Syriac Patrology, Volume 1: The Demonstrations of Aphrahat

and the Lord granted his request, and they did not come to shame. To Daniel, as he prayed, the secret was revealed; his companions were rescued from the wrath of the king; and even the wise men of Babylon, wicked men though they were, were saved and lived through the prayer of Daniel. When the prophet pondered these things, the Good [God] answered him with His customary kindness:

Those three righteous men, whom I heard, each in his own generation, if they stood before me at that time, not only would I not hear them for the sake of the wicked, but they would not deliver either sons or daughters; but they would deliver their own souls by their righteousness; and the land would be a desolation Jeremiah 15:1.

The prophet, therefore, assented to the response of the Lord.

6. The prophet Jeremiah, revolving a similar thought, had likewise inquired: "Why were Moses and Samuel heard, each in his own generation, but the Lord covered His ear to my prayer, that He might not hear it?" For Moses stood frequently in the breach of his people, and they, even though they had sinned, were not destroyed; and Samuel obtained pardon for all Israel, after they had rejected the rule of [God] and asked for a king. But God, who is good and merciful,

the Lord accepted them in their prayers, and they did not come to disgrace. And to Daniel the secret was revealed in his prayer; and his companions were rescued from the anger of the king; and even the wise men of Babylon, though they were wicked, were spared and lived through the prayer of Daniel. When the prophet pondered these things, He brought forth for him a good word in His kindness, as is His custom: "Those three righteous men whom I answered, each of them in his own generation, I have set them as examples; even if they should stand before me at that time, not only would I not answer them for the sake of the wicked, but they would not deliver sons or daughters; but they themselves would deliver their souls by their righteousness, and the land would become a desolation." And the prophet was satisfied with the word of the Lord.

And Jeremiah the prophet also, in this thought, had brought it forth and said: "Why were Moses and Samuel heard, each of them in his own generation, but my prayer the Lord has cast aside, and does not listen? Moses stood in the breach of his congregation many times, and they were not destroyed when they had sinned. And also Samuel, for all of Israel, when they asked for a king and rejected His kingdom. And God