Today, let's delve into a lesser-known tale featuring Daniel, yes, that Daniel of the lion's den, and a king named Darius.
Now, you might remember that Nebuchadnezzar looted the Temple in Jerusalem, taking sacred objects back to Babylon. According to Legends of the Jews, one day Darius—perhaps a successor, perhaps another king entirely; details vary—began searching for these sacred garments. But they were gone. Vanished without a trace. Suspicion, naturally, fell on Daniel.
Can you imagine? Accused of hiding or stealing sacred objects! Despite Daniel's protestations of innocence, Darius threw him in prison. Seems unfair, right?
But here's where it gets really interesting. God, in this telling, doesn’t let injustice stand. An angel was dispatched, not to free Daniel directly (at least not yet), but to… blind Darius. Ouch.
The angel then reveals the reason for this sudden blindness: Darius was holding the righteous Daniel captive. And here's the kicker: sight would only be restored if Daniel himself interceded on the king's behalf. Talk about a plot twist!
Immediately, Darius releases Daniel. You can almost feel the urgency, can’t you? Together, the king and the prophet journeyed to Jerusalem, to the very place where the Temple once stood, to pray for the king’s restoration.
And guess what? An angel appears to Daniel, confirming that the prayer has been heard! All Darius needs to do is wash his eyes. He does, and vision is restored.
Darius, overcome with gratitude, gives thanks to God. And in a tangible display of that gratitude, he allocates the ma'aser, the tithe of his grain, to the priests and Levites, as we find in many places in the Hebrew Bible. Furthermore, he showers Daniel with gifts as a sign of his appreciation. Both then return to Shushtar.
But the story doesn't end there. The recovery of Darius, this miraculous healing, convinced many of his subjects of God's power. The result? Many converted to Judaism.
What's fascinating about this story, as recounted in Legends of the Jews, is the way it blends divine intervention, political intrigue, and personal redemption. It’s a reminder that even in exile, even in the face of injustice, faith and righteousness can prevail. It also highlights the importance of teshuvah (repentance), and how one's change of heart can inspire others. Makes you think about the power of personal transformation, doesn't it?