Daniel & The Lion’s Den

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on The Chosen People... On the central dais, sprawled across cushions, King Belshazzar held court like a man determined to defecate on his father's legacy. 00:00:16 Speaker 2: More wine! 00:00:18 Speaker 3: If the Persians are camped at our gates. 00:00:21 Speaker 4: Let them hear our laughter over their war drums! 00:00:25 Speaker 1: Then all went dark. Belshazzar pushed himself up, his eyes narrowing toward the wall. Something was emerging out of the dark, cold wall. A hand. The first fingertip touched the plaster. Black lines bloomed under it, each stroke burning like hot iron into the wall. Mene, mene, tekel ufarsin. Daniel pressed his palm against the wall. and traced his fingers against the carvings. He expected them to be hot to the touch, but instead, they were ice cold. 00:01:06 Speaker 5: Mene, God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. 00:01:26 Speaker 1: Somewhere, Far off, a faint tremor passed through the floor. It could have been the tread of soldiers, or the shifting of walls, or the first distant rumble of an empire's fall. The gardens of Darius's palace were alive with the colours of early spring. Almond trees bloomed in pale pink, their petals drifting down like warm snow over the tiled paths. Pools of clear water reflected the morning sun, sending ripples of light dancing across the marble walls. At the center of it all sat a table of veined white stone, low enough for conversation, broad enough for maps, scrolls, and cups of steaming spiced wine. King Darius reclined on one side, his robe of indigo silk spilling over the cushions, the gold circlet on his brow, catching the sun. On the other side sat Daniel. He was older now, his hair streaked with silver, but his posture was still upright, and his eyes were as sharp as the first day he had walked into a king's court decades ago. Between them lay an unrolled map of the Empire. 00:02:58 Speaker 4: This is what we've taken in five years. Saris, Ekbatana, Susa. From the mountains to the sea my armies have marched. 00:03:06 Speaker 1: Daniel traced the routes with his eyes, studying the drawn rivers, the symbols for cities. 00:03:13 Speaker 6: You've done what even the kings before you could not. The Empire stretches from the Tigris to the Aegean. 00:03:20 Speaker 3: And yet. 00:03:22 Speaker 4: If I am to hold it all, Babylon must be an anchor. And for that, I need someone who will not bleed it dry while I am gone on my next campaign. 00:03:32 Speaker 1: The king paused, watching Daniel, searching for any glint in his eye, a spark of ambition or greed. There were none to be found. Darius smirked. 00:03:45 Speaker 4: Daniel, you have served three kings, two empires, and somehow... Somehow you're still breathing. 00:03:53 Speaker 1: How? 00:03:54 Speaker 7: Perhaps that is because I've served one king far longer than that. 00:04:00 Speaker 4: Yes, the God of Israel, your homeland. You still pray to him even though that temple was destroyed? 00:04:07 Speaker 6: My God is not confined to a temple or man-made structure. He follows me. He follows his chosen people. I serve him wherever I go. irrespective of which kingdom occupies which. 00:04:22 Speaker 1: Then tell me this. 00:04:24 Speaker 4: Why serve men at all? Why not retreat to the hills as a hermit and make sacrifices on stone altars? 00:04:32 Speaker 1: Why deal with the politics, the. 00:04:35 Speaker 4: Madness of the court, and endless game of thrones? 00:04:39 Speaker 1: Daniel took a slow sip of his wine before answering. 00:04:44 Speaker 6: There was a refrain from the exiles as we were being led like cattle to Babylon, a charge from God Most High. The prophet Jeremiah said, Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there, and do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city that captures you. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. 00:05:28 Speaker 4: Pray for the enemy who subjugates you? It seems weak, does it not? 00:05:34 Speaker 6: Loving one's enemies is the highest form of strength, my king. War is never won unless hatred can be overcome. 00:05:43 Speaker 1: For a long moment, Daria studied Daniel in silence. There was something in Daniel's tone. No flattery, no scheming. Just a simple conviction that could not be bought. The king of Persia was surrounded by those who spoke only to gain favor. Yet Daniel spoke as a man without ambition. 00:06:06 Speaker 4: Ah, that is what I like about you, Daniel. The other satraps and governors smile in my presence and then snatch what they can behind my back. 00:06:16 Speaker 3: But you? 00:06:18 Speaker 4: You're different, strange in the most comforting way possible. 00:06:22 Speaker 1: He tapped the center of the map, the stylized star marking Babylon. 00:06:28 Speaker 4: Which is why when I march west again in the spring, I want you. 00:06:33 Speaker 1: Over all of Babylon. 00:06:36 Speaker 4: Every satrap, every commander, every merchant caravan will answer to you. 00:06:44 Speaker 1: Daniel's eyes flickered, not with ambition, but with the weight of what the king was asking. 00:06:51 Speaker 6: That is no small mantle, my king. 00:06:54 Speaker 4: I wouldn't give it to you if you couldn't bear it. You have my trust, friend. 00:07:00 Speaker 1: The two sat in companionable quiet for a time. the breeze stirring the almond blossoms overhead. But not all in the garden shared that peace. Beyond the carved balustrade, in the cool shade of a colonnade, two figures stood just out of sight, listening. The colonnade along the garden's edge was a world apart from the sunlight and warmth at the king's table. Two men leaned in the darkness, voices kept low but edged with venom. The first, Artemis, was lean and angular, his face sharp and plain. His narrow eyes twitched constantly. His robe was fine but rumpled, and his fingers tapped against his thigh in a restless rhythm. The second, Cassander, was the opposite. tall, broad, his beard oiled and trimmed, his robe a perfect drape of deep violet. He spoke with the lazy poise of someone who believed every word he said deserved an audience. Artemis's eyes darted to the king and Daniel in the garden. 00:08:20 Speaker 8: Do you hear him? Daniel is being appointed over all Babylon, while we're left to count caravans and daughter disputes. 00:08:31 Speaker 1: He's a Hebrew. Cassander didn't look at him. He was watching the king. 00:08:37 Speaker 3: Darius trusts him. That's the problem. Trust is harder to break than reputation or creed. 00:08:46 Speaker 8: Then we don't break the trust. We use it against him. 00:08:53 Speaker 1: Cassander's brow rose slightly. 00:08:56 Speaker 3: Explain. 00:08:57 Speaker 8: Daniel He's too clean, too pious. You and I both know there's no pride, no scandal, no whisper we can use against him. But he's predictable. 00:09:21 Speaker 1: Cassander smiled faintly, a slow curl at the edges of his mouth. 00:09:26 Speaker 3: You mean... His God? Precisely. 00:09:32 Speaker 8: That's where his loyalty lies. Not with Darius, not with the Empire, but with that God of Israel. So we turn that loyalty into treason. 00:09:48 Speaker 1: Cassander stroked his beard thoughtfully. 00:09:52 Speaker 3: And how do we get the king to play along? 00:09:57 Speaker 4: Right, my friend. 00:09:59 Speaker 9: Even in life. 00:10:00 Speaker 8: Lion can be led by it we give the king something to savor a decree that makes every tongue in babylon speak his name as if he were a. 00:10:11 Speaker 9: God cassandra's eyes narrowed and daniel will refuse he'll refuse He'll do it openly, because he can't help himself. 00:10:23 Speaker 8: And then, the king will have no choice but to destroy him. 00:10:29 Speaker 1: Cassander let out a soft chuckle, the sound like wine poured into a shallow cup. 00:10:38 Speaker 3: You're sharp, Artemis. 00:10:41 Speaker 8: And you're smooth enough to present it without raising suspicion. 00:10:51 Speaker 1: That afternoon, in the Hall of Lions, where gold-threaded banners hung between carved beasts, the two conspirators stood before Darius. The king had just returned from reviewing his cavalry, and his tunic still smelled faintly of leather and horse. 00:11:11 Speaker 3: O king, eternal in majesty, I trust, as ever, that your cavalry, the thunder of Persia incarnate, stands sharpened and burnished for your next triumph? 00:11:23 Speaker 4: They will be, in time. 00:11:26 Speaker 3: Why are you two here? Ah, yes, yes. As your humble instruments, myself and the ever-dutiful Artemis, you graciously charged us not long ago to survey the noble courts of your dominion, to weigh their temper, to sift their loyalties, and to bring before your throne the essence of our findings— polished and refined like gold tested in fire. 00:11:53 Speaker 4: I don't remember doing so, but go on. 00:11:59 Speaker 3: Mighty king, the governors of Babylon, Medea, and Persia, each strut within their little cages of custom and tradition, pecking and clawing over trifles unworthy even of a scribe's ink. They dispute which trifle table should be set first, whose procession should be longer, whose god should receive precedence in festival. Oh, petty quarrels that gnaw at the sinners of unity. 00:12:31 Speaker 4: I plan to unify the courts and councils and appoint a new governor for the region in due time. 00:12:37 Speaker 3: Oh, assuredly, oh king, and doubtless whomever you elevate shall prove a mirror of your own incomparable wisdom. Yet, In the meantime, while discord breeds, may I be so bold as to suggest a decree? A single command to draw their scattered eyes toward one singular, unblinking vision. 00:13:01 Speaker 8: The East Usire is religious in nature. Each governor serves his own god. Babylonian, medium, Persian. 00:13:11 Speaker 2: Their rivalries fester. 00:13:14 Speaker 8: Into bitter arguments. 00:13:16 Speaker 3: However. 00:13:17 Speaker 3: What if every satrap, every governor, every counselor and prefect bowed not to a hundred squabbling deities, but to one? What if, instead of splinter devotion, their prayers rose in unison like incense, all directed to you? 00:13:40 Speaker 4: To me? 00:13:42 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, incomparable sovereign. To you, our North Star. We have spoken to courtiers, counselors, and governors themselves, and they all echo the same thunderous acclaim. You are not merely ruler. You are divine. You are our god. 00:14:05 Speaker 1: Darius, a humble man by nature, couldn't help but perk up at the thought. To be worshipped, beloved, the living symbol of empire itself. It was tempting. Pride swirled in him like a rising tide. 00:14:23 Speaker 4: How shall it be done? 00:14:25 Speaker 8: Make a decree, my king, that for thirty days no petition is to be made to any god or man except you. 00:14:36 Speaker 3: Not mere prayers, sire, but supplications. 00:14:40 Speaker 7: Yes. 00:14:41 Speaker 3: Let them consult you in all things. Speak your name in place of their old gods. Trace your seal in the dust where once they bent to others. Let them taste in every breath that you alone are the fountain of power in this empire. 00:15:04 Speaker 8: Every voice in Babylon calling on you alone. Your name. Your seal rested upon every plea. 00:15:14 Speaker 4: Thirty days, no God but me. 00:15:18 Speaker 8: And whoever dares defy such a unifying decree, proves himself a rebel at heart, he must be punished. 00:15:28 Speaker 3: And what punishment would be more exquisite than the lion's den, O king? Yes, the den of... Where tooth and claw execute the justice of empire itself. For if a man cannot endure thirty days in honoring his sovereign, how can he then be trusted to endure life within the walls of your dominion? 00:15:51 Speaker 4: The lion's den? 00:15:54 Speaker 3: But of course, Majesty. The lion's embodiments of your wrath. The very roar of Persia made flesh. Better that such... Insolent weeds be cast among the beasts, then allowed to choke the garden of your empire. 00:16:14 Speaker 1: Darius tapped a finger on his chin, weighing the flattery against the unease it stirred. Then he waved a hand. 00:16:24 Speaker 4: Draft it, I'll sign it. 00:16:26 Speaker 1: Cassander bowed low, hiding the triumph in his eyes. As they left the hall, Artemis whispered just low enough for Cassander to hear. 00:16:36 Speaker 7: And the trap closes. 00:16:44 Speaker 1: Daniel's eyes were fixed on the scroll in his hand, the royal decree. He'd seen enough laws in life to know this one wasn't meant to keep peace. It reeked of a trap. Daniel closed the scroll slowly and set it down on the table. For a moment, he just stood there, staring at the stairs leading to the upper room. He took in a slow breath, let it out. His feet began to climb the stairs. The upper room was bathed in late afternoon light, its lattice windows thrown open toward the west. Daniel crossed the room, His knees found the familiar spot on the worn rug where he had prayed a thousand times before. His hands rested on the sill for a moment, fingers brushing the carved wood. He looked out across the rooftops toward the distant hills. Then, with a slow exhale, he lowered himself fully in prayer. 00:17:51 Speaker 6: Oh Lord, my God, you have been my help in exiles. My guide in the foreign courts. 00:17:59 Speaker 4: Be with me now. 00:18:01 Speaker 1: The wind shifted. Somewhere below, a door creaked open and heavy footsteps approached the base of the stairs. Daniel didn't rise, didn't turn. He simply kept praying. The throne room was already thick with voices when Daniel was brought in. The satraps had made sure of it. They'd summoned half the court before the king even knew what was happening. Daniel was dragged in by guards and thrown onto the stone floor with a violent thud. Artemis and Cassander stood on either side of Daniel, who strained to lift himself to his knees. Darius was surprised and outraged at Daniel's treatment. 00:18:49 Speaker 4: What is the meaning of this? 00:18:51 Speaker 1: Cassander bowed low, wearing a solemn mask. 00:18:55 Speaker 3: Great king, live forever. We have come before you to report a grave matter. 00:19:04 Speaker 8: It concerns the decree you signed, my lord, that no man should petition any god or man except for you for thirty days. 00:19:12 Speaker 1: Darius's eyes darted to Daniel, realizing in an instant what was happening. Daniel met the king's gaze with a knowing stare. They were both pawns in a greater game. 00:19:24 Speaker 2: Daniel of Judah has been codifying your royal decree, praying to his god three times daily, only moments after receiving the law. 00:19:35 Speaker 4: Daniel, tell the court it isn't true. Tell them what you are actually doing. 00:19:41 Speaker 6: Great king, I serve you faithfully, but I will not cease my prayers to the god of my fathers. 00:19:49 Speaker 1: A murmur. rippled through the onlookers. Darius nearly leaped from the platform and rushed to Daniel. 00:19:56 Speaker 4: Tell them it's false. Tell them they're wrong. I will believe you. 00:20:00 Speaker 6: I prayed to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:20:07 Speaker 4: Daniel, don't... Don't be a fool. 00:20:11 Speaker 1: Daniel bowed his head low, not in shame, but in resignation. That quiet refusal seemed to hit Darius harder than any open defiance. He glanced toward the satraps who were watching like vultures. He could see the trap now, could see it clearly, but the iron of the law had already closed around his wrists as much as Daniel's. 00:20:39 Speaker 8: Then. 00:20:40 Speaker 4: You give me no choice. 00:20:42 Speaker 1: There is always a choice, Darius. 00:20:45 Speaker 4: By the law of Medes and Persians, the penalty is death. Guards, take him. Prepare the lion's den. 00:20:55 Speaker 1: The order cracked through the chamber like a whip. Soldiers moved in, gripping Daniel by the arms. The crowd parted as he was led toward the great doors. Darius sank back onto his throne. His eyes fixed on the marble floor. The law was unbroken. His conscience was not so fortunate. The desert night had fallen heavy over Babylon, a moonless shroud. Torches sputtered against the wind as the procession moved through the lower courtyard. They reached the great pit at the edge of the courtyard. Iron gates covered the upper opening, their bars warped and bent by years of claws and teeth. Darius was there. He stood a little apart from the others, the torchlight catching in his eyes, his face drawn and pale. This isn't how it should end. 00:21:58 Speaker 6: It won't end here. 00:21:59 Speaker 4: This god you're willing to die for? May he deliver you. 00:22:04 Speaker 1: The captain of the guard stepped forward. A massive beam was levered away from the grate. With a groaning protest, the iron swung open, revealing a black void below. The stench of the den rose up at once. Daniel peered into the darkness. He could hear the lions now with awful clarity. The soldiers pushed him forward. His sandals scraped the edge. He closed his eyes. My god, even if you do not, I am yours. The shove came suddenly, the stone rim vanishing under his feet. Daniel dropped into the darkness. The sound of his landing exploded in the den, and the lions immediately moved. The last thing Daniel saw was the faint flicker of moonlight disappear under the groaning of the shutting door. The darkness became alive. He could hear them circling, claws ticking against stone. A deep growl rumbled behind him, another to his left. Then came the sounds. Daniel's hands clenched into fists, every muscle braced. He shifted to keep his back to the wall, heart thudding in his throat. 00:23:34 Speaker 7: For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 00:23:57 Speaker 1: And I will be found by you. The first lion roared. Daniel could hear the scrape of its claws and the rush of air burst forward. Daniel braced himself for impact, for a fight. But just as the lion's jaws were inches away from Daniel's throat, the den exploded with light. A brilliance like molten gold poured through the darkness, casting the walls in blinding fire. The lion, blinded by the light, fell right past Daniel. Daniel looked up. It was as if the darkness had been cut with a blade and the wound bled radiant light. Out of it stepped a figure. He was tall, robed in white, eyes like burning bronze. Do not be afraid, Daniel. The lions reared back, snarling, their massive bodies recoiling as though struck. One leapt forward with a roar and the figure's outstretched hand courted midair. With a single motion, the lion fell back, jaws snapping shut with an audible crack. The others backed away, pacing restlessly, their eyes fixed on the figure in the light. The figure turned to Daniel. 00:25:21 Speaker 6: Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard and I. 00:25:31 Speaker 1: Have come in response to them. The lions settled, lying down along the edges of the chamber, their massive chests rising and falling like the waves of a distant sea. Daniel sank to his knees, his breath shaking. The heat of the moment gave way to a flood of relief. The light did not fade. It stayed with him through the long hours, holding back the shadows and the teeth until the first light of dawn reached the rim above. Darius had not slept. He'd spent the night pacing the marble floors of his chamber. By the time the sky began to pale, he was already moving to the den. The guards at the rim straightened at his approach. No one spoke. Darius reached the edge. The stone was cold under his hands as he leaned forward, peering into the black mouth of the pit. He could see nothing. 00:26:37 Speaker 4: Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to deliver you from the lions? 00:26:44 Speaker 1: The words hung in the air. No answer came. Then, from the depths... Great King, live forever! 00:26:55 Speaker 4: You're alive. 00:26:57 Speaker 10: God shut the lion's jaws. They have not harmed me because I was found innocent before him. And before you, oh king, I have done no wrong. 00:27:08 Speaker 4: Get him out of there, now! 00:27:11 Speaker 1: Ropes were thrown down. Moments later, Daniel emerged into the morning light. Darius stepped forward, gripping Daniel's arms with both hands as if to convince himself he was real. 00:27:26 Speaker 6: I told you it wouldn't end here. 00:27:29 Speaker 1: The king's relief hardened into something else. He turned sharply to the captain. 00:27:35 Speaker 4: Bring me the men who conspired against him. 00:27:39 Speaker 1: All of them. From the crowd of onlookers, two figures were dragged forward. The shifty, jagged-eyed satrap and his smooth, pompous companion. Both now pale, their fine clothes twisted in the grip of the guards. 00:27:57 Speaker 4: Artemis, Cassander, you came close, but it wasn't enough. You sought to take the life of a man who serves the god of all gods. You failed, and now you'll pay. 00:28:14 Speaker 1: The gods didn't need further orders. The satraps were taken to the pit, their protests rising to screams as they were cast down. The lions, now unbound, roared in unison, and the sound was swallowed by the earth. Darius turned back to Daniel. 00:28:37 Speaker 4: Shutting the mouths of lions? What else is your god capable of? 00:28:43 Speaker 1: Daniel simply inclined his head. 00:28:46 Speaker 6: Even I have yet to behold the full scope of his power and glory, but I have. 00:28:51 Speaker 1: A feeling I soon will. This Pray.com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gatina, Max Bard, Zach Schelleberger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradok, Thomas Copeland Jr., Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Lashinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. Written by Aaron Salvato, Brie Rosely, and Chris Baig. 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