1. After King Astyages was gathered to his ancestors, Cyrus the Persian succeeded to his kingdom.
2. Daniel was a companion of the king and was held in higher honor than any of the Friends of the King.
3. The Babylonians had an idol called Bel, and every day they provided for it six bushels of fine flour, forty sheep, and six measures of wine.
4. The king revered it and went every day to worship it; but Daniel worshiped only his God.
5. When the king asked him, “Why do you not worship Bel?” Daniel replied, “Because I do not revere idols made with hands, but only the living God who made heaven and earth and has dominion over all flesh.”
6. Then the king continued, “You do not think Bel is a living god? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?”