CHAPTER 3
King
Nebuchadnezzar
made
a golden
statue
sixty
cubits
high
and six
cubits
wide,
and he set it up
on the plain
of Dura
in the province
of Babylon.
Then King
Nebuchadnezzar
sent
word to assemble
the satraps,
prefects,
governors,
advisers,
treasurers,
judges,
magistrates,
and all the other
officials
of the provinces
to attend
the dedication
of the statue
he
had set up.
So
the satraps,
prefects,
governors,
advisers,
treasurers,
judges,
magistrates,
and all
the rulers
of the provinces
assembled
for the dedication
of the statue
that
King
Nebuchadnezzar
had set up,
and they stood
before
it.
Then the herald
loudly
proclaimed,
“O peoples,
nations,
and men of every language,
this is what you are commanded:
As soon as
you hear
the sound
of the horn,
flute,
zither,
lyre,
harp,
pipes,
and all
kinds
of music,
you must fall down
and worship
the golden
statue that
King
Nebuchadnezzar
has set up.
And whoever
does not
fall down
and worship
will immediately
be thrown
into
the burning
fiery
furnace.”
Therefore,
as soon as
all
the people
heard
the sound
of the horn,
flute,
zither,
lyre,
harp,
and all
kinds
of music,
the people
of every
nation
and language
fell down
and worshiped
the golden
statue
that
King
Nebuchadnezzar
had set up.
You,
O king,
have issued
a decree
that
everyone
who
hears
the sound
of the horn,
flute,
zither,
lyre,
harp,
pipes,
and all
kinds
of music
must fall down
and worship
the golden
statue,
But there are
some Jews
you have appointed
to manage
the province
of Babylon—
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego—
who
have ignored
you,
O king,
and have refused to
serve
your gods
or worship
the golden
statue
you have set up.”
Then
Nebuchadnezzar,
furious
with rage,
summoned
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego.
So
these
men
were brought
before
the king,
and Nebuchadnezzar
said
to them,
“Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego,
is it true
that you do not
serve
my gods
or worship
the golden
statue
I have set up?
Now,
if
you are ready,
as soon as
you hear
the sound
of the horn,
flute,
zither,
lyre,
harp,
pipes,
and all
kinds
of music,
you must fall down
and worship
the statue
I have made.
But if
you refuse
to worship,
you will be thrown
immediately
into
the burning
fiery
furnace.
Then what
god
will be able
to deliver you
from
my hands?"
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego
replied
to the king,
“O Nebuchadnezzar,
we
have
no need
to answer you
in
this
matter.
If
the God
whom
we
serve
exists,
then He is able
to deliver us
from
the burning
fiery
furnace
and from
your hand,
O king.
But even if
He does not,
let it
be known
to you,
O king,
that
we will not
serve
your gods
or worship
the golden
statue
you have set up.”
At this,
Nebuchadnezzar
was filled
with rage,
and the expression
on his face
changed
toward
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego.
He gave orders
to heat
the furnace
seven times
hotter
than
usual,
and he commanded
mighty warriors
in his army
to tie up
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego
and throw them
into the burning
fiery
furnace.
So
they
were tied up,
wearing robes,
trousers,
turbans,
and other clothes,
and they were thrown
into
the burning
fiery
furnace.
The king’s
command
was so urgent
and the furnace
so
hot
that the fiery
flames
killed
the
men
who
carried up
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego.
And these
three
men,
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego,
firmly bound,
fell
into
the burning
fiery
furnace.
Suddenly
King
Nebuchadnezzar
jumped up
in amazement
and asked
his advisers,
“Did we not
throw
three
men,
firmly bound,
into
the fire?”
“Certainly,
O king,”
they replied.
“Look!”
he exclaimed.
“I
see
four
men,
unbound
and unharmed,
walking around
in
the fire—
and the fourth
looks
like
a son
of the gods!”
Then
Nebuchadnezzar
approached
the door
of the burning
fiery
furnace
and called out,
“Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego,
servants
of the Most High
God,
come out!”
So
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego
came out
of
the fire,
and when the satraps,
prefects,
governors,
and royal
advisers
had gathered around,
they saw
that the fire
had no
effect
on the bodies
of these
men:
Not
a hair
of their heads
was singed,
their robes
were unaffected,
and there was no
smell
of fire on them.
Nebuchadnezzar
declared,
“Blessed
be the God
of
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and
Abednego,
who has sent
His Angel
and delivered
His servants
who
trusted
in Him.
They violated
the king’s
command
and risked their lives
rather than serve
or worship
any
god
except
their own God.
Therefore I
decree
that
the people
of any
nation
or language
who
say
anything offensive
against
the God
of
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego
will be cut
into pieces
and their houses
will be reduced
to rubble.
For
there is
no
other
god
who
can
deliver
in this way."