Definition: All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Daniel 6:7. It's a really interesting and somewhat frightening passage about obedience and guarding something important. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling us that someone – likely a powerful leader – has decided to create a strict rule for protecting something incredibly valuable. It’s saying, “If anyone asks for help from God or any other person, except you, then they will be punished.” Let's break it down word by word: “All the presidents of the kingdom…” – This refers to a group of powerful officials in a kingdom, like kings and nobles. “…the governors…” - They are responsible for keeping order and enforcing laws. “…and the princes…” - These are younger leaders who often have authority over a particular area. “…the counsellers, and the captains, and the…” – This is a longer list of officials who are involved in managing things. “have consulted together to establish a royal statute…” – They've come up with a plan or rule. It’s like they’re working together to create a clear guideline. “…and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” – This is the crucial part. They’ve decided: “If someone asks for help from God or anyone else, except you, then they will be punished.” What does "den of lions" mean? This is where it gets a little symbolic and thought-provoking. The "den of lions" refers to a place – a dark, enclosed space – where lions sleep. It’s a place of danger and isolation. The verse suggests: It's a very difficult situation: Asking for help from God or anyone else is hard, but only you can protect something incredibly important. It’s a test of faith and obedience: Being in this "den" means facing significant danger and potential punishment if you don’t follow the rule. Overall Meaning & Significance: This verse highlights several important lessons: Importance of Obedience: It emphasizes that following rules and laws is crucial, especially when it comes to protecting something sacred or valuable. Responsibility: It shows that those in positions of power have a responsibility to safeguard what’s important. The Power of God: The image of the "den of lions" subtly suggests that God is watching and protecting, and that there are consequences for disobedience. In short, this verse tells us that we must be careful about asking for help and that those who disobey a strict rule will face serious punishment. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these parts in more detail? Connect it to other Bible stories or themes? Discuss the historical context (what was happening in ancient Israel at the time)?