Page 156 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

CHAPTER XXXIV

DANIEL AND CYRUS

The days immediately following Cyrus’ arrival in Babylon were busy ones for the
royal household and the official family.

Much of the time, Cyrus was closeted with Darius and Daniel as the keen-minded

and conscientious emperor asked many questions about the kingdom and its
administration. Every conceivable aspect of the government-civil and military—were
carefully inquired into.

Due to his long experience in government, Daniel was better qualified to answer
the exhaustive questioning than was Darius.

After Daniel had withdrawn, Cyrus expressed his wonder at the great grasp of

public affairs that the Hebrew statesman showed. “Never, O Darius, have I seen such
wisdom as this Hebrew patriarch possesses. And I am impressed with the fact that his
great age seems not to have dimmed his memory in the slightest degree, as he is able
to review very detail of the affairs of Babylon back to the early days of

Nebuchadnezzar. And there is not only wisdom there, but great meekness and dignity.
Though I am nominally his sovereign, I feel an irresistible sense of inferiority to this
man. I have the feeling that he has been in the habit of standing in the presence of a
vastly greater monarch than I! That also brings me to inquire into the circumstances

that led to the execution of Parmashta and Adalia. Was not that also connected with
this Hebrew statesman?” inquired King Cyrus.

Whereupon Darius gave a detailed account of the story of the decree that he had

been inveigled into signing, the commitment of Daniel to the lions, his deliverance,
and the punishment of all those who had conspired against him, including the two
presidents, Parmashta and Adalia. “Some thought it was because I had the lions fed to

the full that they did not eat Daniel, but if that were the case …(with a twinkle in his
eye) they recovered their appetites very promptly at the expense of Parmashta, Adalia
and company! When I saw that his God had performed the mighty miracle of stopping
the mouths of the lions in behalf of his faithful servant, I then and there put my trust in
Him, and Daniel’s God has become my God,” Darius concluded.

Cyrus sat amazed during the unfolding of the story, and at its conclusion remained