Satisfied that their diabolic scheme would work, envious high officials and satraps approached the Babylonian king (Daniel 6:1–5). They greeted him with the expected level of flattery. Ordinarily, one would assume that a large group of governors would send messengers to the king. Here, however, the terminology suggests they were assembling—gathering in large numbers—to make their appeal. This probably was not an assembly of all 122 men involved—the same terminology describes how they met to catch Daniel in prayer at his house (Daniel 6:11). Yet it was clearly a noteworthy number of men. This may have helped to sway Darius; he may have thought this issue was a major emergency. They may have brought the law already written and ready for the king's signature.

An evil crowd seems to be more capable of doing what is wrong than when individuals act alone. It was a large, angry crowd clamoring for Jesus' crucifixion that caused the Roman governor, Pilate, to have Jesus crucified (Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:18–25; John 19:12–16). Exodus 23:2 offers wise counsel: "You shall not fall in with the many to do evil."

These men want to attack Daniel in the only way they can: by making his faith illegal and using his obedience to God against him (Daniel 6:4–5).

Daniel 6:1–9 follows the demise of the Chaldean king Belshazzar (Daniel 5:30–31). Darius the Mede eventually became the ruler of Babylon and the king of the new empire, Medo-Persia. He placed three officials, including Daniel, in charge of 120 satraps. This passage forms a link between Daniel's appointment and his sentence to die in a den of lions. The rest of the chapter explains how Daniel came into—and through—this predicament.

Babylon's new ruler organizes his territory under 120 satraps and three governors. He intends to make Daniel the most powerful of these, but jealous rivals develop a plot. Knowing Daniel's only "weakness" is loyalty to God, they trick the king into passing an irrevocable law banning prayer. Daniel knows about the law but chooses obedience to God rather than to men. Darius is anguished yet he dutifully follows the law. When Daniel miraculously survives a night in a den full of lions, Darius is elated. He condemns the conspirators to death, and the same lions tear them apart. Darius then proclaims honor on behalf of Daniel's God.

At the end of chapter 5, Belshazzar has died and control over Babylon has come to someone identified as "Darius the Mede." Darius organizes his territory under 120 satraps and three governor-level officials. Daniel is identified as one of the three high administrators. After jealous rivals fail to kill Daniel, he continues to prosper in his role. The following chapter begins an extensive record of prophetic visions. The first is a flashback to something Daniel saw during the rule of Belshazzar.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.

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