And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
And the king {H4430} commanded {H560}, and they brought {H858} those {H479} men {H1400} which had accused {H399}{H7170} Daniel {H1841}, and they cast {H7412} them into the den {H1358} of lions {H744}, them {H581}, their children {H1123}, and their wives {H5389}; and the lions {H744} had the mastery {H5705}{H7981} of them, and brake {H1855} all {H3606} their bones {H1635} in pieces {H1855} or ever {H3809} they came {H4291} at the bottom {H773} of the den {H1358}.
Then the king gave an order, and they brought those men who had accused Dani'el, and they threw them into the lion pit - them, their children and their wives -and before they even reached the bottom of the pit, the lions had them in their control and broke all their bones to pieces.
At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.
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Esther 7:10
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. -
Isaiah 38:13
I reckoned till morning, [that], as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me. -
Psalms 54:5
He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. -
Deuteronomy 24:16
The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. -
Esther 9:25
But when [Esther] came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. -
2 Kings 14:6
But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin. -
Joshua 7:24
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
Commentary on Daniel 6:24
Daniel 6:24 dramatically concludes the episode of Daniel in the lions' den, detailing the swift and terrible fate of the men who maliciously plotted against Daniel. This verse serves as a stark and immediate contrast to Daniel's miraculous preservation, powerfully illustrating the divine justice meted out to his accusers.
Context
This verse immediately follows the awe-inspiring account of Daniel's miraculous deliverance from the lions, where God's angel shut the lions' mouths. King Darius, upon witnessing Daniel's safety and recognizing the malicious intent of his officials, decreed that those who had conspired against Daniel should face the very punishment they had intended for him. The inclusion of their children and wives reflects a harsh but common legal custom in ancient Near Eastern societies, particularly within the Persian Empire, where the family of a condemned individual could often share in their punishment, emphasizing the collective responsibility and the severe nature of the transgression, especially acts seen as treason or undermining royal authority.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den" vividly describes the immediate and overwhelming power of the lions. The original Aramaic for "brake all their bones in pieces" (תִּנֵּי הַגַּרְמִין, tinney haggarmin) emphasizes the utter destruction and lack of resistance the lions encountered. The phrase "or ever they came at the bottom of the den" (עַד לָא מְטָאוּ לְאַרְעִיתָא, 'ad la' metau l'ar'iytah) highlights the instantaneous nature of the attack, contrasting sharply with the lions' passivity toward Daniel. This immediate and complete destruction signifies divine judgment, confirming God's protection over Daniel and His wrath against his adversaries.
Practical Application
This passage serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to justice. While we may not always see immediate retribution for evil in our lives, we can trust that God is ultimately just and will right all wrongs in His perfect timing. It encourages believers to remain faithful, like Daniel, even when facing opposition or false accusations, knowing that God is their ultimate defender and will ultimately vindicate those who trust in Him. It also serves as a solemn warning against harboring malice, envy, or plotting against others, as such actions often lead to self-destruction. The story of Daniel and his accusers powerfully reinforces the truth that vengeance belongs to God.