דניאל, פרק ו׳, פסוק כ״ב

Surviving a night of terror in the lions' den, Daniel finally answers the anxious call of the king. He begins his response with the customary royal greeting, wishing the monarch eternal life [מצודת דוד וביאור שטיינזלץ]. Beyond simply returning the greeting, Daniel uses this moment to explain the true reason for his miraculous survival.

He clarifies that he was spared because he maintained complete innocence toward both God and the king. His continuous prayer was not an act of corruption or a deliberate violation of the royal decree, as he harbored absolutely no intention of rebelling against the crown. In fact, had Daniel truly rebelled against the king, he would have lost his standing before God, since a person is obligated to show reverence to both God and the ruling monarch. It was exactly this pure innocence and lack of rebellious intent that served as his ultimate defense. This merit of a clear conscience effectively acted as a defending angel, shielding him from the beasts [מלבי״ם].