Discovering The Envy of The Servants in Daniel in The Lions' Den and The Related Controversies

Daniel in the Lions’ Den Allusion

King Darius liked Daniel, a hard worker, and thus put him in a large position of power over the country. Three other servants of the King became jealous of Daniel’s new position of power and tried to find a way to get him fired. After many fruitless efforts, they went to the King one day, claiming that he was so great that all of his subjects should praise no one but him. Soon afterward, the King created the law that anyone caught praying to any other god or deity would be thrown in the lions’ den. The same three servants later found Daniel praying to God, and the King, despite liking him, had to throw Daniel in the lions’ den for the night. The next morning, the King went to release Daniel, seeing that God had protected him from even a scratch from the lions. King Darius realized how powerful and great Daniel’s God was, so he claimed that all of his subjects should now praise this God over himself.

The conflict in Daniel in the Lions’ Den is the servants’ envy over Daniel. The three men were jealous of Daniel’s new position, even though he rightfully deserved it. This jealousy led to them not only wanting to get Daniel fired, but ultimately kill him. However, this proved to not work since God saved Daniel.

I think the purpose of the story is to teach those who read it that God will save those who believe in him from harm. Daniel never did anything wrong, and he always had faith in God, and so God spared him. Even when the King ruled that it was illegal to praise anyone besides himself, Daniel stayed loyal to God.