Bel And The Dragon 1:14 kjva — So when they were gone forth, the king set meats before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and…

King James Version with Apocrypha

“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.”

— Bel And The Dragon 1:14, King James Version with Apocrypha

What does this verse mean?

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Bel And The Dragon 1 — Context

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: or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us.

13

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 drink 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.

Bel And The Dragon 1:14 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Bel And The Dragon 1:14 say?
Bel And The Dragon 1:14 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “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.”
Where is Bel And The Dragon 1:14 in the Bible?
Bel And The Dragon 1:14 is found in the Apocrypha, in the book of Bel And The Dragon, chapter 1, verse 14.
Who wrote Bel And The Dragon?
Bel And The Dragon is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (Greek addition to Daniel). Daniel 14 in the Greek and Vulgate. Two short narratives joined together. It was written c. 150 BC.
What is the book of Bel And The Dragon about?
Two short, satirical anti-idolatry tales. In the first, Daniel proves that the Babylonian god Bel is a lifeless idol by sprinkling ash on the temple floor and showing the priests' footprints in the morning. In the second, he kills a dragon worshipped as a god by feeding it cakes that burst it open. Thrown into the lions' den for a week as punishment, Daniel is fed when an angel transports the prophet Habakkuk from Judea by his hair.
What are the major themes of Bel And The Dragon?
Bel And The Dragon explores themes including Anti-idolatry, Wisdom, Providence, Deliverance. These themes shape the meaning and context of Bel And The Dragon 1:14.
What translation should I read Bel And The Dragon 1:14 in?
Bel And The Dragon 1:14 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Bel And The Dragon 1:14?
Bel And The Dragon 1:14 reads (KJVA): “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.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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