Watch and Discuss:

As you watch, take notes and be prepared to answer the following questions after you watch the video:

1. What was Daniel carrying at the start of the video clip? Why?
2. What were two different things people wrote on, in those times?
3. Describe King Nebuchadnezzar?
4. What colour was King Cyrus’s horse?
5. How did Cyrus sign his name on laws and documents?

Listening Practice:

Watch the video clip again and fill in the missing words from the dropdown box:

Narrator: The miracle in the fire unites the Jewish people. Far from allowing their faith to weaken in , they reaffirm their trust in God. The laws and histories that Moses received on Mount Sinai, are preserved and with the books of Joshua, Samuel and kings. Together, they form the heart of the Hebrew Bible. The Jewish people have their faith, but they're still prisoners. And the only man who can set them free has lost his mind.

Daniel: So here you are... Nebuchadnezzar. The greatest king and lowliest man on God's earth. See where your has brought you? And us. You could have set us free. Now we are as trapped as you. Shh... Here. A new king is coming. Please God, let him deliver us.

Narrator: Within a few years of Nebuchadnezzar's death a army approaches Babylon led by Cyrus, king of Persia.

Cyrus: Let them know we've arrived.

Narrator: The Babylonians know they don't stand a .

They let Cyrus in without a fight.

People of Babylon: Cyrus! Cyrus!

Daniel: Cyrus will set us free if the is right.

Narrator: To protect his fellow Jews, Daniel befriends Cyrus and continues to dreams.

Cyrus: But what does your dream mean, Daniel?

Daniel: It's not my dream, sire. There's a prophet here in Babylon - Isaiah...he says:

"Here is a king whose right hand I take hold of to nations before him. He is Cyrus." He names you, sire. It means God is with you.

Cyrus: I think you me. But no one has ever died of flattery.

King’s Advisor: Your majesty has done many great things, as the record will show.

Cyrus: As it should.

King’s Advisor: “I am Cyrus, king of the world.” Yet he hangs on Daniel's every word like he's lost the power to think for himself. Daniel must be removed. One month without prayer. Surely only a traitor would ?

Cyrus: I cannot go back on my word. I promised them freedom to worship.

King’s Advisor: It is merely a test of their . They've had so many rulers. We wanted to make sure they saw you as the final, ultimate 'king of the world'.

Daniel: One month without prayer. It probably sounds reasonable to Cyrus, but they know we can't .

Azariah: They don't care about the king, they just want as much power over him as they can get. Which means they need you out of their way.

Daniel: It's a trap for all of us. They want us dead.

Azariah: A whole month. What will you do?

Daniel: I don't know. But I do know I can't live long without praying to God.

Matching exercise: Match the words on the left with the definitions on the right:

Completion exercise: Complete these sentences with words from the exercise above: (Hint: you may need to change the form of the word.)

1. A amount of information is available now with computers.
2. She to the death penalty.
3. Isaiah made a that the Babylonian empire would fall to the Persians.
4. She a list of things to take on vacation.
5. He his boss by telling her how intelligent she is.
6. I your nod to mean that you agree with me.
7. The of dogs to their owners is well-known.
8. Our company with the regulations on paying taxes every three months.

Comprehension and discussion questions: Discuss these questions in your group or with a partner.

1. What had happened to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king?
2. Why did Daniel say that God was with King Cyrus?
3. Who wanted Daniel to be dead? Why?
4. What was the new law that the king’s advisors wanted the king to approve and sign?
5. According to the king’s advisors, what was the purpose of the new law?
6. Why did Daniel describe the new law as a trap?