# Bel and the Dragon (in Daniel)

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> The Book of Bel and the Dragon [in Daniel]
> [The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon]
> 
> The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon,
> Cut off from the end of Daniel.
> 
> Bel 1
> And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus of
> Persia received his kingdom.
> 
> 2
> And Daniel conversed with the king, and was honoured above
> all his friends.
> 
> 3
> Now the Babylons had an idol, called Bel, and there were
> spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour,
> and forty sheep, and six vessels of wine.
> 
> 4
> And the king worshipped it and went daily to adore it: but
> Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said unto him, Why
> dost not thou worship Bel?
> 
> 5
> Who answered and said, Because I may not worship idols made
> with hands, but the living God, who hath created the heaven and
> the earth, and hath sovereignty over all flesh.
> 
> 6
> Then said the king unto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is a
> living God? seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every
> day?
> 
> 7
> Then Daniel smiled, and said, O king, be not deceived: for
> this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or
> drink any thing.
> 
> 8
> So the king was wroth, and called for his priests, and said
> unto them, If ye tell me not who this is that devoureth these
> expences, ye shall die.
> 
> 9
> But if ye can certify me that Bel devoureth them, then
> Daniel shall die: for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And
> Daniel said unto the king, Let it be according to thy word.
> 
> 10
> 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.
> 
> 11
> 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;
> 
> 12
> And to morrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not that
> 
> Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death
> that speaketh falsely against us.
> 
> Bel 1
> And they little regarded it: for under the table they had
> made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and
> consumed those things.
> 
> 14
> 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
> sealed it with the king's signet, and so departed.
> 
> 15
> Now in the night came the priests with their wives and
> children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drinck up
> all.
> 
> 16
> In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him.
> 
> 17
> And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he
> said, Yea, O king, they be whole.
> 
> 18
> And as soon as he had opened the dour, 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.
> 
> 19
> 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.
> 
> 20
> And the king said, I see the footsteps of men, women, and
> children. And then the king was angry,
> 
> 21
> And took the priests with their wives and children, who
> shewed him the privy doors, where they came in, and consumed
> such things as were upon the table.
> 
> 22
> Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into
> Daniel's power, who destroyed him and his temple.
> 
> 23
> And in that same place there was a great dragon, which they
> of Babylon worshipped.
> 
> 24
> And the king said unto Daniel, Wilt thou also say that this
> is of brass? lo, he liveth, he eateth and drinketh; thou canst
> not say that he is no living god: therefore worship him.
> 
> 25
> Then said Daniel unto the king, I will worship the Lord my
> God: for he is the living God.
> 
> 26
> But give me leave, O king, and I shall slay this dragon
> without sword or staff. The king said, I give thee leave.
> 
> 27
> Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe
> them together, and made lumps thereof: this he put in the
> dragon's mouth, and so the dragon burst in sunder : and Daniel
> said, Lo, these are the gods ye worship.
> 
> 28
> When they of Babylon heard that, they took great
> indignation, and conspired against the king, saying, The king is
> become a Jew, and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the
> dragon, and put the priests to death.
> 
> 29
> So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or
> else we will destroy thee and thine house.
> 
> 30
> Now when the king saw that they pressed him sore, being
> constrained, he delivered Daniel unto them:
> 
> 31
> Who cast him into the lions' den: where he was six days.
> 
> 32
> And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given
> them every day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not
> given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.
> 
> 33
> Now there was in Jewry a prophet, called Habbacuc, who had
> made pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl, and was going into
> the field, for to bring it to the reapers.
> 
> 34
> But the angel of the Lord said unto Habbacuc, Go, carry the
> dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the
> lions' den.
> 
> 35
> And Habbacuc said, Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I
> know where the den is.
> 
> 36
> Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and bare
> him by the hair of his head, and through the vehemency of his
> spirit set him in Babylon over the den.
> 
> 37
> And Habbacuc cried, saying, O Daniel, Daniel, take the
> dinner which God hath sent thee.
> 
> 38
> And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God: neither
> hast thou forsaken them that seek thee and love thee.
> 
> 39
> So Daniel arose, and did eat: and the angel of the Lord set
> Habbacuc in his own place again immediately.
> 
> 40
> Upon the seventh day the king went to bewail Daniel:
> and when he came to the den, he looked in, and behold,
> Daniel was sitting.
> 
> 41
> Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying, Great art
> Lord God of Daniel, and there is none other beside thee.
> 
> 42
> And he drew him out, and cast those that were the cause of
> his destruction into the den: and they were devoured
> in a moment before his face
>
> — *Bel and the Dragon (in Daniel)*