Daniel 3:1-30

The Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace

Nebuchadnezzar sets up a colossal golden image, and summons to its dedication all the officials of his empire, who are commanded to fall down and worship the image at a given musical signal, on pain of being cast into a furnace (Daniel 3:1). They all do so, with the exception of Daniel's three friends, whose refusal is reported to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:7). They are summoned before the king, and persist in their refusal (Daniel 3:13). Nebuchadnezzar commands the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual, and the three Jewish youths are bound and cast into it, the flames slaying their executioners (Daniel 3:19). The king sees them walking in the fire unbound and accompanied by a divine figure (Daniel 3:23). He summons them forth. finds them unharmed, magnifies their God, decrees that He be held in universal reverence; and gives them further promotion (Daniel 3:26).

Teaching.This story of religious constancy and its reward was specially fitted to instruct and encourage the Jews in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes. There is a similar legend about Abraham and Nimrod.