Welcome back to another episode of NachDaily. Today we’ll be learning the 6th chapter in Doniel, the famous story of his miraculous escape from the lions’ den.

[May this segment be a merit for the aliyas neshamos of Raizel bas

Moshe and Avraham Aharon ben Yisroel Yitzchok]

Most Meforshim explain that King Daryevesh in this perek was the son of Achashverosh and Esther.

Daryavesh became the ruler when he was 62 years old, and appointed 120 satraps to run his kingdom. As he was no longer young, he felt unable to do this on his own.

A satrap was in a sense higher than an officer, as he was able to administer the provinces without having to report to the King. The satraps had a certain level of autonomy and independence, but they had 3 overlords to whom they were required to report. One of the overlords was Doniel.

Over time, the King contemplated putting Doniel in charge of the entire kingdom, arousing jealousy amongst the ranking officials and overlords. Although they tried to find evidence of corruption or misdeeds on his part, they were unable to do so. They conspired to create a scheme against Doniel to set the stage for his death.

The officials and overlords approached the King, advising him that for the next 30 days he should make strict laws regarding worship in the kingdom. Anyone who made a request to anything or anyone other than the King should be thrown into a lions’ den as punishment. They asked him to sign the proclamation, so that it would be irreversible in their court system.

The Alshich explains that this was a prohibition not to pray to anything at all. Daryevesh would be the sole intermediary between man and God.

The Ramad Walli asks what type of King would listen to such bad advice. This decree would cause people to rebel against him.

The Ramad Walli gives two answers:

1) The hearts of Kings are in the hand of God. This was a test for Doniel. Would he persist in his service of God, or back down? Doniel did not change his ways.

2) Hashem wanted to demonstrate His power through the miracle of the lions, something He had not done throughout Daryavesh’s rule. When Doniel heard about the proclamation, he went home and prayed three times a day towards a window facing Yerushalyim. The Meforshim note that although Doniel usually prayed with a minyan in a shul, this was not something for which one is required to die.

The set-up worked. While Doniel was in the midst of prayer, they barged into his house and caught him red-handed. They immediately went to the King and reminded him of the irreversible decree, accusing Doniel of praying 3 times a day!

Upon hearing the news the King was very upset. He loved Doniel, who he knew was totally honest and good. Rashi explains that the King actually tried to delay the punishment and find a defense for Doniel. Rav Saadya Goan says that he tried to impose a monetary fine on Doniel instead.

The Ramad Walli adds that Daryavesh undertood, when his advisers came to charge Doniel, that this was just a pretext to have him killed.

The King tried until sunset to save Doniel. The Meforshim all note that it was only until sunset because at that time Doniel prayed again.

The King was unable to get Doniel off the hook once he had further incriminated himself. Prior to throwing him into the lion’s den, the King blessed Doniel that Hashem should rescue him.

Doniel was thrown into the den of lions. A boulder was placed over it and sealed with the King’s signet ring. The King returned to his palace in a distraught state. He refused entertainment and neither ate nor slept well.

The Malbim notes that the pit was sealed with the signet ring to make it clear that there was no tampering with the boulder in an attempt to release Doniel.

The Ramad Walli notes that the King, through it all, had faith that the Tzaddik’s God would save him. He wanted to make the miracle even greater by showing that if the seal would be unbroken, there was no way humanly possible for Doniel to escape or be helped by a person.

Verse 21 tells us that at daybreak, the King arose and went to check if Doniel was still alive, calling out in a mournful voice, “Doniel, servant of the living God! Was the God whom you continually worship able to rescue you from the lions?”

To the King’s surprise he heard Doniel’s voice call back, “Long live the King!” Doniel said that Hashem sent angels to shut the mouths of the lions so that he would not be harmed. “I am innocent in His eyes.”

Rebbe Nachman explains in Sefer Hamidos that Doniel was able to subdue the lions with his power of prayer because prayer has the ability to rule over the natural world.

The King was extremely happy, and had Doniel lifted from the lions’ den. The King ordered all the people and their families who had slandered Doniel to be thrown into the den, where they were instantly devoured.

The chapter ends with King Daryavesh writing a proclamation to his entire kingdom, declaring that the God of Doniel is the true God Whom all must fear and before Whom all must tremble. Hashem’s Kingdom will never be destroyed. He saves whomever He pleases, and saved Doniel from the mouths of the lions.

Doniel prospered for the rest of King Daryvesh’s reign and throughout that of Koresh.

This ends the stories in Sefer Doniel.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. In the next 6 chapters we will learn of Doniel’s awesome prophecies.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.