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Page 42
When these Jews were brought to the land of Chaldea or Babylon, King
Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to the prince, who had charge of his palace,
to choose among these Jewish captives some young men who were of noble
rank, and beautiful in their looks, and also quick and bright in their
minds; young men who would be able to learn readily. These young men
were to be placed under the care of wise men, who should teach them all
that they knew, and fit them to stand before the king of Babylon, so
that they might be his helpers to carry out his orders; and the king
wished them to be wise, so that they might give him advice in ruling his
people.
Among the young men thus chosen were four Jews, men who had been brought
from Judah. By order of the king the names of these men were changed.
One of them, named Daniel, was to be called Belteshazzer; the other
three young men were called Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. They were
taught in all the knowledge of the Chaldeans; and after three years of
training they were taken into the king's palace.
King Nebuchadnezzar was pleased with them, more than with any others who
stood before him. He found them wise and faithful in the work given to
them, and able to rule over men under them. And these four men came to
the highest places in the kingdom of the Chaldeans.
At one time King Nebuchadnezzar caused a great image to be made, and to
be covered with gold. This image he set up, as an idol to be worshipped,
on the plain of Dura, near the city of Babylon. When it was finished, it
stood upon its base or foundation almost a hundred feet high; so that
upon the plain it could be seen far away. Then the king sent out a
command for all the princes, and rulers, and nobles in the land, to come
to a great gathering, when the image was to be set apart for worship.
The great men of the kingdom came from far and near and stood around
the image. Among them, by command of the king, were Daniel's three
friends, the young Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. For some
reason, Daniel himself was not there. He may have been busy with the
work of the kingdom in some other place.
At one moment in the service before the image, all the trumpets sounded,
the drums were beaten, and music was made upon musical instruments of
all kinds, as a signal for all the people to kneel down and worship the
great golden image. But while the people were kneeling, there were three
men who stood up, and would not bow down. These were the three young
Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They knelt down before the Lord
God only.
Many of the nobles had been jealous of these young men, because they had
been lifted to high places in the rule of the kingdom; and these men who
hated Daniel and his friends, were glad to find that these three men had
not obeyed the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had said that if
any one did not worship the golden image he should be thrown into a
furnace of fire. These men who hated the Jews came to the king and said:
"O king, may you live for ever! You gave orders that when the music
sounded, every one should bow down and worship the golden image; and
that if any man did not worship, he should be thrown into a furnace of
fire. There are some Jews, whom you have made rulers in the land, who
have not done as you commanded. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego. They do not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image
that you have set up."
[Illustration: _Nebuchadnezzar was fitted with rage_]
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage and fury at knowing that any
one should dare to disobey his words. He sent for these three men and
said to them:
"O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, was it by purpose that you did not
fall down and worship the image of gold? The music shall sound once
more, and if you then will worship the image, it will be well. But if
you will not, then you shall be thrown into the furnace of fire, to
die."
These three young men were not afraid of the king. They said:
"O King Nebuchadnezzar, we are ready to answer you at once. The God whom
we serve is able to save us from the fiery furnace, and we know that he
will save us. But if it is God's will that we should die, even then you
may understand, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship
the golden image."
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