Topical Bible: Lion: Kept in Captivity

◄ Lion: Kept in Captivity ►

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In the biblical context, lions are often depicted as symbols of strength, power, and majesty. However, there are instances where lions are mentioned in captivity, serving as instruments of divine judgment or as part of royal collections.

Biblical References:

1. Daniel in the Lions' Den: One of the most well-known accounts of lions in captivity is found in the Book of Daniel. Daniel, a faithful servant of God, was thrown into a den of lions as a result of a conspiracy against him. The lions were kept in a den, a form of captivity, and were used as a means of execution for those who defied the king's edicts. However, God miraculously shut the mouths of the lions, sparing Daniel's life. This event is recorded in Daniel 6:16-22 : "So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!'... My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions, and they have not harmed me, for I was found innocent before Him."

2. Samson and the Lion: While not directly about captivity, the account of Samson provides insight into the interaction between humans and lions. In Judges 14:5-6 , Samson encounters a lion and, empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, tears it apart with his bare hands. This incident highlights the presence of lions in the region and the potential for them to be subdued by divine intervention.

3. Royal Collections: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, it was not uncommon for kings to keep exotic animals, including lions, as part of their royal menageries. While the Bible does not explicitly mention Israelite kings keeping lions, the practice was prevalent among neighboring nations. This is indirectly referenced in 1 Kings 10:22 , where King Solomon's wealth and grandeur are described, including his acquisition of exotic animals: "For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks."

Symbolism and Significance:

Lions in captivity within the biblical narrative often serve as a backdrop for demonstrating God's power and protection over His faithful servants. The account of Daniel, in particular, underscores the theme of divine deliverance and the futility of human schemes against God's chosen ones. The presence of lions in royal collections also reflects the wealth and power of ancient monarchs, serving as a testament to their dominion over creation.

In summary, while the Bible does not extensively detail the keeping of lions in captivity, the instances that do exist highlight themes of divine intervention, human authority, and the majesty of God's creation.

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Daniel 6:1
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
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Library

The Captivity of Judah.
... different with Judah who all the time kept true to ... benefits that the Jews derived
from the captivity the following ... a) The fiery furnace; (b) of the lion's den. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xv the captivity of.htm

Solomon
... sea of molten brass; of his ivory lion-throne, and ... Jews, after the time of the
Babylonish captivity, seem to ... And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon xi solomon.htm

Appendix 1 Massecheth Middoth
... built on the top of it; and the priests kept guard above ... But when the children of
the Captivity came up, they added ... and wide in front, and like to a lion, as it ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 1 massecheth middoth.htm

The Testament of Joseph Concerning Sobriety.
... was beaten, he commanded that we should be kept in guard ... unto him, Wherefore dost
thou detain in captivity this noble ... hand there was as it were a lion; and all ...
/.../xi the testament of joseph concerning.htm

Life and Death
... of death, ascended upon high, having led captivity captive, and ... mountain valleys
is made at first, and kept rich year ... chose to eat meat like the lion, it would ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon iii life and death.htm

On the Creation of the World
... of this world in which we are kept enclosed, even ... creatures, viz., a man, a calf,
a lion, an eagle ... Therefore on account of His captivity by a quaternion, on ...
/.../victorinus/on the creation of the world/on the creation of the.htm

As He is Going to Reply to the Slanders of his Opponents He ...
... in my case that,"as I have kept to the ... the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every understanding ... basilisk, to tread under foot the lion and the ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter i as he is.htm

The Life of Malchus, the Captive Monk.
... look of the father who had instructed me, kept me, and ... such an example, I began to
tire of captivity, and to ... for ourselves, though the rage of the lion was not ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the life of malchus the.htm

A Calm Evening, Promising a Bright Morning
... of their brother's love and care, and still kept the old ... It 'came in like a lion,
it goes out like a ... all his life from the day of his captivity, filling his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a calm evening promising a.htm

Indwelling Sin
... the law of his mind, and bringing him into captivity to the ... to keep me." Well, you
were in the main kept by the ... A lion is a lion, even though he play like a kid ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/indwelling sin.htm