Abednego

3The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the leader of his palace helpers. He told him to bring in some young men from Israel. They were to come from the king's family and from other important families.

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

NoteThe King James calls these helpers "eunuchs." They were men who worked close to the king inside his palace.

4They had to be young men with healthy, strong bodies and pleasant faces. They had to be smart, full of knowledge, and quick to learn. They had to be ready to work in the king's palace. Then they would be taught the writing and language of the Chaldeans, the people of Babylon.

Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Note"Well favoured" means good-looking. "Cunning in knowledge" does not mean sneaky here. In 1611 "cunning" meant clever and skilled.

5Every day the king sent them food and wine from his own table. They would be trained this way for three years. After that they would come and serve the king.

And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

NoteThe king's food was the best food in the land. Eating it meant you belonged to the king now.

6Four of these young men came from Judah. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7The leader of the palace helpers gave them new names. He called Daniel by the name Belteshazzar. He called Hananiah by the name Shadrach. He called Mishael by the name Meshach. He called Azariah by the name Abednego.

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

NoteTheir old names each said something about God. The new names came from the gods of Babylon. Changing a name was a way of saying, you are ours now.

8Daniel decided in his heart not to eat the king's food or drink his wine. He believed it would make him unclean. So he asked the leader of the helpers to let him eat something else.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Note"Defile" means to make dirty or spoiled. God had told his people not to eat certain foods. Daniel wanted to keep obeying, even far from home.

9God had already made the leader of the helpers like Daniel and be kind to him.

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Note"Favour" is an old spelling of favor. It means the leader liked Daniel and wanted to help him.

10But the leader said to Daniel, "I am afraid of the king, my master. He is the one who chose your food and drink. What if he sees you looking thinner than the other young men your age? Then the king could take my head off."

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

NoteThe king could order a person killed if he was displeased. The leader was afraid that would happen to him.

11The leader had put a man named Melzar in charge of the four friends. So Daniel spoke to Melzar about Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

NoteMelzar was the man who brought the young men their meals each day.

12Daniel said, "Please test us for ten days. Give us only plants to eat and water to drink."

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Note"Pulse" is an old word for plants people eat. It means beans, peas, and grain, not meat.

13"Then look at our faces. Look at the faces of the young men who eat the king's food. Compare us. Then do what you think is best with us."

Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

Note"Countenances" means faces. Daniel wanted the man to look and see who seemed healthier.

14Melzar agreed to do this. He tested them for ten days.

So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15After the ten days, the four looked healthier and better fed than all the others. The others had been eating the king's rich food.

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

Note"Fatter in flesh" sounds odd today. Back then it meant well fed and healthy, which was a good thing.

16So Melzar took away their fancy food and their wine. He gave them plants to eat instead.

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

17God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in every kind of learning. He made them wise. God also helped Daniel understand dreams and visions, which are pictures God shows a person.

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

NoteA vision is like a dream you have while awake. God used dreams and visions to show people things.

18The training time the king had set finally ended. Then the leader of the helpers brought the young men to Nebuchadnezzar.

Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19The king talked with them. Out of all the young men, none were as good as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So these four stayed to serve the king.

And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

20The king asked them hard questions about wise and difficult things. He found them ten times better than all the magicians and star-readers in his whole kingdom.

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

NoteMagicians and star-readers were the king's wise men. They tried to learn secrets by magic and by watching the stars.

21Daniel stayed there many years. He was still there in the first year of King Cyrus.

And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

NoteCyrus was a king who ruled long after Nebuchadnezzar. This means Daniel lived and served in Babylon for many, many years.

13So the order went out to kill the wise men. Men went to look for Daniel and his friends to kill them too.

And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

NoteDaniel and his friends were being trained as the king's wise men. So this order included them too.

14Arioch was the captain of the king's guard. He went out to kill the wise men of Babylon. Daniel spoke to him wisely and carefully.

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

NoteThe king's guard were soldiers who kept him safe. They also carried out his orders.

15Daniel asked Arioch, "Why did the king give such a harsh order?" Then Arioch explained the matter to Daniel.

He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

16So Daniel went in to the king. He asked the king to give him some time. Then he would tell the king what the dream meant.

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

17Daniel went home. He told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

NoteThese three were Daniel's friends from home. Babylon had also given them new names.

18He asked them to beg the God of heaven to be kind. They were to pray about this hidden thing. Then Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the other wise men.

That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Note"The God of heaven" was a name the Jewish people used for God. It showed he was not one of Babylon's many gods.

19That night God showed Daniel the secret in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

NoteA vision was like a picture in his mind.

20Daniel said, "Praise the name of God forever and ever. Wisdom and power belong to him."

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21"He changes the times and the seasons. He takes kings away, and he puts new kings in their place. He gives wisdom to the wise. He gives knowledge to those who understand."

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22"He shows things that are deep and hidden. He knows what is in the dark. Light lives with him."

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

23"God of my fathers, I thank you and praise you. You gave me wisdom and power. You have told me what we asked you for. You have shown us what the king dreamed."

I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

Note"God of my fathers" means the God his parents and grandparents had worshiped.

46Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed with his face to the ground before Daniel. He gave orders that a gift and sweet-smelling smoke be offered to Daniel.

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.

NoteBowing with your face on the ground showed the greatest respect. Burning sweet-smelling smoke was how people honored a god.

47The king said to Daniel, "Your God is truly the God above all gods. He is the Lord over kings, and he tells secrets. You were able to tell me this secret."

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

NoteThe king means Daniel's God is greater than every god Babylon believed in.

48Then the king gave Daniel a high place and many fine gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon. He put Daniel in charge of all the wise men there.

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

NoteA province is a big part of a kingdom, a bit like a state.

49Daniel asked the king for one thing. The king put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the work of the province. Daniel himself stayed at the king's court.

Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

NoteThese are the Babylonian names for Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The king's gate was where leaders met and settled important matters.

1King Nebuchadnezzar made a tall statue out of gold. It was sixty cubits high and six cubits wide. He set it up on the flat land of Dura, in Babylon.

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.

NoteA cubit was about as long as a grown-up's arm from elbow to fingers. That is about eighteen inches. So this gold statue was taller than a house. Babylon was a big, strong country far from the land of the Jews.

2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather all his leaders. He called rulers, governors, judges, money keepers, advisers, lawmen, and every other leader. They were to come to the special day when the statue was shown to everyone.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

NoteA dedication was a special day for something brand new. Everyone came together to see it and cheer for it. A governor was a leader who ran one part of the land for the king.

3So all those leaders came to that special day for the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of it.

Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4Then a herald, a man who shouted the king's messages, called out loudly. He said, "People from every nation, who speak every language, here is your order."

Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

NoteA herald was the king's shouting man. There were no loudspeakers or phones back then. He yelled the king's words so a big crowd could hear.

5"When you hear the horns, flutes, harps, and all kinds of music, you must bow down. You must bow to the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up."

That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

NoteThe old King James lists a "sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer." Those are old names for horns and instruments with strings. To worship something means to bow down and treat it like God.

6"Anyone who does not bow down and worship will be thrown into the burning furnace right away."

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

NoteA furnace was a huge oven built of brick. Workers burned hot fires inside to bake bricks or melt metal.

7So when all the people heard the horns, flutes, harps, and all the music, they bowed. People from every nation and language bowed down to the gold statue the king had set up.

Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8Just then some wise men of Babylon came forward. They told on the Jews and wanted them to get in trouble.

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

NoteThe Jews were God's people from the land of Israel. Soldiers from Babylon had taken many of them far from home. The old King James calls these accusers "Chaldeans." They were wise men of Babylon who studied the stars and dreams.

9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, may you live forever!"

They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

Note"O king, live for ever" was just a polite greeting. People said it to a king, the way we say hello.

10"O king, you made a rule. When people hear the horns, flutes, harps, and all the music, they must bow down to the gold statue."

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 anyone who does not bow down and worship must be thrown into the burning furnace."

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12"But some Jews you put in charge of Babylon have paid no attention to you, O king. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not serve your gods. They do not bow to the gold statue you set up."

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.

NoteShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young Jewish men. The king of Babylon had given them these new Babylonian names.

13Nebuchadnezzar was very angry. He ordered his men to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So they were brought to the king.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is this true? Do you really refuse to serve my gods and bow to my gold statue?"

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15"When you hear the horns, flutes, harps, and all the music, get ready to bow to my statue. If you do, that is fine. If you will not bow, you will be thrown into the burning furnace right away. What god could save you from me then?"

Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king. "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you about this."

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

NoteThe old King James says "we are not careful to answer thee." Long ago "careful" meant full of worry. They meant they did not need to argue about it.

17"If we are thrown in, the God we serve can save us from the burning furnace. And he will take us out of your hand, O king."

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18"But even if he does not, you should know this, O king. We will not serve your gods. We will not bow to your gold statue."

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of rage. His face turned hard toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered his men to make the furnace seven times hotter than usual.

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

NoteThe old King James says "the form of his visage was changed." A visage is a face. Seven times hotter was a way of saying as hot as it could get. Nobody really measured it.

20He told the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up the three men. Then they were to throw them into the burning furnace.

And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21So the men were tied up. They still wore their robes, pants, head coverings, and other clothes. Then they were thrown into the burning furnace.

Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

NoteThe old King James says "hosen," an old word for pants. Their "hats" were long cloths wrapped around the head.

22The king's order was in a hurry, and the furnace was very hot. The flames killed the soldiers who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up to it.

Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

NoteThe furnace had an opening near the top. The soldiers had to carry the men up to it.

23And the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the burning furnace. They were still tied up tight.

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed. He jumped up and asked his advisers, "Didn't we throw three tied-up men into the fire?" They answered, "Yes, O king, we did."

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

NoteThe old King James says the king was "astonied." That is an old spelling of astonished. It means very surprised.

25He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire. They are not tied up, and they are not hurt. The fourth one looks like a son of the gods."

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

NoteThe old King James says the fourth man looked "like the Son of God." In the king's own language, he meant the man looked like a god or an angel.

26Then Nebuchadnezzar came close to the door of the burning furnace. He called, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!" So the three men came out of the fire.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

NoteMost High means highest of all. It was a way of saying the greatest God there is.

27All the leaders and the king's advisers crowded around them and looked. The fire had not hurt their bodies at all. Not one hair was burned. Their clothes were fine, and they did not even smell like smoke.

And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

NoteThe old King James says not a hair was "singed." Singed means burned just a little at the tips.

28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and saved his servants who trusted him. They disobeyed my order and were willing to die. They would not serve or bow to any god but their own God."

Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends to help or to speak for him.

29"So I make this rule. If anyone from any nation or language says anything bad against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that person will be cut in pieces. Their house will be knocked down into a pile of trash. No other god can save people the way this God does."

Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

NoteThe old King James says their houses would be made a "dunghill." That was a pile of trash and animal waste. It meant the house would be wrecked completely.

30Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego better jobs in Babylon.

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

NotePromoted means the king gave them bigger and more important jobs.