# Daniel Chapter 3
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## Summary
Nebuchadnezzar sets up an image of gold and commands that all people bow and worship but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse. They are brought before the king and challenged. The king is enraged by their refusal and condemns them to death by burning in a furnace. They are cast bound into the furnace, but survive without any injury. The king responds to this miracle by decreeing that any who speak against the God of the three will have their house laid to ruins.

## Imagery and Themes
Daniel's faith has been tested in Chapter 2 and as such the testing of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego appears to be the main feature of this passage. A literal trial by fire. Their refusal to comply with the demands of the King demonstrate a single minded commitment to God. It highlights that attempts by the King to redefine who they are and what they stand for have been ineffective. Despite new identities and the allure of power these young men remain committed to God of Abraham. Nebuchadnezzar by contrast considered in the context of the preceeding chapters appears almost like a divided and impulsive personality. He goes from praising the God of Daniel in chapter 2 to burning this God's servants in a simple turn of the page.

His comment about the fourth man in the furnace being *"like a son of the gods"*[^1] uses the word 'e-la-hin' which is the plural form of gods. An odd turn of phrase and somewhat cryptic. We might be forgiven for mistaking this character for a type of Christ of foreshadowing of the incarnation given the only explaination provided comes from Nebuchadnezzar who asserts the three were saved by an Angel [Mal-a-Keh]. The same word used in [Daniel 6:22](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+6%3A22&version=ESV) for the angel that shuts the mouths of the lions. It also is unaccounted for and somewhat frustrating that the King never asked the three men who the fourth individual directly but assumes this to be an Angel. Jesus or Angel? I guess this will remain unanswered.

Daniel is somewhat notably absent from this passage and it's not particularly clear why. One can wonder why he too was not cast into the fire as presumably he would have been included within the cohort gathered before the King and charged to worship the idol of Gold. We can only assume that either he too was exempt from the charge to do so or he was perhaps absent for reasons of state. Perhaps his actions are not brought to the attention of the King because as the three were provincial leaders there may have been those that aspired politically to have them removed. From a literary perspective we have first Daniel and then the three tested and as such this may have just been outlined for purposes of demonstrating the character of each in turn. In any event the Bible is notably silent on this point and as such we can only speculate.

[^1]: [Daniel 3:25](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%203%3A25&version=ESV)