Nebuchadnezzar

 

Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon (c.605 BC-562 BC)

Detail of one of the lions from a decorative glazed panel from the Throne Room of the Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Some stories and songs remain in the recesses of the memory to emerge at the strangest times. Thus, it was with Nebuchadnezzar. Nothing I have been reading recently awoke this memory but there it was, demanding recognition. The song of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was one I used to sing a long time ago. Maybe it was frequently on the radio. Who knows? There are several versions on YouTube, the clearest being this one. I wanted to highlight the Louis Armstrong clip, but it is not a good recording.

There were three children from the land of Israel
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

They took a trip to the land of Babylon

 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon

 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

He took a lot of gold and made an idol
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

And he told everybody when you hear the music of the cornet
And he told everybody when you hear the music of the clarinet
And he told everybody when you hear the music of the horn
You must fall down and worship the idol
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

But the children of Israel would not bow down
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

You couldn't fool them with no golden idol

So the king put the children in a fiery furnace
He heaped on coals and red-hot brimstone
Seven times hotter, hotter than it oughta be
 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

Burnt up the soldiers that the king had put there

 

But the Lord sent an angel with snowy white wings

Down in the middle of the furnace
Talking to the children 'bout the power of the gospel

Couldn't even harm a hair on the head of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
Laughing and talking while the fire is jumping around

Oh Nebuchadnezzar called when he saw the power of the Lord
And they had a big time in the house of Babylon
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful and longest-reigning ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He enjoyed great success in his military campaigns, conquering Jerusalem and exiling the Jewish people, and was lauded for the constructions he oversaw. Probably the most memorable of his projects was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

In chapter three of the Old Testament Book of Daniel, he was portrayed as a powerful leader and visionary. He proclaimed himself a deity and had an enormous ninety-foot-high golden statue made and ordered his people to bow down and worship it.  

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were three Israelites who refused to obey, so Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them into a fiery furnace. They declared that they would not deny their God and bow before a man-made image. The King was enraged and ordered the fire to be heated seven times hotter than normal and had the three men bound and cast into the flames. To his astonishment they were not consumed by the fire. Not only were they unharmed, there was also a fourth figure in the furnace with them, variously interpreted as an angel or a vision of the Messiah to come.

The men emerged unscathed, and Nebuchadnezzar was inspired to praise the God of the Israelites and order that no-one was to deny him.

Stained glass window in Dublin Christ Church Cathedral depicting an angel protecting Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The song is catchy, and I can almost guarantee that it will stick in the ears of anyone who listens to it. Sorry, not sorry. 😁