The complation of Book of Danial 23
Thursday, August 17, 2006
God for their daughter Susanna and so did her
husband joakim and all her relatives, because she was
found innocent of a shameful deed. And from that day onward Daniel had a great
reputation among the people. When king Astyages was
laid to rest with his ancestors, Cyrus the Persian succeeded to his kingdom.”
(62-65). The name Cyrus means “shepherd”. According to
the law he who gives a false testimony is to be killed, so by their death
Susanna’s life was saved. (Deut5:20)
The judges fell into their own trap as “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it
and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.” (Proverbs 26:27).
Similarly, in the Book of Esther Haman wanted to destroy the Israelites and
planned to kill Mordecai but it was lie who died upon
the stick he prepared for the death of Mordecai.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE STORY OF BEL AND THE STORY OF THE DRAGON
introduction to the story of lid
Daniel refused to worship Bel with the people of
Babylon and Cyrus the king of Babylon. The Babylonians offered twelve bushels of
choice flour, forty sheep and six measures of wine to Bet
believing that he consumed them. After being advised by Daniel Cyrus ordered
the priests leave the temple and he himself offered food to lick Daniel then
scattered ashes on the floor of the temple. They then all left the temple and
sealed the temple with the king’s seal. During the night the priests entered
the temple through a hidden pathway and ate the offering of Cyrus. Early the
next morning Cyrus and Daniel came to the temple having found that the seal was
intact, they entered only to find the footsteps of men, women and children.
Cyrus then realised the wickedness of the priests and ordered that they and
their families be killed. Daniel then destroyed Bel
and its temple
Con templations on the story of Bel:
“Daniel was a companion of the king, and was the most honoured of all his
friends. Now the Babylonians had an idol called lid and everyday they provided
for it twelve bushels of choice flour and forty sheep and six measures of
wine.” (2,3)
The first part of verse two shows that Daniel was close to the king. Daniel
probably interpreted the King’s dreams as well as offering him advice on
various matters. Cyrus was also the one who promoted Daniel to third man in the
kingdom.
lid was also known as Merdach.
I-ic was the most famous God in Babylon (Isiah 46:1, Jeremiah 50:2, 51:44).
