Darius the Mede

Darius the Mede received the kingdom of Babylon after Belshazzar's fall and set Daniel over his realm as one of three presidents. When jealous officials tricked him into signing an irrevocable decree, he was forced against his own wish to cast Daniel into the den of lions, spending a sleepless night before finding him unharmed. Marveling at Daniel's deliverance, Darius issued a decree that all should fear the living God of Daniel.

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Biography

Age: About 62 when he took the kingdom
Occupation: King over Babylon
Era: Exile
Nationality: Mede

Old Testament King Exile Daniel

Did You Know?

Darius the Mede is the king who reluctantly cast Daniel into the lions' den, then spent a sleepless night fasting and rushed at dawn to see whether Daniel's God had saved him (Daniel 6:18-20).

So moved was he by Daniel's deliverance that he issued an empire-wide decree that all should 'tremble and fear before the God of Daniel' (Daniel 6:26) - a pagan king proclaiming the living God.

His exact historical identity is one of the most debated puzzles in Old Testament scholarship, with candidates ranging from Cyrus's general Gubaru to Cyrus himself under a Median throne-name.

Key Chapters

Daniel 6 Daniel in the Lions' Den 6 min read Darius reluctantly casts Daniel to the lions, then rejoices to find him preserve...

Key Passages

Daniel in the Lions' Den

Daniel 6:16-23

Darius reluctantly casts Daniel to the lions, then rejoices to find him preserved by his God.

T¹⁶hen the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

¹⁷ And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. ¹⁹ Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. ²⁰ And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? ²¹ Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. ²² My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. ²³ Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

Read full chapter: Daniel 6 →

Darius Honors Daniel's God

Daniel 6:25-27

Darius decrees that all in his dominion should tremble before the living God who delivers.

T²⁵hen king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

²⁶ I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. ²⁷ He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.