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| Chapter V.
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Chapter V.
At this period of time,
Nabuchodonosor elated with prosperity, erected a golden statue to
himself of enormous size, and ordered it to be worshiped as a sacred
image. And when this was zealously gone about by all, inasmuch as their
minds had been corrupted by the universal flattery which prevailed,
Annanias, Azarias, and Misael kept aloof from the profane observance,
being well aware that that honor was due to God alone. They were
therefore, according to an edict of the king, regarded as criminals,
and there was set before them, as the means of punishment, a fiery
furnace, in order that, by present terror, they might be compelled to
worship the statue. But they preferred to be swallowed up by the flames
rather than to commit such a sin. Accordingly, they were bound, and
cast into the midst of the fire. But the flames laid hold of the agents
in this execrable work, as they were forcing, with all eagerness, the
victims into the fire; while—wonderful to say, and indeed
incredible to all but eye-witnesses—the fire did not touch the
Hebrews at all. They were seen by the spectators walking in the midst
of the furnace, and singing a song of praise to God, while there was
also beheld along with them a fourth person having the appearance of an
angel, and whom Nabuchodonosor, on obtaining a nearer view of him,
acknowledged to be the334
| 334 Or,
“confessed that he had seen a son of God.” | Son of God. Then
the king having no doubt that the divine power was present in the event
which had taken place, sent proclamations throughout his whole kingdom
making known the miracle which had taken place, and confessing that
honor was to be paid to God alone. Not long after, being instructed by
a vision which presented itself to him, and presently also by a voice
which reached him from heaven, he is said to have done penance by
laying aside his kingly power, retiring from all intercourse with
mankind, and to have sustained life by herbs alone. However, his empire
was kept for him by the will of God, until the time was fulfilled, and
at length duly acknowledging God, he was, after seven years, restored
to his kingdom and former position. He is related, after having
conquered Sedechia (whom he carried away captive to Babylon), as we
have said above, to have reigned twenty-six years, although I do not
find that recorded in the sacred history. But it has perhaps happened
that, while I was engaged in searching out many points, I found this
remark in the work of some anonymous author which had become
interpolated in course of time, and in which the dates of the
Babylonish kings were contained. I did not think it right to pass the
remark unnoticed, since it does in fact harmonize with the Chronicles,
and thus its account agrees with us, to the effect that, through the
succession of the kings, whose dates the record contained, it completed
seventy years up to the first year of king Cyrus, and such in fact is
the number of years which is stated in the sacred history to have
elapsed from the captivity up to the time of Cyrus.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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