From Judaism’s Holy Tanakh: Book of Daniel, Chapters 3 – 4, Part 1 of 2

Today, it is a pleasure to share selections from Chapter 3 of the Book of Daniel.

“[…] Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them: ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time, ye hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, triangle, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made [, well]; but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god that shall deliver you out of my hands?’ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the King: ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer Thee in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, He will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and out of Thy hand, O King. But if not, be it known unto Thee, O King, that we will not serve Thy gods, nor worship the golden image which Thou have set up.’ Then was Nebuchadnezzar filled with fury, and the form of his visage was changed, against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was accustomed to be heated. And He commanded certain mighty men that were in His army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. […]

Then, Nebuchadnezzar the King was alarmed, and rose up in haste; He spoke and said unto His ministers: ‘Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?’ They answered and said unto the King: ‘True, O King.’ He answered and said: ‘Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.’

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace; He spoke and said: ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of God Most High, come forth, and come hither.’ Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth out of the midst of the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the King’s ministers, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their cloaks changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them. Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said: ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the King’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.’ […] Then the King promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar the King, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you. It has seemed good unto me to declare the signs and wonders that God Most High has worked toward me. How great are His signs! And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation.”