Their explanation leaves no question as to the answer. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee (Is 43:1-2). Was it really true that their purpose in nonconformity was to dishonor the gods of Babylon and to disobey Nebuchadnezzar. The Septuagint and Theodotion connect the event with the destruction of Jerusalem, which, according to 2 Kings 25:8-10 and Jeremiah 52:12, places this event in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. These instruments probably provided as full an orchestra as could be arranged in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar II strengthened Babylon and brought it into its golden years, in which his offspring quickly tarnished and ended up destroying the nation. The downfall of these nations is a foreshadowing of the end of the times of the Gentiles when the Lion of the tribe of Judah returns to reign. 122-24. King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Statue (Daniel's Prophecies) Artwork Illustration. Nebuchadnezzar is the Hebrew form of an Akkadian name, which translates to "May Nebo protect the crown.". King Nebuchadnezzar`s Dream Golden Statue with Particles Daniel`s Prophecies 3D Illustration. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.". He set up the statue on the plain of Dura in the area of Babylon. Although Nebuchadnezzar did not do this intentionally, the dimensions of six cubits wide and sixty cubits high introduces the number six which is prominent in the Bible as the number of man (cf. Nebuchadnezzar (Nebuchadrezzar 1 ), son of Nabopolassar the Chaldean, was the Babylonian ruler who reigned over much of the civilized world in 604-562 BCE. Nebuchadnezzar apparently was seated in such a way as to be able to observe the interior of the furnace from a safe distance. Therefore, it is desirable on this ground to seek the original of such verses (and hence of the narratives of which they are an integral part) much earlier than this date, preferably within memory of the Persian rulei. The treasurers were superintendents of the public treasury. The four kingdoms prophesied by the four parts of the great statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream are fairly easy to identify. Our ladies Sunday school did an extensive study on it; it was excellent, but it was several years ago. Nebuchadnezzar's image was AN OBELISK, an erect male phallus! Daniel continues by identifying the chest of silver as "another kingdom" which will arise. George III, seated on a balloon, points downwards with his sceptre to an image of Pitt (right) as a naked child, on a column which is inscribed 'Family Presumption'. Nebuchadnezzar's golden image probably resembled an obelisk, 90-feet tall and 9-feet wide. He set it up on the Dura plain in the province of Babylon. There's even physical proof of the Nabonidus story also being tied to a Hebrew sage. It was similar in size to the region's palm trees. Even if God does not deliver them, however, this will not change their decision in which they refuse to worship the gods of Babylon as well as the golden image. The question is: Did any of this really happen? The strongest men in the army are selected, who bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego as a preliminary to casting them in the burning fiery furnace. In view of his pride as dealt with in chapter 4, this becomes a plausible explanation. Aramaic was the chief language spoken in Mesopotamia during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. "A sequel to British Museum Satires no. Judah rebelled, but Jerusalem fell in March 597 B.C., and the ruler, Jehoiakim, and his court were deported to Babylon. This rock becomes a mountain and fills the whole of the earth. Eight years later another Jewish rebellion broke out; this time Jerusalem was razed and the population carried into captivity. They had been summoned by messengers sent by Nebuchadnezzar to participate in this important event. I'd forgotten that Daniel wasn't present with his friends when King Nebuchadnezzar threw them into the furnace. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Accordingly, they confront the king with their confidence in God to such an extent that they say, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. Such an answer by itself might be considered arrogant and disrespectful to the king; but coupled with the explanation, it is clear that they feel their case is not in their hands anyway. Young translates the entire sentence as omitting whatever formal address they made with the record here simply saying that they said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need with respect to this matter to make defense before thee.202 Montgomery holds that no discourtesy was intended, The discourteous vocative of the Mass. smcas0247 options. Nebuchadnezzar had now accomplished his purpose, his decree had been fulfilled, and he could leave to the furnace the task of consuming these men who had challenged his authority and his gods. The ration list specifically mentions Jehoiachin, other Judean dignitaries and Jehoiachin's five sons. He's very eager to indicate that he built these massive temples and palaces, and that he's also very pious. what happened to nebuchadnezzar's golden statue. 2 Then the king gave orders for all his officials to come togetherthe princes, governors, lieutenant governors, commissioners, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the Some of the more notable things are the golden alters made of 8.5 tons of solid gold. This connotes slander or malicious accusation which devours the accused piece by piece. 118-19. In Babylonian texts, the "mad king" was Nabonidus, a king who ruled two decades after Nebuchadnezzar and ended up losing the Babylonian Empire to the Persians. Theirs is the faith that says: Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him, Job 13:15.204. The cornet was obviously a horn instrument, the word coming originally from the horn of a beast which was sometimes used to make a musical instrument. and the second in 587 B.C.E. The dulcimer is a wind instrument. In the Bible, Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem twice, but in the end, was exiled and forced to eat grass like an ox. The official titles used in Daniel 3:2-3 help to date the book in the sixth century and refute the second century date given by the critics. According to the records, King Nabonidus replaced the Babylonian gods with a new moon god and then led his troops on a strange campaign into the Arabian Desert to attack some towns, including Yathrib, the later Medina. The speculation as to why Persian terms should be used is much ado about nothing. Some of the king's servants saw that three Israelites - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - weren't bowing down. Nebuchadnezzar is a real person. They refused to eat what the others ate. Therefore because the kings commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 185 K. A. The Medes took the city of Babylon in one day without a fight. what happened to the statue of nebuchadnezzar. For centuries, historians and biblical scholars have searched for clues about the real-life Nebuchadnezzar II, who ruled the Babylonian Empire at the peak of its power from 605 to 562 B.C.E. This was a remarkable admission for a king in Nebuchadnezzars situation. Constructed in 575 BC by the order of King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Ishtar Gate was one of the many thresholds that surrounded and protected Babylonia from outside forces. He calls upon all the people in his realm not to say anything amiss concerning this God at the threat of being cut to pieces and their houses made a dunghill. The herald made plain that anyone who did not obey the command to fall down and worship would be cast immediately into the burning fiery furnace. to c. 280 BC (allowing about fifty years lapse from the fall of Persia to Macedon).185. A good friend sent a link about a recent article at www.biblereadingarchaeology.com It reports a find of a cuneiform tablet from Babylon which appears to be from Nebuchadnezzar's son Evil-Merodach regarding a radical change in Nebuchadnezzar's character in which he is not attending to his responsibilities and has abandoned the worship of Marduk. The second accusation that they do not serve Nebuchadnezzars gods is more than merely a religious difference. Works devoted to study of the prophecies of Daniel often omit consideration of chapter 3 entirely as do S. P. Tregelles172 and Robert D. Culver.173 Others, such as Geoffrey R. King, interpret the chapter as not only history but parable and prophecy.174 The introduction of the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 3 immediately following Nebuchadnezzars dream of the great image depicting Gentile times, even if its parabolic implications are ignored, obviously is intended to convey not only spiritual truth in general, but characteristics of the times of the Gentiles. 3) Daniel, in fear of being executed or to appease the king, bowed down to the golden statue. King Nebuchadnezzar`s Dream Statue Daniel`s Prophecies Antique Black and White Design Illustration. These men ask for no miracle; they expect none. The contrast of the God of Israel to the idols of Babylon is a reminder that the god of this world, behind Gentile dominion, is doomed to judgment at the hands of the sovereign God. 3:13-18 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Nebuchadnezzar II reigned as king over the Babylonian Empire from 605-562 B.C. The Septuagint versions (Old Greek and The-odotion)184 are hopelessly inexact and are merely guesswork in their rendering of drgzr, counsellor; gdbr, treasurer; dtbr, law-officer; t(y)pt, magistrate, police chief. Kitchen points out, If the first important Greek translation of Daniel was made some time within c. 100 BC-AD 100, roughly speaking, and the translator could not (or took no trouble to) reproduce the proper meanings of these terms, then one conclusion imposes itself: their meaning was already lost and forgotten or, at least, drastically changed long before he set to work. The Chaldeans approached the king with the customary courtesies addressing Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. They remind the king of the details of his decree and the penalty for disobedience. The article should be omitted before burning fiery furnace in verse 17, with the resultant meaning that He could deliver them from any fiery furnace, not just the one immediately at hand. To challenge Nebuchadnezzars gods, therefore, is to challenge Nebuchadnezzar himself and to raise a question as to the political integrity of the three men accused. The three men, however, also face the alternative that God might not deliver them. But the main thrust of the passage is not an invented moral story which actually never happened, as critics infer, but rather a display of a God who is faithful to His people even in captivity and is ever ready to deliver those who put their trust in Him. The sheriffs were judges in a stricter sense of the term, that is, magistrates who gave a just sentence. The erection of the golden image by Nebuchadnezzar is clearly subsequent to the events of chapter 2 since Daniel 3:12, referring to the appointment of Daniels companions over the affairs of the province of Babylon, and Daniel 3:30 imply that the event was subsequent to Daniel 2:49. He makes clear the alternative that they shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. The repetition of the entire edict no doubt was done with a flourish; and, although he was probably well aware of the jealousy of the Chaldeans and took this into account, he makes it clear that there is no alternative but to worship the image. Nebuchadnezzar may have regarded the image as representing himself as the embodiment of divine power, and the worship of the image would then be a recognition of his personal power. 181 Montgomery cites Oppert, Expdition scientifique en Msopotamia, 1:238 ff., expressing the belief that a massive square of brick construction found in situ, 14 metres square by 6 high, is the pedestal of Neb.s image (Montgomery, p. 197). "When we have these independent sources, as we do for the sixth century B.C.E., you do have a good chance of figuring out what is historically correct and what is later theological interpretation.". He ought to have cooled the furnace seven times less if he had wanted to hurt them; but instead of that in his fury he heated it seven times more.205. It's been a long while since I've been in the book of Daniel. Therefore, the kingdom with legs of iron will reemerge in the 'latter . Kitchen, The Aramaic of Daniel, in Notes on Some Problems in the Book of Daniel, p. 43. This. lwjas0066 options. 200 Montgomery, pp. In this chapter we see for the last time Daniels three companions, and no further reference is made to their subsequent experiences. And among those tablets was a 3-inch tall fragment containing the name "Jehoiakhin, king of Judah.". Ten years later, Nebuchadnezzar returns and razes Solomon's temple to the ground. Daniel 2:1-9. On November 24, 2019, Kanye West's first operatic work, "Nebuchadnezzar," premiered at the Hollywood Bowl, according to Forbes. The text goes on to say that Nebuchadnezzar commanded all the leaders, magistrates and important personages of his kingdom to come to a special service for the idol. His anger knows no bounds as stated in the expression full of fury or filled with anger. He is as angry as he possibly could be under any circumstance, his face is distorted, his pride has been severely punctured, and he gives the foolish order to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, as if this would increase the torment. by on May 8th, 2022 It also specifically restricts itself to the world around Israel, so skipping over empires in India, China and Mesoamerica. Just as Nebuchadnezzar had acknowledged Daniels God at the conclusion of chapter 2, so here Nebuchadnezzar admitting the power of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego issues a decree in oriental style commemorating the event. The rulers were lesser officials who were governors of the provinces subordinate to the chief governor.186 The list of officers stated in verse 2 is repeated in verse 3 and some of them are repeated in verse 27. 2 Chronicles 36:6 chapter context similar meaning copy save. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon (Dan 3:1). 3:28-30 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the kings word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 208-9; and Rosenthal, pp. This also would be too distant.180, The consensus of conservative scholarship is that the most probable location is a mound located six miles southeast of Babylon consisting of a large square of brick construction which would have ideally served as a base for such an image as Nebuchadnezzar erected. 136-37. 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