Page 147 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

Daniel’s God will overrule my foolish vanity and save his life, and thus turn this
unhappy ordeal into a witness to Him.” Thus spake the king as the three emerged from
the great door of the palace.

With deliberate pace, the three led on down the streets and through the Gate of the
West, followed by the Palace Guard as the people lined the streets.

For this distinctively Persian form of capital punishment there had been an
excavation in the foothills, about a mile and a half west of the city, the forepart of
which had been walled up on three sides. From the fourth side there led off a passage-
way into a cave in the hills from which in turn branched off other subterranean

tunnels. Into these the fierce beasts, brought from as far off as India and Africa, could
retreat as a lair. They were always hungry and when any legal or political offenders
against the state were cast into the front pit, they would rush upon them and devour
them in a moment. So quickly would death come that it was a comparatively humane

form of capital punishment.

The front pit was covered over save for an aperture about six feet square through
which the condemned were thrust in after the covering slab of stone had been pushed

aside.

About fifty paces from this den the king halted. He would not be a witness to the
lowering of his friend into the den, which he had every natural reason to believe

would be followed immediately by his being devoured by the mighty lions.

With broken voice and tear-stained face, Darius embraced Daniel and said:
“Farewell, friend Daniel, thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver

thee!” Again the impact of this man, his purity, faith, steadfastness had drawn from a
pagan king a confession of faith. Darius did not say: “I hope…. I trust…. I desire.”
But “…. thy God, He will deliver thee.”

The king turned and started back toward the city, accompanied by Aspatha, who
with a tear in his eye and a grip of the hand had also bade the beloved old Hebrew
good-bye. Daniel acknowledged these parting greetings with a smile and a low bow.

There was no sign of fear on his face and there was no tear in his eye.

He walked alone to the den, still followed by the guard. As he halted, the guard
halted. Four men at a signal from the captain, stepped forward and pushed back the
stone slab. As the light poured in through the opening, there was a concerted roar of

lions who rushed from their inner lairs to the outer den. They had learned that an
inrush of light was a token to them of feeding time!