Day 163 · Part 9: Exile
Bel and the Dragon
In the Story
In context
Bel and the Dragon is in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, as chapter 14 of Daniel in the Greek; most Protestant Bibles leave it out or print it apart as the Apocrypha. It is set after “Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom” (Daniel (Greek) 14:1). Bel is the god of Babylon Jeremiah named when he said, “Bel is disappointed” (Jeremiah 50:2), and he is given twelve great measures of flour, forty sheep and six firkins, about 66 gallons, of wine every day (Daniel (Greek) 14:3).
Daniel says he worships “the living God, who has created the sky and the earth” (14:5). He has ashes scattered on the temple floor, and in the morning the footprints show the priests and their families came in by a secret door to eat Bel’s food (14:14–21). It is a hard reading in places: the king has the priests killed (14:22), and at the end Daniel’s enemies are thrown to the lions (14:42).
Daniel kills a great dragon the people worship by feeding it lumps of pitch, fat and hair, and he is thrown into a den of seven lions for six days (14:23–31). The angel of the Lord carries the prophet Habakkuk from Judea with a dinner for him, and Daniel thanks God for remembering him (14:33–39).
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
Psalms 23:5–6 · God sent Daniel a dinner in the lions’ den; the psalm says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Daniel (Greek) 14
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A hymn for today
What a Friend We Have in Jesus · words by Joseph M. Scriven
- What a Friend we have in Jesus,All our sins and griefs to bear!What a privilege to carryEverything to God in prayer!O what peace we often forfeit,O what needless pain we bear,All because we do not carryEverything to God in prayer!
- Have we trials and temptations?Is there trouble anywhere?We should never be discouraged;Take it to the Lord in prayer.Can we find a friend so faithfulWho will all our sorrows share?Jesus knows our every weakness;Take it to the Lord in prayer.
- Are we weak and heavy laden,Cumbered with a load of care?Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer.Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?Take it to the Lord in prayer;In His arms He'll take and shield thee,Thou wilt find a solace there.