Outline // Sunday School #14: Daniel & The Lion's Den

Five facts about Daniel and his life that you maybe didn’t know:

1. Daniel was born into royalty or nobility
Daniel 1:3 says, “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives.”

Daniel endured extreme amounts of hardship in his life, but from when he was born until about ten years old, Daniel was no ordinary man. He was either born into royalty or esteemed nobility.

2. Daniel was a good-looking man
Verse 4 continues by saying, “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.

The NIV translation says that Daniel and his friends were “young men without any physical defect, handsome,” and the KJV says “children in whom was no blemish.”

He was handsome! Judean nobility. King Nebuchadnezzar had high standards for who was allowed to survive in the land that he conquered. He had even higher standards for who was allowed to serve in his high court of influence. Daniel fit that bill.

3. Daniel was likely never married
There is no mention of any spouse or family in the entire book of Daniel or the rest of the Bible.

In 2 Kings 20:18, it was prophesied, “Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king."

We have already established that Daniel was an attractive male, so to eliminate any problems, the kings of this time routinely had men from the land they conquered emasculated and turned into eunuchs.”

It’s very probable that Daniel never married in his life.

4. Daniel was around 80 years old in the Lions' Den
I think I always pictured him as a young man in the lion’s den!! But no! When we outline the various kings' reigns throughout Daniel's book and compare that to what we know in our history books, we can pinpoint Daniel as around 80 years old when he was thrown into the lion’s den.

The total length of Babylonian captivity lasted 70 years, and Daniel was around ten or older when captured would put him close to 80 years old when King Darius took over, as stated in Daniel chapter 6.

5. The Bible has no negative insight on Daniel
Daniel 6:4 says, “Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.”

Daniel’s enemies in the king’s administration looked for any fault they could find in him, and they came up empty.

We know Daniel wasn’t perfect, and like us, fell short, yet the Bible doesn't highlight or mention any of those moments.

Daniel 6:1-28

Daniel had a REGULAR & FAITH FILLED prayer life.  It wasn’t just in crisis. 
Daniel was a man of deep obedience. He knew who His source was.