, O Bel, and with you there is no deceit at all.” Daniel 14, verse 19. Then Daniel laughed and restrained the king from going in. He said, “Look at the floor, and notice whose footprints these are.” Daniel 14, verse 20. The king replied, “I see the footprints of men, women, and children.” Daniel 14, verse 21. With great anger, the king seized the priests and their wives and children, and they showed him the hidden doors where they came in and consumed such things as were upon the table. Daniel 14, verse 22. Therefore the king put them to death and handed Bel over to Daniel, who destroyed it and its temple.
The Serpent Is Destroyed
Daniel 14, verse 23. There was also a large serpent the people of Babylon worshiped. Daniel 14, verse 24. So the king said to Daniel, “Will you also say this is made of bronze? Look, he lives, he eats, and he drinks—you cannot say he is no living god. Therefore worship him.” Daniel 14, verse 25. Daniel replied, “I will worship the Lord my God; for He is the living God. Daniel 14, verse 26. But with your permission, O king, I shall slay this serpent without sword or staff.” The king said, “I will give my permission.” Daniel 14, verse 27. Then Daniel took pitch, tar, and hair; these he boiled together and made cakes, and put them in the mouth of the serpent. The serpent ate them and burst open. Then Daniel said, “Behold the things you have been worshiping.”
Daniel Is Vindicated
Daniel 14, verse 28. Now when the people of Babylon heard what had been done, they were indignant and conspired against the king, saying, “The king has become a Jew; he has destroyed Bel, slain the serpent, and put the priests to death.” Daniel 14, verse 29. Going to the king, they said, “Deliver Daniel to us, or else we will destroy you and your house.” Daniel 14, verse 30. Now when the king saw they were pressing him hard, he handed Daniel over to them under compulsion. Daniel 14, verse 31. They threw Daniel into the lions’ den, where he was left for six days. Daniel 14, verse 32. Now there were seven lions in the den, and they had to give them two carcasses every day and two sheep. But these things were not given to them now, so they might devour Daniel. Daniel 14, verse 33. Now the prophet Habakkuk was in Judea. He had made a stew and had broken bread into a bowl, and was going to the fields to take it to the reapers. Daniel 14, verse 34. But the angel of the Lord said unto Habakkuk, “Go, carry the dinner you have into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the lions’ den.” Daniel 14, verse 35. Habakkuk said, “O Lord, I have never seen Babylon, nor do I know the den.” Daniel 14, verse 36. Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and carried him by the hair of his head, and with the speed of the wind set him in Babylon over the den. Daniel 14, verse 37. Habakkuk cried out, saying, “O Daniel, Daniel, take the meal God has sent you.” Daniel 14, verse 38. Daniel said, “You have remembered me, O God, and You have not forsaken those who love You.” Daniel 14, verse 39. So Daniel arose and ate; and the angel of the Lord immediately set Habakkuk down in his own place once more. Daniel 14, verse 40. After this, on the seventh day the king went to the lions’ den to mourn for Daniel, and he came to the pit and looked inside—and there sat Daniel. Daniel 14, verse 41. The king cried out with a loud voice, “Great are You, O Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other besides You.” Daniel 14, verse 42. Then he drew him out of the den, and cast in those who had plotted Daniel's destruction; and they were devoured in a moment before his face.