Surviving a full night in the lions' den, Daniel addresses the anxious king to explain the miracle of his survival. He carefully outlines his standing before both God and human authority. Out of deep humility, Daniel does not credit his own righteousness for his rescue, but rather God's kindness. He notes that God sent an angel to save him. This indirect rescue implies that Daniel's merit was not quite high enough for God to intervene personally without a messenger, nor was it enough to make the lions naturally fear him [אלשיך].
According to a unique tradition, this messenger was not a standard angel, but rather a spiritual lion sent from the Throne of Glory. This heavenly creature roared at the earthly lions, striking them with such terror that their teeth clamped shut and their mouths locked [חומת אנך]. The miracle itself unfolded in two distinct ways. First, as an act of heavenly kindness, the lions' mouths were forced shut so they could not consume him. Second, they were prevented from causing him any harm whatsoever, not even a minor scratch from their claws. This absolute physical protection was a direct reward for his good deeds, showing that God ensures no righteous act goes unrewarded [אלשיך, מצודת דוד].
Having clarified his spiritual standing, Daniel then clears his name politically and morally before the king, declaring that he committed no corrupt, damaging, or deceitful acts against the crown [אבן עזרא, רש״י]. He had chosen not to defend his innocence before being thrown into the pit because he knew the king was trapped by the ministers' decree and powerless to help. Only now, with his innocence miraculously proven, does he finally speak out [אלשיך]. Daniel explains that his prayers to God were never an act of rebellion against the state, as both he and the king share an obligation to honor God [מצודת דוד]. Hidden within his words is a gentle rebuke and a powerful message of faith: God showed His absolute power by shutting the mouths of the lions, a feat the king himself was entirely unable to achieve when his own ministers opened their mouths to plot against Daniel [אלשיך].