Parent and Family Background

The Book of Daniel was written between 167 and 164 BC. It takes its name from the hero of the story, Daniel. The story takes place when the Jews were exiles in Babylonia, where Daniel lived around 535 BC.

The author of this book uses Daniel, the hero, to encourage the Jewish people to remain faithful to God. The book comforted the Jewish people as they suffered under the rule of a cruel dictator.

Daniel
Daniel 6:2-24

King Darius appointed many men to help him rule his kingdom. His best assistant was named Daniel. Daniel outshone all the others. Because Daniel was so extraordinary, the king thought about giving Daniel authority over the entire kingdom.

When the others heard about this they became jealous. They tried to accuse Daniel of various wrongdoings. But, no matter how hard they tried, they could not find any fault with Daniel. Then they came up with another plan.

The men went to the king and honored him. Then they said, “King Darius, we want to make a new law.” The king listened. “Let no one offer prayers to God for thirty days except you. Otherwise, he shall be put into a den of lions.”

King Darius agreed and with his signature, the declaration became a law.

Even after Daniel heard about the new law, he continued his daily practice of praying to God three times a day. So, the men went to the king and reminded him of the decree. “You passed a law that no one could pray to God for thirty days except you. Daniel must be put into the lions’ den.

The king was very upset. He did not want to put Daniel into a lions’ den, but the law could not be changed.

As Daniel was put into the den, the king said to him, “May God, whom you love, save you from the lions.”

The king returned to his palace. He did not eat. He could not sleep. Early the next morning, he went to the lions’ den. As he came near, he cried out to Daniel, “Daniel, did God save you?”

Daniel answered the king, “God sent me an angel and the lions did not harm me.”

This gave the king great joy. Then he ordered the men to remove Daniel from the den.

Connecting to Faith First - Legacy Edition
Grade 6, chapters 3 and 13
Junior High, Mystery of God, chapter 8

Connecting to Faith First®
Grade 6, chapters 2 and 3
Junior High, Creed and Prayer, chapter 8