Then those men came by collusion to the king and<n id="1" /> said to him,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Recall,<n id="3" /> O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed.&#8221;

To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays<n id="1" /> to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions.