Dany'AL (Daniel) — 3

Nabuchadnazzar’s Gold Statue

1 King Nabuchadnazzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylun. 

2 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. 

3 So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nabuchadnazzar had set up.

4 Then a harald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 

5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nabuchadnazzar’s gold statue. 

6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

7 So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nabuchadnazzar had set up.

8 But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed him of the Yahudym. 

9 They said to King Nabuchadnazzar, “Long live the king! 

10 You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 

11 That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 

12 But there are some Yahudym, Hananyahu (Shadrach), Misha'al (Mashach), and Azaryahu (Abadnagu) whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylun, They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty, they refuse to serve your deity and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

13 Then Nabuchadnazzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Mashach, and Abadnagu be brought before him, When they were brought in, 

14 Nabuchadnazzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Mashach, and Abadnagu, that you refuse to serve my deity or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 

15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments, But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace, And then what power will be able to rescue you from my power?”

16 Hananyahu (Shadrach), Misha'al (Mashach), and Azaryahu (Abadnagu) replied, “O Nabuchadnazzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH whom we serve is able to save us, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 

18 But even if 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH does not rescue us, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your deity or worship the gold statue idol you have set up.”

The Blazing Furnace

19 Nabuchadnazzar was so furious with Shadrach, Mashach, and Abadnagu that his face became distorted with rage, he commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 

20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind  Hananyahu (Shadrach), Misha'al (Meshach), and Azaryahu (Abadnagu) and throw them into the blazing furnace. 

21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 

22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 

23 So Hananyahu, Misha'al, and Azaryahu, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

24 But suddenly, Nabuchadnazzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Did we not tie up three men and throw them into the furnace? “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

25 “Look!” Nabuchadnazzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like the Son of the Mighty One »𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH!

26 Then Nabuchadnazzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Mashach, and Abadnagu, servants of the Most High 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, come out! Come here!” So Hananyahu (Shadrach), Misha'al (Mashach), and Azaryahu (Abadnagu) stepped out of the fire. 

27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them, not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They did not even smell of smoke!

28 Then Nabuchadnazzar said, “all Yadah to the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Shadrach, Mashach, and Abadnagu! He sent His Malak to rescue his servants who trusted in HIM. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship idol except their own 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH. 

29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Shadrach, Mashach, and Abadnagu, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble, There is no deity on the Arath who can rescue like this!”

30 Then the king promoted Hananyahu (Shadrach), Misha'al (Mashach), and Azaryahu (Abadnagu) to even higher positions in the province of Babylun.