Daniel was selected as one of three top aides to King Darius of Babylon.  Because he was very loyal, honest, and intelligent, Daniel earned King Darius' trust and eventually was put in charge of running the day to day affairs of the whole kingdom.

This made the rest of the people around the king very jealous.  They wanted to get rid of Daniel, but he didn't do anything that they could use against him with the king. They decided that they would trick the King into making a law that they were sure Daniel would have to break.

The conspirators told the King he was the best king there had ever been, and that they wanted him to be honored throughout the kingdom.  They convinced the King it would be a great idea if instead of praying to the many gods of the Babylonian empire, people should ask their great King Darius for whatever they needed. They also said there had to be a serious punishment for those who defied the King and continued to pray to their religious gods. King Darius took the bait.  He issued a proclamation that said that for a month his subjects should direct all their requests to their King, and that during that time anyone caught praying to any of the gods would be thrown into a den of hungry lions.

The members of Darius' court thought they had Daniel right where they wanted him. Daniel was a Jew and prayed to his "God of Gods" three times each day.  They knew that, even though he was King Darius' most loyal subject, Daniel would never abandon his God. All they had to do was watch and wait.

As the conspirators expected, Daniel continued to pray in front of the windows in his house for all to see.  King Darius had no choice but to throw Daniel into the lion's den.  A large stone was placed on the entrance so that Daniel could not escape.

The king couldn't sleep that night.  He loved Daniel and was angry that he had been tricked into sending his most trusted advisor to certain death.  As the sun came up, King Darius rushed to the den. He called out to Daniel and was relieved when Daniel told him he was just fine.  The King had Daniel pulled out of the den immediately.  King Darius was amazed to find that Daniel had not a single scratch on him. 

The plan backfired!  Those who had conspired  against Daniel were thrown into the lion's den themselves.  King Darius issued a decree that everyone in his kingdom should show respect for the God of Daniel. King Darius declared that the God of Daniel was the eternal and living God who could protect and rescue his believers.  He had rescued Daniel from the lions!