And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
The king commanded, and they brought those men - (Deuteronomy 19:19; Proverbs 19:5, "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape").
Which had accused Daniel - literally, 'devoured the bones and flesh of Daniel.' It was just that they who had torn Daniel's character, and sought the tearing of his person, should be themselves given to be torn in pieces (Proverbs 11:8).
And they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives. Among the Persians, the whole kindred were involved in the guilt of one culprit. The Mosaic law expressly forbade this (Deuteronomy 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6).
And the lions ... brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. - i:e., before And the lions ... brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. - i:e., before ever. The lions' sparing Daniel could not have been because they were full, as they showed the keenness of their hunger on the accusers.