The Fiery Furnace
Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden image on the plain of Dura and decrees that at the sound of the orchestra everyone must bow. Three Judean administrators — Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, brought to Babylon as boys and trained for royal service — do not, and are reported by rivals at court.
Given a second chance, they answer with the sentence the story turns on: our God is able to deliver us, and he will — but even if he does not, we will not serve your gods. The obedience is not conditional on rescue.
The furnace is heated seven times hotter and kills the men who throw them in. The king, watching, counts four figures walking unbound in the fire. They come out without so much as the smell of smoke on their clothes, and Nebuchadnezzar issues a decree protecting their God's name.
Where in scripture
[1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. [2] The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. [3] The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles; [4] youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. …
Daniel 1:1–21 — opening verses
[1] Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. [2] Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. [3] Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. …
Daniel 3:1–30 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
