at golden image. But while the people were kneeling, there were three
men who stood up, and would not bow down. These were the three young
Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They knelt down before the Lord
God only.

Many of the nobles had been jealous of these young men, because they had
been lifted to high places in the rule of the kingdom; and these men who
hated Daniel and his friends, were glad to find that these three men had
not obeyed the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had said that if
any one did not worship the golden image he should be thrown into a
furnace of fire. These men who hated the Jews came to the king and said:

"O king, may you live for ever! You gave orders that when the music
sounded, every one should bow down and worship the golden image; and
that if any man did not worship, he should be thrown into a furnace of
fire. There are some Jews, whom you have made rulers in the land, who
have not done as you commanded. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego. They do not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image
that you have set up."

[Illustration: _Nebuchadnezzar was fitted with rage_]

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage and fury at knowing that any
one should dare to disobey his words. He sent for these three men and
said to them:

"O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, was it by purpose that you did not
fall down and worship the image of gold? The music shall sound once
more, and if you then will worship the image, it will be well. But if
you will not, then you shall be thrown into the furnace of fire, to
die."

These three young men were not afraid of the king. They said:

"O King Nebuchadnezzar, we are ready to answer you at once. The God whom
we serve is able to save us from the fiery furnace, and we know that he
will save us. But if it is God's will that we should die, even then you
may understand, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship
the golden image."

This answer made the king more furious than before. He said to his
servants:

"Make a fire in the furnace hotter than ever it has been before, as hot
as fire can be made; and throw these three men into it."

Then the soldiers of the king's army seized the three young Jews, as
they stood in their loose robes, with their turbans on their heads. They
tied them with ropes, and dragged them to the mouth of the furnace, and
threw them into the fire. The flames rushed from the opened door wi