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What happened after King Nebuchadnezzar set up the large image and commanded that all bow down in worship before it?
Daniel 3:8-12 (KJV)
8
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9
They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10
Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
What group of people came to the king? Some Chaldeans came to the king. These were some of the highly born members of Babylonian society. Why did they come to the king? They came to accuse the Jews. With which Jews do you suppose the Chaldeans were having a problem? Likely, the Chaldeans were jealous of the high positions that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had been given in the government. Notice the greeting that they used in verse 9. "O king, live forever" seems to be a great way of playing up to the king's grandiose ideas of himself. This may have been a standard greeting that any visitor to the king was required to say. What was the purpose of verses 10 & 11? The Chaldeans were "reminding" the king about his decree. They wanted to make sure that the king understood what the Jewish men were guilty of and what the decreed punishment was. They didn't want the king to find any escape for the Jews. What were the three men guilty of (verse 12)? They had not "regarded" the king. They were not serving the king's gods nor were they worshiping the golden image. Notice how the Chaldeans mixed a little truth in with a lie. The three Jewish men undoubtedly paid much heed to the king, but the Chaldeans didn't want the king to think that there may have been any other reason to disobey than rejection of the king. Notice, too, that Daniel is missing from the indictment by the Chaldeans. Perhaps Daniel was away on government business at the time and the Chaldeans used that absence to attack his friends who probably were not as well known to the king as Daniel. If Daniel had been accused maybe the outcome would have been different.
How will King Nebuchadnezzar react to the Chaldeans' accusation? We will find out next time.
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1. What does 1 Kings 1:31 and 34 mean?
ReplyDelete2. What was Daniel's reason for saying what he said in Daniel 6:21 after spending the night in the Lion's den?
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