References (18)
Among these [which indicates that there were other captured youths there from other countries—the Jewish historian Josephus mentions Phoenicia, Egypt, and Syria] were the following from Judah:
Daniel [meaning "God is my judge"],
Hananiah [meaning "Yahweh is gracious"],
Mishael [meaning "Who is like God"] and
Azariah [meaning "Yahweh is a helper"]. [All four of these young men have God in their names. This shows that despite the apostasy in Israel, their parents had probably given them a godly upbringing, which meant that they did not stray from their faith in God, see .]
But the chief of the court officials [Aspenas] gave them new names. [The reason was to connect them to Babylonian gods instead of the God of Israel.]
He called Daniel Belteshazzar.
[Meaning "one who has Bel's favor," Bel was a general name for "lord" and probably referred to the greatest Babylonian god, Marduk, so Daniel was given a flattering name.]
He called Hananiah Shadrach.
[Meaning "illuminated by the sun god," which describes the polytheistic god Aku.]
He called Mishael Meshach.
[He gets a similar name. The last part is changed from "El," which means God, to "Aku," who is the Babylonian moon god. Mishael was literally "Who is like God?" His new name is "Who is like Aku?"]
Azariah he called Aved-Nego.
[Meaning "Servant of the shining Nebo, god of fire," a Babylonian god. In the Chaldean translation of , Lucifer is translated as Nebo.]
Then Daniel said to the guard (supervisor, assistant) whom the chief of the eunuchs [Aspenas] had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
The king spoke with them, and there was no one among them all who could compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were therefore allowed to serve the king.
Then Daniel hurried home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.
At Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to administer the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the king's court.
There are some Jewish men whom you have appointed to administer the province of Babylon who have not obeyed your order. [There seems to be an anti-Semitic hatred of the Jewish people; there is really no reason to mention their nationality.] Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They do not worship your gods and do not bow down to the statue you have set up."
[The accusers appeal to Nebuchadnezzar's ego and emphasize how the three Jewish men have not obeyed "your" orders, have not worshipped "your" gods, and have not bowed down to "your" statue. The reason they do not bow down is because of the prohibition against graven images and idols, see . Daniel's absence is not explained. He may have been traveling on other assignments, or remained in Babylon to take care of the government. Daniel was appointed to a high position, see , and perhaps his position was not included in the groups listed in . Literarily, there is a nice structure that is reinforced by Daniel not being mentioned here. The entire book, and especially chapters 2-7, form a chiasm. Chapter 3, where Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are thrown into the furnace, is thematically related to how Daniel is thrown into the lions' den in chapter 6.]
In wrath and anger [two words are used to describe his great fury], Nebuchadnezzar commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought before the king
Nebuchadnezzar asked them, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it your deliberate choice not to worship my gods and not to bow down to the golden statue I have set up?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this matter.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and his face was distorted with fury. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. [The number seven is often used symbolically in the Bible to describe something that is perfect and complete, see ; ; ; . The expression "seven times" probably describes how hot the furnace should be made.]
He also ordered some of the strongest soldiers in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the burning furnace.
Because the king's command came so quickly, and the furnace was so terribly hot, those who brought Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [to the top of the furnace] were killed by the flames.
But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning furnace.
[The furnace had an opening at the top and also on the side. It was probably built on a hill so that the soldiers could climb up and throw the three Hebrews into it. Later, Nebuchadnezzar looks into the opening on the side and sees them in the fire, see also .]
Then Nebuchadnezzar went to the opening of the burning furnace and called out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God! Come out, come out!"
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
Nebuchadnezzar then spoke up and said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants. They trusted him and defied the king's command, risking their lives so they would not be forced to worship or serve any god other than their own God.
I now give this command that anyone who speaks against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whatever nation or language group he may be from, shall be torn to pieces and his [family's] house shall be [demolished and] become a heap of rubble [; ]. There is no other god who can save in this way!"
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
