Immerse: Chronicles Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 175
2:47–3:15
D aniel
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sweet incense before him. The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the
greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have
been able to reveal this secret.”
Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many
valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon,
as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs
of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet
wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 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. So all these officials came and stood before
the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! When you hear the sound of the
horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to
the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. Anyone who
refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
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 Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews.
They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 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. That decree also states that those who refuse to obey
must be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some J ews—Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of
Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve
your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Me
shach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in,
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed
nego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have
set up? 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 god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
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