He liked Daniel, and did not want harm to come to him. Still, he made the law, and had to see it through. So Darius put Daniel in the den of lions. The Bible says, “A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.” (NRSV, Daniel 6:17) Then Darius went to his palace and fasted all night. The next morning, Darius hurried to the lions’ den and cried out, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?” (NRSV, Daniel 6:20) Daniel replied, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” (NRSV, Daniel 6:22)