Years passed by, and uninterrupted success attended the reign of the
king of Babylon. The aggrandizement of the city was without a parallel
in history. It appeared to have become the leading passion of the
monarch’s mind. The reader may have a faint idea of the glory of the
city when he remembers that it was a regular square, forty-five miles
in compass, enclosed by a wall two hundred feet high, and fifty broad,
in which there were one hundred gates of brass. Its principal ornaments
were the Temple of Belus, and the famous “hanging gardens.”
The Temple of Belus was most remarkable for a prodigious tower that
stood in the midst of it. According to Herodotus, it was a square, of a
furlong on each side—that is, half a mile in the whole compass; and
according to Strabo, it was a furlong in height. It consisted of eight
towers, built one above the other; and because it decreased gradually
towards the top, Strabo calls the whole a pyramid. It is not only
asserted, but proved, that this tower far exceeded the greatest of the
pyramids of Egypt in height.
The ascent to the top was by stairs round the outside. Over the whole,
on the top of the tower, was an observatory, by means of which the
Babylonians became more expert in astronomy than any other nation, and
made, in a short time, the great progress in it ascribed to them in
history.
In addition to these magnificent works, the public buildings of Babylon
were counted by thousands, and its splendid mansions by tens of
thousands.
The four Hebrews still continued in power, and more than retained their
former excellence. Daniel was highly esteemed by the king for his great
wisdom and skill in the affairs of government; but the impressions of
the superiority of Jehovah, made upon the monarch’s mind at the
interpretation of the dream, had well-nigh been obliterated. Pride
rebelled against the thought of the future overthrow of the empire; and
fain would he have persuaded himself that uneasiness brought about by a
troublesome dream was unworthy of him.
The three brothers, in their spheres, performed their duties with a
degree of perfection and exactitude that greatly pleased the king; and
for this, more than on account of their genuine excellence, were they
regarded by him in a favorable light. Those pleasing qualities so
apparent in the earlier history of the king were fast disappearing, to
give way to pride, vanity, peevishness, and even cruelty.
The bold and impetuous declaration of the king, in regard to the
sovereignty of the God of Israel, and the peculiar circumstances under
which the poor Hebrews were promoted, were far from being forgotten by
the Babylonians. There was a deep and abiding dissatisfaction in the
minds of thousands in the realm, not so much on account of the
elevation of the Hebrews, as on account of the conviction that the
sovereign was not a sincere worshiper of the gods of the empire. The
king, by occasional remarks from his nobles, had noticed more than once
that there was something in their language that indicated a lack of
confidence in his fidelity to the gods. Nebuchadnezzar, notwithstanding
his increasing vanity, was far from being indifferent to the estimation
in which he was held by his subjects. He knew that his safety was based
on the confidence and friendship of his people, and he was determined,
if by his former professions he had unwisely magnified the God of
Daniel, and thereby lost the confidence of his Chaldean subjects, to
give them unmistakable proof that he still was a worshiper at the
shrine of Belus.
Summoning Belrazi, one of his most trusted officers, to his side, the
king said:
“From the nature of thy position, thou art called to mingle in very
numerous circles, and no man at the palace is better qualified than
thou to judge of the feelings of the subjects toward their king. Come,
now, be frank and plain with thy sovereign, and tell me how I stand in
the estimation of my nobles.”
“O king, live for ever!” replied the officer, highly delighted with
this unusual mark of the king’s confidence. “Thou livest in the warm
affections of thy nobles, and in the pure regard of all thy numerous
subjects. Thou art the peculiarly favored of the gods. All the nations
of the earth fear thee, and pay their homage at thy feet.”
“True. But art thou not aware that on one point my subjects are not as
fully satisfied with their king as they might be? Behold, I have placed
unusual confidence in my servant, and in return the king requireth
equal sincerity.”
“As thy soul liveth, O king, I shall hide nothing from thee. In
mingling with thy nobles, I find that, without distinction, they are
abundantly loyal. In a very few instances I have heard language that
indicated that my lord the king was favorably inclined toward the God
of the Hebrews, and less ardent in his devotion to the gods of Chaldea.
But in this, has not my lord the king the perfect right to do as
seemeth good in his sight?”
“The King of Babylon can do as seemeth good in his sight; and it shall
seem good in his sight, not many days hence, to give abundant proof
that the gods of Chaldea are the gods of the king. I am well satisfied
with thy words. Let this interview, and others of the same nature which
we may have, remain a secret. Thou mayest now leave, and to-morrow at
the third hour be punctual to meet me again at this apartment.”
The dignitary retired, and the king was left alone in his apartment.
“My suspicions were well founded! And, indeed, have they had no cause?
Well, I was then young, and without experience. But was not the
recovery of that dream a wonderful thing? Will anyone dare deny that?
Had the God of Belteshazzar nothing to do with it? Again my thoughts
are on the God of Israel! ’Tis hard to banish it from my mind! The
interpretation was natural, and perfectly consistent. But I swear by
the gods, that it shall not come to pass! I will establish my empire on
such a sure foundation that it shall not be in the power of mortals to
shake it. Are not the nations at my command? Are not my armies
stationed on every shore? Is not Babylon the terror of kings? Ah! where
is the power that can compete with Chaldea? My nobles are jealous of my
fidelity to the gods. Yea, truly, and have I not given them reason?
“This must go no further. If I have some lingering fears of the God of
Belteshazzar, it must not be made manifest. In this I must regain the
full confidence of the nation. Are they jealous of the four Hebrews? In
this I fear them not. They are worth more to my empire than any chosen
score of their fellow-officers. And of the wisdom of my wise men—is not
more than one half of it centered in Belteshazzar? If they are envious
of these young men, let it not be known to the king, or by the powers
of Belus I will let them feel my vengeance!
“But for the _king_ to be suspected of being a believer in their God is
of a more serious nature. What measure shall I resort to in order to
satisfy the mind of the nation? Deny the insinuation in a proclamation?
Shall the King of Babylon ever stoop to this? Never! Something more
consistent with royal dignity than this must be found. An image? Yea!
That will do, O king! Thou hast well thought. An image of Bel. What?
‘With the head of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and
thighs of brass, the legs of iron, the feet of iron and clay?’ Nay! The
image of Bel which I shall set up for public worship, shall be all of
gold. Why otherwise? My wealth is inexhaustible. Who, after such a
display, would ever suspect the King of Babylon of adhering to the God
of the Hebrews? This, then, is my purpose. I shall build a great image
of Bel, made of pure gold, and set it up in some favorable spot, and
appoint a day for its public dedication.”
The next morning, at the appointed hour, Belrazi was punctual to meet
the king at his apartment. The monarch, well pleased with his scheme of
the image, manifested a pleasant countenance.
“Thou art punctual, Belrazi. The king is well pleased to meet thee. Thy
frank sincerity yesterday was an additional proof of thy worth. I have
seen fit, since we parted, to bestow some thought on the subject on
which we conversed. It is of the utmost importance to the well-being
and security of the empire that the people have unbounded confidence in
their king in all things—in matters of religion as well as in matters
of state. Now, in order to expel all doubts from the minds of my nobles
in regard to my fidelity to the gods of my fathers, I have thought of a
measure which, I trust, must prove successful. It is this: Let an image
of our god Bel be made of gold. Let it be of large dimensions, and far
superior to any image heretofore seen in any country. Let it be set up
in some favorable spot; and on the day of its dedication, let all who
hold office under the government, be commanded, by a royal decree, to
appear on the spot, and, at the appointed hour, fall down and worship
it; and let the penalty of disobedience be death. Let those who dare
set at naught the will of the king be taken and thrown into the burning
fiery furnace. What thinkest Belrazi of this?”
“O king, live forever! Thy goodness is unbounded. Thy design is
dictated by that wisdom that cometh from the gods. The measure shall be
hailed throughout the empire with shouts of rejoicing, and the day of
its dedication will be a day of days in the future history of Chaldea.”
“Let no time be lost, then,” replied the king. “Let my head goldsmith
be called, and from the lips of the king let him receive instructions
in regard to the making of the image. This is my desire. Let the
measure be known but to a few, until the proclamation shall go forth.”
The head goldsmith was soon in the presence of the king, and after much
deliberation the exact dimensions of the great image were settled upon;
and, moreover, it was agreed, that by a certain day it should be
completed.
According to the direction of the king, no publicity was given to the
measure. Few of the king’s confidential friends were apprised of it. In
the meantime, no pains were spared by the chief goldsmith to have
everything in readiness by the time appointed. Hundreds of the craft
were called together to speed the great undertaking; and, even before
the time agreed upon, the idol was ready to be set up. Word was sent to
the king, and immediately the proclamation was trumpeted far and wide,
throughout the length and breadth of the vast empire:
“Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, to all his Princes, Governors,
Captains, Judges, Treasurers, Counselors, Sheriffs, and all rulers of
his provinces: Ye are hereby commanded to appear on the twenty-third
day of the eighth month, at the third hour of the day, in the plain of
Dura, within the province of Babylon, to witness the dedication of the
great image which I have set up in honor of Bel, the god of the
Chaldeans. Ye are, moreover, hereby commanded, at the hour appointed,
to fall down and worship the golden image. Disobedience will be
punished with the utmost rigor. Those who shall refuse to bow and
worship shall in that same hour be taken and thrown into a burning
fiery furnace.
“Given under my hand and seal, at the great City of Babylon, on
this the fourth day of the seventh month.
“Nebuchadnezzar.”
The dedication of the great image now became the chief theme of
conversation. In city and village, on hill and in dell, in the palace
and cottage, it was the leading subject; and throughout the empire it
gave universal satisfaction. The measure for the time being had its
desired effect—to establish in the minds of the Chaldeans the
conviction that the king was faithful to the gods.
This proclamation was received by the three Hebrews with profound
astonishment and deep regret. For many years now they had enjoyed
tranquility and Worshiped the God of their fathers in calm simplicity;
and this was the first time, since they came to Babylon, that they were
required to do violence to their conscience by worshiping a false god.
Daniel, on business of great importance, was sent to Egypt.
The three worthies soon met for the special purpose of deciding upon a
course of action to be followed in the approaching emergency. No
fearful apprehensions could be read in those countenances. No fainting
fear took hold of their spirits. Their eyes sparkled with holy courage,
their cheeks flushed with noble emotions, their forms were unusually
erect. They were fully prepared for the worst.
The opening remarks were from Hananiah.
“Well, brothers, another cloud seems to darken our skies, and to hang
threateningly over our heads; but I trust that, as servants of the Host
High, we have by this time learned to gaze upon such things without
terror or alarm. We are now assembled together to take a calm, sober
look at the thing as it really is, and decide on our future course. We
are surely much indebted to the king. For a number of years, we have
been the recipients of his bounty and the objects of his kind regard,
for which, undoubtedly, we all feel grateful. But the question is this:
is it our duty, as the professed worshipers of the God of Israel, to
yield obedience to the demand of an unholy and wicked law, that throws
insult into the face of the God of heaven, and the Jehovah of the
universe? In this case, either obedience or disobedience must be
pleasing to God. Is it the will of Jehovah that we should obey this
law, or disobey it? To my mind, it is clear that, in this case, nothing
short of a manly _disobedience_ can be agreeable to the will of our
God. Brothers, we must have decision of character. In this matter there
must be no compromise with iniquity.”
And Hananiah took his seat with a smile of holy satisfaction playing on
his lips, when Mishael arose, and said:
“The question rests here, brothers! Can any edict from any king,
potentate, or human power, make null and void the laws of the eternal
God? To this question, from us, there is but one short answer, and that
is, ‘_Nay!_’ Is He not higher than the highest? Are not His commands
far superior to all human edicts? The law of Jehovah is supreme, and
let the _higher law_ be obeyed, though the heavens should fall!
Azariah, what sayest thou?”
“I say I shall not bow to any god but the God of Israel! In Him I
trust. If we perish by the hand of our enemies, so let it be! Better
death than a base betrayal of our sacred trust. But is not that God who
saved us once from death able to deliver us again? Is his arm
shortened, that he cannot save? Then let them heat the fiery furnace!
That God in whom we trust will yet deliver us from this calamity, and
overrule this dark providence to his glory.”
A knock was heard. The door was opened, and the pleasant voice of the
newcomer gave them to understand that he was no other than the
kind-hearted Apgomer.
“I trouble you, at this time, as a bearer of dispatches from my kind
master, Belteshazzar, who is now in Egypt, on government business of
pressing importance. Before he left, he gave me positive orders to
deliver all messages to his cousins without the least delay.”
“Thou art ever welcome, dear Apgomer!” answered Hananiah. “and
especially to-day, as a bearer of a dispatch from one we love so well.”
“And here is another, from one that, peradventure, ye love the more. Ye
perceive that the children of Judah have some confidence in their
Chaldean friend.”
“And great is the confidence thou deservest, as one that has proved
himself a genuine friend in every trial,” said Azariah.
“Let not my noble friend speak thus!” said the modest Chaldean, “for I
deserve it not. I must return, and any further dispatches that may be
sent to my care shall, without delay, be conveyed hither. Adieu!”
These dispatches proved to be letters. The last delivered was
confidentially handed to Apgomer by Mathias, and was written by
Perreeza.
The letter from Daniel was first considered. It was read aloud by
Azariah.
“_Ever Dear Cousins:_ I have this moment read the wonderful
proclamation of the king, in regard to the great image of Bel, to be
dedicated on the plains of Dura. By some strange providence, he saw fit
to send me hither, with imperative instructions to remain until some
unpleasant affairs between the two governments are amicably adjusted;
and before this can be accomplished, the great idolatrous display will
have passed. Your minds, undoubtedly, have been much troubled in view
of the unpleasant position in which ye are placed. So hath the mind of
your beloved cousin. Already I know full well that, with holy courage,
ye are ready for the trial. The flames of a fiery furnace must fail to
frighten a true Israelite from the worship of the God of his fathers.
Past favors are not to be repaid by proving traitors to the God of
Israel. We are the _temporal_ subjects of the King of Babylon it is
true, and in anything that interferes not with the command of Jehovah,
we are happy to render him willing obedience: but with us obedience to
the _higher law_ is paramount to all other considerations. The words of
a loving mother are yet fresh in my mind. The morning on which we left
our beloved Jerusalem, she called me to her apartment, and, among a
multitude of other good things, she said, ‘The same integrity to the
law of thy God will certainly secure thy prosperity among strangers.
Thy path may occasionally be obstructed; but trust in God, my son, and
all will be well. The land whither thou goest is a land of universal
idolatry, where the God of thy fathers is not known, and where his
worship may cause universal ridicule. Heed them not. With thy face
toward Jerusalem, let thy petitions daily ascend to the God of Abraham,
and he will direct thy paths. Never prove a traitor to the religion of
thy fathers. My son will be obedient to the laws of his king that do
not come in contact with his religion; but if ever thou art required to
render obedience to any law that clashes with the law of thy God,
remember, my son, that _disobedience_ to that law must be rendered,
even unto death if required. Let “Obedience to the Higher Law” be thy
motto; for thy mother would sooner hear of thy death as a martyr to the
religion of Judah, than of thy promotion to a throne by apostasy.’
“These burning words of your Aunt Josepha, to her son Daniel, are
the words of Daniel to his cousins. Prove true to your religion!
and if in this ye die, it shall be but the will of your God. But,
cousins, ye shall not die! That same Jehovah who appeared in our
behalf years ago, in the revelation of the king’s dream, will again
stretch out his arm to save. If Jehovah interferes in your behalf,
there is not fire enough in all Chaldea to injure a hair of your
head. I long to be with you! Nothing would give me greater pleasure
than to be immediately called back to Babylon. Then side by side
would we stand erect, and scorn to bow before a golden image. But
it appears to be the will of Jehovah that I should be absent. I
have confidence that I shall soon embrace you in Babylon: but if in
this I am mistaken, we soon shall meet in the better Jerusalem
above.
“Daniel.”
It was with some difficulty that Azariah commanded sufficient control
over his feelings to enable him to read the letter aloud; but with a
trembling accent it was done.
“Thanks be to Jehovah.” cried Mishael, “for such consolation in the
midst of sore affliction.”
“But what says our beloved Perreeza?” said Hananiah.
No one felt willing to read aloud their sister’s letter, so it was read
by each in silence. It ran thus:
“_Dear Brothers:_ With emotions indescribable, Perreeza endeavors to
write these few lines, that may impart some consolation to her dear
brothers while strong waves of affliction pass over their souls. Being
much confined of late to my dwelling, it was but yesterday that I
derived any knowledge of that awful proclamation of the king in regard
to his great image. Uncle Esrom is at present traveling in a far
country on important business, and I am deprived of his counsel and ye
are deprived of his aid in this crisis. Ob, my brothers! the companions
and guardians of my juvenile hours, into whose care and warm affections
I was committed by the parting words of a dying mother! How ardently
does your sister love you! how deep for you is the affection of
Perreeza’s heart! What can I say that will cause one sweet ingredient
to drop into your bitter cup? Nothing better do I know, than the
favorite sentence of our beloved Jeremiah. If the good prophet were
here would he not say, ‘Jehovah is the strength of all his saints;
trust in him and be at peace!’ Oh, how sweetly flowed the gentle words
of the man of God! Brothers! dear as ye seem to my throbbing heart,
terrible as the fiery furnace may rage, Perreeza has no desire that
your safety should be purchased at a dishonorable price. Nay, brothers!
if for a moment I should indulge in such an unholy desire, that moment
I should forfeit all right to call you brothers. I shall not even
_advise_ you to stand firm in the fiery trial. Ah! too well do I know
that your noble souls already scorn the command of an apostate king,
who once acknowledged the supremacy of the God of Israel.
“My precious Jupheena came to see me this morning, and she is very
confident that the God in whom we trust will bring you through this
trial triumphantly. Dear brothers, accept this hasty dispatch as an
offering of pure affection. Farewell, until our next meeting.”
“Perreeza.”
With full hearts, the brothers bowed before the Lord and rolled their
burdens upon the Almighty. The entire consecration was now made, and
they were ready for the trial. The struggle was over and their minds
became as calm and tranquil as a summer evening.