Brendan Powell Smith - Daniel in the Lions Den

Copyright 2014 by Brendan Powell Smith

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Manufactured in China, May 2014

This product conforms to CPSIA 2008

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Smith, Brendan Powell, author.

Daniel in the lions den: the brick Bible for kids / Brendan Powell Smith.

pages cm. -- (The brick Bible for kids)

Summary: The story of Daniel being thrown into the lions den as illustrated with LEGO bricks.-- Provided by publisher.

Audience: Ages 3-6.

Audience: Pre-school.

ISBN 978-1-62914-605-8 (hardcover: alk. paper) 1. Daniel (Biblical figure)--Juvenile literature. 2. Bible stories, English--Daniel. 3. LEGO toys--Juvenile literature. I. Title.

BS580.D2S58 2014

224.509505--dc23

2014002886

Cover design by Brian Peterson

Cover photograph credit Brendan Powell Smith

Print ISBN: 978-1-62914-605-8

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63220-205-5

Editor: Julie Matysik

Designer: Brian Peterson

Production Manager: Sara Kitchen

King Nebuchadnezzar and his army conquered Israel where Gods people, the Israelites, lived. Then he took all the Israelites with him back to the city of Babylon where his people had a different religion. One of the Israelites who was taken to Babylon was a young boy named Daniel.

Daniel and his three friends from Israel were smart, good looking boys. The king put them in a special school so they would grow up to be very wise and would help the king rule over his enormous kingdom. With Gods help, Daniel and his friends became very wise indeed.

One day the king had his people build a giant golden statue. The king ordered everyone to worship the statue, and he said that anyone who did not worship the giant statue would be thrown into a blazing furnace of fire.

Some of the Babylonians noticed that Daniels three friends only worshipped God and did not worship the golden statue.

When the king found out, he became very angry. He had Daniels three friends tied up and ordered two of his strongest soldiers to lift up the three friends and 8 toss them into the blazing furnace.

The fire in the furnace was so hot that flames were leaping out. As Daniels three friends were tossed into the furnace, the two soldiers caught on fire and were burned up.

Daniels friends stood inside the blazing furnace, but they were not harmed. As the king looked on, he noticed a fourth figure had joined them amid the flames. He saw that it was an angel sent by God to protect Daniels three friends.

The king ordered the three friends to come out of the fire, and he was amazed to see they had not been harmed. The king gained respect for their God and he made this announcement to his people: Anyone who says anything bad about the God of the Israelites will be put to death.

One day, the king woke up from a frightening dream. In the dream he saw a very tall tree. There were birds living in the tree, and there were wild animals living below the tree in its shade. Then an angel appeared and announced that the tree would be cut down.

The king gathered his wise men and told them the dream, but no one could tell him what it meant. Finally, the king told the dream to Daniel. Daniel knew what the dream meant, but was afraid to tell the king. The king insisted.

So Daniel told the king its meaning. You have grown very big and strong, like the tree in your dream, said Daniel. But God has decided that you will be humbled for a time and live among the wild animals.

And so it happened one day that the king was walking along the roof of his royal palace, admiring the view of the city. Here is the great city of Babylon, he said, which has been built by my mighty strength for my honor and glory.

At that very moment, the king suddenly found himself among the wild animals, far away from any cities or towns. He lived like an animal for some time, eating grass and sleeping outdoors. His hair grew long, and his fingernails grew into claws.

After some time passed, God returned him to his place as king of Babylon and made him more powerful than before. The king had learned to be humble before the God of Israel. He praised God and marveled at Gods power over all humans.

Many years later the kings son became the new king of Babylon. At a great feast for his friends, the new king served wine in golden cups that had been taken from the Temple of the God of the Israelites. During the meal, the Babylonians gave praise to the gods of their religion.