The Fiery Furnace

The Fiery Furnace

Some time later, Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image of gold and set it up outside the city. Then he sent for all the princes and governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image.

And when they and all the people were

gathered together, a herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded that when you shall hear the sound of music, you shall all fall down and worship the golden image. Whosoever does not, shall in the same hour be cast into a fiery furnace."

When the people heard the music, they all bowed down and worshiped the image - all except Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, the three friends of Daniel. They were brought before the king, but they still refused to worship his golden image.

Nebuchadnezar, enraged, ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual and that they be bound and thrown in. It was so hot that the flames which shot out the door burned to death those men who had cast them into the fire.

Then the king was filled with wonder, for on looking into the furnace, he saw that the bonds of the prisoners were loose, that they were walking about unhurt, and that an angel seemed to be with them. So he called to them, and they came out. Not even a hair of their heads had been singed, nor had their clothes been scorched.

Nebuchadnezzar blessed their God and made a decree: That all who spoke against the God of the Hebrews should be cut in pieces and their houses destroyed, for there was no other god who could deliver his people in such a way. Then he promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to high offices in the province of Babylon.