The Medo-Persian armies invaded Babylonia in June of 539 BCE and captured its capital, Babylon, in July. In Biblical chronology, this invasion occurred near the end of the Babylonian exile. The Medes and the Persian kingdom was later ruled by Artaxerxes II or Ahasuerus who married Esther. Today, Persia is essentially synonymous with modern Iran; however, Persia as an ancient kingdom, especially when referenced along with Media, encompassed Egypt in the west to parts of India in the east and included Asia Minor from the eastern border of Greece to Tajikistan.
The combined armies of the Medes under Darius and the armies of Persia under Cyrus marched into Babylon and conquered it. Darius was first to rule, in keeping with the prophecy in Daniel that the Medes would reign first.
Secular history has no record of a king named Darius. Some believe that Darius was another name for Cyrus who ruled the Medo-Persian Empire during this time period. Darius could also be Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, who served under as a ruler of Babylon until he inherited the throne. There was also an official named Gubaru who was appointed by Cyrus as ruler over Babylon immediately after its capture. Gubaru had the power to assemble an army, levy taxes, and possess palaces. This man was who was king over Babylon was given the honorary title of Darius which means “holder of the scepter.”
Darius exerted his control over the vast kingdom and appointed 120 dignitaries who would conduct the affairs of the lands he controlled. A supervisory council of three, one of whom was Daniel, presided over the activities of the dignitaries. As time passed, it became increasingly clear that Daniel was much wiser than the other council members which prompted Darius to consider appointing him over the entire kingdom. When his co-council members became aware of this, they conspired to make Daniel guilty of treason.
Feigning to act in the king’s best interests to solidify control over the Empire, the two council members proposed an edict that no one of the kingdom be permitted to address any request to any god or human other than the king for 30 days. Disobeying the edict would be punishable by being thrown into a den of lions. The edict was approved by the king, who signed it and issued the prohibition.
Talmud Bava Basra 4a suggests that Daniel was brought to endure this ordeal because he had advised King Nebuchadnezzar to give charity to the Jewish poor in order to avoid divine retribution. The midrash (Sifri, Ha’azinu, 306), however, adopts the view that this incident occurred in order to sanctify the name of God. Portions of Daniel’s prayers have been incorporated into the daily liturgy as part of the penitential Tachanun prayer. In later generations Jewish people would walk considerable distances on Sabbath to pray at the location where Daniel prayed, which was situated three miles from the city of Barnish.
- Who is King Darius the Mede?
2. How much time has passed in Daniel’s life by the time of this king?
3. Have you ever considered the Daniel’s age when reading about the lions’ den?
4. What evidence is recorded that Daniel remained in the position that King Belshazzar placed him?
5. What is special about Daniel?
6. Describe the commissioners plan for trapping Daniel.
7. Why did Daniel pray toward Jerusalem?
8. What are the three times of prayer and what do they correspond to?
9. How did the King react when he found out Daniel disobeyed the edict?
10. With did the King say to Daniel before he went into the lions’ den?
11. Why do you think the King said these words? How is he different from Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar? What did he do while Daniel was in the den?
12. How is the den similar to the tomb of Yeshua?
2 Timothy 2:16-19
1 Peter 5:8
Matthew 27:60-66
13. What happens “at the break of dawn” with the king?
14. What closed the lions’ mouths?
15. Could this be the same ‘angel’ that Nebuchadnezzar saw in the fiery furnace? Why or why not?
16. Who did the king command be cast into the lions’ den?
Numbers 16:30-32
17. What is the conclusion of these event for Persia and Daniel?
Dig Deeper: Darius the Mede is also known as Cyrus the Great of Persia. This king plays a significant role in allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem, rebuild the walls of the city, and restore the Temple. It is speculated that Daniel died about 530 BCE as he was still alive when Cyrus the Great conquered Persia in 538 BCE. Daniel would have witnessed the first wave of Jews returning to Jerusalem as prophesied by Jeremiah, but would have died about age 93 before the Temple was restored.
18. What do you learn from these Scriptures about Cyrus the Great?
2 Chronicles 36:22-23
Isaiah 44:28-45:1-7
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