A Short Introduction
Bel and the
Dragon is an addition to the Book of Daniel, found in the Apocrypha, written
around the 1st century BCE. It consists of three stories that showcase Daniel’s
wisdom and God’s power over idols and false gods:
- Bel and the Idol – Daniel exposes
the fraud behind the Babylonian god Bel, proving that its “offerings” are
actually eaten by priests, not the idol.
- The Dragon – Daniel kills a living
dragon worshiped as a god by feeding it a mixture that causes it to burst.
- Daniel in the Lions’ Den (Extended
Version) – Daniel is thrown into the lions’ den again but is miraculously
fed by the prophet Habakkuk, who is transported by an angel.
These stories
emphasize faith in the true God, rejection of idolatry, and divine deliverance.
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1. And King
Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus of Persia receiued his
kingdome.
2. And Daniel
conuersed with the king, and was honored aboue all his friends.
3. Now the
Babylonians had an Idol called Bel, and there were spent vpon him euery day
twelue great measures of fine flowre, and fourtie sheepe, and sixe vessels of
wine.
4. And the king
worshipped it, and went daily to adore it: but Daniel worshipped his owne God.
And the king said vnto him, Why doest not thou worship Bel?
5. Who answered
and said, Because I may not worship idols made with hands, but the liuing God,
who hath created the heauen, and the earth, and hath soueraigntie ouer all
flesh.
6. Then saide
the King vnto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is a liuing god? seest thou not
how much he eateth and drinketh euery day?
7. Then Daniel
smiled, and said, O king, be not deceiued: for this is but clay within, and
brasse without, and did neuer eate or drinke any thing.
8. So the king
was wroth, and called for his Priests, and said vnto them, If yee tell me not
who this is that deuoureth these expenses, ye shall die.
9. But if ye
can certifie me that Bel deuoureth them, then Daniel shall die: for hee hath
spoken blasphemie against Bel. And Daniel sayd vnto the king, Let it be
according to thy word.
10. (Now the
Priests of Bel were threescore and tenne, beside their wiues and children) and
the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.
11. So Bels
Priests said, Loe, wee goe out: but thou, O king, set on the meate, and make
ready the wine, and shut the doore fast, and seale it with thine owne signet:
12. And to
morrow, when thou commest in, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten vp all,
wee will suffer death; or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against vs.
13. And they
little regarded it: for vnder the table they had made a priuie entrance,
whereby they entred in continually, and consumed those things.
14. So when
they were gone forth, the king set meates before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded
his seruants to bring ashes, and those they strewed throughout all the temple,
in the presence of the king alone: then went they out and shut the doore, &
sealed it with the kings signet, and so departed.
15. Now in the
night came the Priests with their wiues and children (as they were woont to
doe) and did eate and drinke vp all.
16. In the
morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him.
17. And the
king said, Daniel, are the seales whole? And he said, Yea, O king, they be
whole.
18. And assoone
as he had opened the doore, the king looked vpon the table, and cried with a
loude voice, Great art thou, O Bel, and with thee is no deceit at all.
19. Then
laughed Daniel, and helde the king that he should not goe in, and sayd, Behold
now the pauement, and marke well whose footsteps are these.
20. And the
king said, I see the footsteps of men, women and children: and then the king
was angry,
21. And tooke
the Priests, with their wiues and children, who shewed him the priuy doores,
where they came in, and consumed such things as were vpon the table.
22. Therefore
the king slewe them, and deliuered Bel into Daniels power, who destroyed him
and his temple.
23. And in that
same place there was a great Dragon, which they of Babylon worshipped.
24. And the
king said vnto Daniel, Wilt thou also say that this is of brasse? loe, he
liueth, he eateth and drinketh, thou canst not say, that he is no liuing God:
therefore worship him.
25. Then said
Daniel vnto the king, I will worship the Lord my God: for he is the liuing God.
26. But giue me
leaue, O king, and I shall slay this dragon without sword or staffe. The king
sayde, I giue thee leaue.
27. Then Daniel
tooke pitch, fat, and haire, and did seethe them together, and made lumpes
thereof: this hee put in the Dragons mouth, and so the Dragon burst in sunder:
and Daniel said, Loe, these are the gods you worship.
28. When they
of Babylon heard that, they tooke great indignation, and conspired against the
king, saying, The king is become a Iew, and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath
slaine the Dragon, and put the Priests to death.
29. So they
came to the king, and said, Deliuer vs Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and
thine house.
30. Now when
the king sawe that they pressed him sore, being constrained, he deliuered
Daniel vnto them:
31. Who cast
him into the lions den, where he was sixe dayes.
32. And in the
den there were seuen lyons, and they had giuen them euery day two carkeises,
and two sheepe: which then were not giuen to them, to the intent they might
deuoure Daniel.
33. Now there
was in Iury a Prophet called Habacuc, who had made pottage, & had broken
bread in a boule, and was going into the field, for to bring it to the reapers.
34. But the
Angel of the Lord said vnto Habacuc, Goe carrie the dinner that thou hast into
Babylon vnto Daniel, who is in the lions denne.
35. And Habacuc
said, Lord, I neuer saw Babylon: neither do I know where the denne is.
36. Then the
Angel of the Lord tooke him by the crown, and bare him by the haire of his
head, and through the vehemencie of his spirit, set him in Babylon ouer the
den.
37. And Habacuc
cryed, saying, O Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner which God hath sent thee.
38 And Daniel
saide, Thou hast remembred mee, O God: neither hast thou forsaken them that
seeke thee, and loue thee.
39 So Daniel
arose and did eate: and the Angel of the Lord set Habacuc in his owne place
againe immediatly.
40. Upon the
seuenth day the king went to bewaile Daniel: and when he came to the den, he
looked in, and behold, Daniel was sitting.
41. Then cried
the king with a loud voyce, saying, Great art thou, O Lord God of Daniel, and
there is none other besides thee.
42. And he drew
him out: and cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the den:
and they were deuoured in a moment before his face.
Here ends
the Bel and the Dragon.
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