NEBUCHADNEZZAR-HIS IDOLATRY-SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO-THE PRIDE AND HUMILIATION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR. THE subjugation of Egypt completed the conquests of Nebuchadnezzar. Returning to Babylon as ruler of the then known world, he considered his labours at an end, and that he had only to enjoy the fruits of his exertions, or to amuse himself by embellishing his capital. From this period, B.c. 570, the commencement of his universal dominion, the beginning of his reign is sometimes dated; and it appears right to be guided by this calculation in noticing the events re corded in the book of Daniel. Hales has shown good grounds for adopting this course; in the following pages we shall notice his views on several points connected with the chronology of this period; they avoid and remove many difficulties, meet many of the cavils of infidels, and agree with the facts narrated in Scripture, and the dates mentioned therein. : According to this calculation, the first vision of Nebuchadnezzar was in B.c. 569, when having universal dominion, he could be addressed by Daniel as king of kings. The vision is recorded in Daniel ii.; it not only described the empire of Nebuchadnezzar, then just established in its full extent, as the head of pure gold, but it described the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians, of the Macedonians and Greeks, and of the Romans all of which were to rule the earth in succession. Lastly, it described the kingdom of Christ, which should prevail, fill the whole earth, and continue to the end of time. The thoughts of this king's mind evidently were directed to his mighty empire, and to his being "ruler over all." He was pondering "what should come to pass hereafter," when this vision was sent to make known to him what should take place. Such is the statement of the prophet, addressed to the king himself. : It is thought by some, that Nebuchadnezzar did not forget his dream but when he required the magi, or wise men, to tell the dream, as well as the interpretation, he put their claims to Divine inspiration to a fair test; for they assumed to be directed by Divine power in explanations of visions, and it was evident that the Omniscient Power could as easily cause them to know the dream itself as its meaning. The king's words, the thing is gone from me," may be rendered, as it is in some versions, "the decree is gone from me," or "set forth by me," therefore unalterable. Destruction awaited these magi, unless they declared the dream, and the interpretation thereof. Adopting this view, we see how the superiority of Divine knowledge imparted to Daniel was shown, while the Chaldean sages were caught in their own devices, and prevented from attempting any deceit, or passing off a merely human interpretation upon their monarch. 48 NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S FIRST VISION. Especially let the reader notice the earnest prayer of Daniel and his companions: they "desired mercies from before God concerning this secret." It is well that those who seek to participate in mercies, should join in prayer for the Divine favour. Mark, also, the emphatic language in which Daniel expressed his thanksgiving, when the Divine revelation was sent in answer to their prayer. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: 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: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, And the light dwelleth with him. 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. Not only is this Divine revelation very remarkable for the circumstances that brought it to notice, and showed that it was a prophetic vision, not a mere dream, or fantasy of the brain; it is connected with the other visions in the book of Daniel, also with the Revelation by St. John, being the commencement of a connected series of prophecies, extending even to the end of time. Nebuchadnezzar was convinced that a Divine Spirit of wisdom was imparted to Daniel; he therefore not only honoured him agreeably to his decree, but made him chief governor, and at his request appointed his companions to conduct the affairs of the province of Babylon; thus bringing the children of the captivity into notice and honour. But this haughty monarch was not awed by the vision and the interpretation. In his pride of power and place, he seems to have opposed the warning; and, in this spirit, to have set up the large image of gold, as narrated Dan. iii. The whole body was of gold, or covered with plates of gold, not merely the head; perhaps, to denote Nebuchadnezzar's confidence that his empire would be continued. It was in height sixty cubits, or ninety feet, a colossal image; many such still remain :-this engraving represents one still standing among the remains of ancient Thebes in Egypt. Probably the height of a base or pedestal was included in the sixty cubits, otherwise the breadth of six cubits would be disproportionate for a human figure. The statue of gold mentioned by Herodotus, which was placed in the temple of Belus, may have been this image. It was dedicated to Bel or Belus, the false F 50 SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDnego. deity of the Babylonians, by which the sun was personified; and all, even the people of Jehovah, were required to fall prostrate before it to worship. This idolatrous worship was enforced with the capricious cruelty spoken of, Dan. v. 19, as part of the character of Nebuchadnezzar, and agrees with the mention of him in common history. Too often indeed has an eastern despot been known to order a valuable counsellor and devoted supporter to instantaneous death. from some momentary caprice. How thankful should those be whose lot is cast in more favoured lands! The Lord God interfered by the miraculous deliverance of Daniel's companions, though cast into a burning fiery furnace. The Angel of the Lord, the Son of God, appeared in a visible form, as on other occasions recorded in the Old Testament history, and Nebuchadnezzar was, obliged to confess this miraculous interposition, as we read in Dan. iii. 28, 29; 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 king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 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. The full particulars of this event are best read in Dan. iii. The deliverance was a literal fulfilment of the promise, Isa. xliii. 2. Other saints and martyrs have also found the promise of the Lord's presence and support fully realized in later days. Though the power of the flames was not in their case restrained, so as "not to singe their garments, nor suffer even the smell of the fire to pass upon them;" yet they have been enabled to stand unshrinking on the burning pile, to "glorify the Lord in the fire," to Rejoice and clap their hands in flames, |