the den, to whom they gave two carcasses every day, and two sheep; but now nothing was given them, that they might devour Daniel. Yet Daniel remained unhurt.
Daniel having been for some time in the lions’ den, needed food. Now there was at that time in Judaea a prophet named Habacuc, who carried food to the field for the reapers. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “Carry thy dinner to Daniel who is in the lions’ den at Babylon.”
Habacuc replied: “Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the den.” Then the angel took him by the hair of his head, carried him in an instant[1] to Babylon, and placed him over the den of lions. And Habacuc called to Daniel[2]: “Thou servant of God, take the dinner that God has sent thee!” Daniel exclaimed: “Thou hast remembered me, O God, and Thou hast not forsaken them that love Thee.” Then he arose and ate.
But the angel of the Lord carried Habacuc back to his own place. On the seventh day the king came to bewail[3] Daniel. And standing near the den he looked in and saw Daniel sitting amongst the lions, and he cried with a loud voice: “Great art Thou, O Lord, the God of Daniel!”
Immediately he drew Daniel out of the den, but those who had desired the prophet’s death he threw in, and they were devoured by the lions in a moment. Then the king said: “Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth fear the God of Daniel, for He is the Saviour, working signs and wonders.”
COMMENTARY.
The Goodness of God. Not only did the Lord God protect His faithful servant from the fury of the hungry lions, but he fed him during his captivity in the den in the most wonderful way, sending him food by Habacuc. Full of thankfulness, Daniel exclaimed: “Thou hast remembered me, O God, and Thou hast not forsaken them that love Thee.”
The Omnipotence of God worked two miracles on behalf of Daniel. It was miraculous that the wild beasts should remain ravenously hungry rather than devour Daniel. It was also miraculous that Habacuc should in one moment be translated from Judaea to Babylon, and back again.
