Daniel 6:17

The lions’ den appears to have been a large pit in the ground with an opening above that a large stone sealed, probably to keep people from stumbling into it. Such pits were commonly used as cisterns to store water or as prisons. [Note: Goldingay, p. 128.] Daniel had to be lifted up out of it (Daniel 6:23), and others when thrown into it fell down toward its bottom (Daniel 6:24). It may also have had a side entrance or drain since if it did not, rain could have filled the den and drowned the lions. Keil summarized a description of a fairly modern lions’ den in Morocco written by Höst. [Note: Keil, p. 216. He cited Ge. Höst, Fez and Morocco, p. 77.] However, statements in the text cast the type of lions’ den pictured in this description into question. The king and his nobles sealed the stone that covered the opening to make sure no one would release Daniel (cf. the sealing of Jesus’ tomb).