Analysis.
v.
1, 2. Introduces Cyrus and Daniel.
3. How Bel was worshipped by the Babylonians.
4-7. Discussion as to Bel's worship[60] between the King and Daniel.
8, 9. The King enquires of Bel's priests, and says that they or Daniel must die.
10-14. The test agreed upon to prove whether Bel partook of the offerings or no.
15-22. Decided in the negative by discovery of the Priests' trick, who are slain and their idol destroyed.
23. Introduces the other object of worship[60], the Dragon.
24-27. Conversation as to its divinity between the King and Daniel, who, with the former's permission, ingeniously slays it.
28, 29. Anger of the Babylonians with them both.
30-32. They cause Daniel to be cast into the lions' den.
33-40. He is miraculously saved by Habakkuk.
40, 42. The King acknowledges the Lord, sets Daniel free, and delivers his persecutors to the fate intended for the prophet.
[60] In each case it is not clear from the text that the 'worship' consisted in anything else than supplying food.
[Endnote: N.B.—It is unaccountable why the 'heading' in A.V. begins with v. 19. Cf. Sus. for a similar peculiarity.]