Daniel was the king's guest and was honored above all his friends. Now the Babylonians had an idol called Bel and there were spent upon him every day twelve measures of flour, forty sheep, and sixty vessels of wine. The king also worshipped him but Daniel adored God.
The king said to him, "Why do you not adore Bel?"
David answered, "Because I adore only the living God that created heaven and earth."
The king said, "Does not Bel seem to be a living god? You see how much he eats and drinks."
David smiled, O king, do not be deceived, for he is but clay and brass and never has it eaten."
The king got angry. He called the priests and said to them, "If you do not tell me who it is that eats up these expenses, you shall die. But if you can show me that Bel eats them, Daniel shall die."
Daniel said, "Be it done according to your word."
Now the priests of Bel were seventy, besides their wives and children. They also said, "Behold, we go out, and then sert on the meats and the wine and shut the door fast with your seal. In the morning, if you find that Bel has not eaten up, we die."
So it came to pass as arranged and Daniel told his servants to scatter ashes on the floor. The priests went in by night according to their customs, with their wives and children, and ate and drank up all.
The king arose early in the morning, and Daniel with him. The king said, "Are the seals shole, Daniel?"
Daniel answered, "They are whole, O king."
As soon as heopened the door, the king lookedat the table and cried, "Great are you, O Bel, there is not any deceit in you."
Daniel laughed, and said, "Behold the floor. Whosefootsteps are those?"
The king said, "I see the footsteps of men, women, and children." He got angry. He took the priests, their wives and children, and they showed him the private doors by which they came in and consumed the things that were on the table.
The king therefore, put them to death and delivered Bel into the power of Daniel, who destroyed it and its temple.
The king said to him, "Why do you not adore Bel?"
David answered, "Because I adore only the living God that created heaven and earth."
The king said, "Does not Bel seem to be a living god? You see how much he eats and drinks."
David smiled, O king, do not be deceived, for he is but clay and brass and never has it eaten."
The king got angry. He called the priests and said to them, "If you do not tell me who it is that eats up these expenses, you shall die. But if you can show me that Bel eats them, Daniel shall die."
Daniel said, "Be it done according to your word."
Now the priests of Bel were seventy, besides their wives and children. They also said, "Behold, we go out, and then sert on the meats and the wine and shut the door fast with your seal. In the morning, if you find that Bel has not eaten up, we die."
So it came to pass as arranged and Daniel told his servants to scatter ashes on the floor. The priests went in by night according to their customs, with their wives and children, and ate and drank up all.
The king arose early in the morning, and Daniel with him. The king said, "Are the seals shole, Daniel?"
Daniel answered, "They are whole, O king."
As soon as heopened the door, the king lookedat the table and cried, "Great are you, O Bel, there is not any deceit in you."
Daniel laughed, and said, "Behold the floor. Whosefootsteps are those?"
The king said, "I see the footsteps of men, women, and children." He got angry. He took the priests, their wives and children, and they showed him the private doors by which they came in and consumed the things that were on the table.
The king therefore, put them to death and delivered Bel into the power of Daniel, who destroyed it and its temple.
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