The narrative of bel (14:1–22) is a folk tale ridiculing worship. In it, the king asks Daniel "Do you not think that Bel is a living god? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?" Daniel proves through a ruse that the sacred meal of bel is actually consumed at night by the seventy priests and their wives and children, who entered through a secret door when the temple's doors were sealed. The priests and their wives and children are killed, and Daniel is permitted to destroy the idol of Bel and the temple. This version has been cited as an ancestor of the "locked room mystery". -quoted from an internet source.
First what does it mean "to worship"? Is it not 'to adore'? Explained better with the image of a dog giving great reverence to its master. The dog lowers to its belly in submission and eases in lower than the hand; out of respect, castrated and no longer the Alpha of the pack, but yielding to its master. Adoring the hand of the one that cares for it with kisses of gratitude and trust. Now the meaning of the name Daniel: From the Hebrew name דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning "God is my judge",
Bel and the Dragon: "The Babylonians had an idol, called bel, and spent upon their idol of worship every day were twelve measures of fine flour, and forty sheep and six vessels of wine. The king worshipped the idol of bel but Daniel worshipped his own God." (God is my judge.) "Why do you not worship Bel?" the king asked Daniel. Daniel replied, "I don't worship idols made with hands."
Bel and the Dragon: "Bel is no living God? Look, see how much Bel eats and drinks every day?"
"Be not deceived. For your idol is nothing but clay within, and brass without. (It) drinks nor 'eats' but is lifeless."
The king was angry and called for the priests.
"Tell me who devours all these expenses, if not bel? Tell me, or die. Prove to me bel eats and drinks and devours these expenses and Daniel will die for speaking blasphemy against bel."
"Daniel proves through a ruse that the sacred meal of bel is actually consumed at night by the seventy priests and their wives and children, who entered through a secret door when the temple's doors were sealed." The ruse: "Now the priests of bel were threescore and ten, beside their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of bel. So bel's priests said, Lo, we go out: but thou, O king, set on the meat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast, and seal it with thine own signet; And to morrow when thou comest in. it thou findest not that bel hath eaten up all. we will suffer death: or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us.
Bel and the Dragon: And they had little reguarded it: for under the table they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things.
"God is my Judge"
'Behold now the pavement'
First what does it mean "to worship"? Is it not 'to adore'? Explained better with the image of a dog giving great reverence to its master. The dog lowers to its belly in submission and eases in lower than the hand; out of respect, castrated and no longer the Alpha of the pack, but yielding to its master. Adoring the hand of the one that cares for it with kisses of gratitude and trust. Now the meaning of the name Daniel: From the Hebrew name דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning "God is my judge",
Bel and the Dragon: "The Babylonians had an idol, called bel, and spent upon their idol of worship every day were twelve measures of fine flour, and forty sheep and six vessels of wine. The king worshipped the idol of bel but Daniel worshipped his own God." (God is my judge.) "Why do you not worship Bel?" the king asked Daniel. Daniel replied, "I don't worship idols made with hands."
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;" (Acts 7:48)
"Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands." (Acts 19:26)
1 Timothy 3:15
[15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Worship God who created the heaven and the earth, and is sovereign over all flesh."Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands." (Acts 19:26)
1 Timothy 3:15
[15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Bel and the Dragon: "Bel is no living God? Look, see how much Bel eats and drinks every day?"
"Be not deceived. For your idol is nothing but clay within, and brass without. (It) drinks nor 'eats' but is lifeless."
The king was angry and called for the priests.
"Tell me who devours all these expenses, if not bel? Tell me, or die. Prove to me bel eats and drinks and devours these expenses and Daniel will die for speaking blasphemy against bel."
"Daniel proves through a ruse that the sacred meal of bel is actually consumed at night by the seventy priests and their wives and children, who entered through a secret door when the temple's doors were sealed." The ruse: "Now the priests of bel were threescore and ten, beside their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of bel. So bel's priests said, Lo, we go out: but thou, O king, set on the meat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast, and seal it with thine own signet; And to morrow when thou comest in. it thou findest not that bel hath eaten up all. we will suffer death: or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us.
"And the vision of all is become unto you as words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed. (Isaiah 29:11)
"And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. (Daniel 6: 17)
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (Daniel 12:9)
"So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." (Matthew 27: 66)
"And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. (Daniel 6: 17)
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (Daniel 12:9)
"So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." (Matthew 27: 66)
Bel and the Dragon: And they had little reguarded it: for under the table they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things.
Mark 11:17-18
[17] And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. [18] And the scribes and chief priests heard it , and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Bel and the Dragon: So when they were gone forth, the king set meats before bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and those they strewed throughout all the temple in the presence of the king alone: then went they out, and shut the door, and seal it with the king's signet, and so departed. Now in the night came the priest with their wives and children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drink up all. And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table, and cried with a loud voice, Great art thou, O bel, and with thee is no deceit at all. Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not go in, and said, Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps are these."[17] And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. [18] And the scribes and chief priests heard it , and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
"God is my Judge"
'Behold now the pavement'
John 19:13-15
[13] When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and (Pilate)sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. [14] And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour(the hour of the devil and darkness): and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! [15] But they cried out, Away with him , away with him , crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
John 18:33-38
[33] Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? [34] Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? [35] Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? [36] Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. [37] Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. [38] Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all .
1 Timothy 6:13-15
[13] I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; [14] That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: [15] Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
POTENTATE: po'-ten-tat (dunastes, "mighty one," from dunamai, "to be able"): A person who possesses great power and authority
[13] When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and (Pilate)sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. [14] And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour(the hour of the devil and darkness): and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! [15] But they cried out, Away with him , away with him , crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
John 18:33-38
[33] Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? [34] Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? [35] Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? [36] Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. [37] Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. [38] Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all .
1 Timothy 6:13-15
[13] I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; [14] That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: [15] Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
POTENTATE: po'-ten-tat (dunastes, "mighty one," from dunamai, "to be able"): A person who possesses great power and authority
