Tolerance and Trials Question
23 Apr 2010
Question: Where was Daniel when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the furnace? Surely he did not bow down so how did he get away with it?
Answer: There is no conclusive answer to this question as Daniel's reason for absence in this narrative isn't given. Hence we are only able to speculate...
Most scholars would suggest that Daniel was probably away from the capital at the time of accusation, most likely on a mission somewhere.
However, you are right to conclude that Daniel would not have been amongst the crowd worshipping the golden tower. Indeed the story of the lion's den in chapter 6 is very comparable to this one: here, Daniel refuses to worship false idols, preferring instead to stand by his worship of God.
I'm not sure which I'd prefer: to be thrown into a white hot furnace of fire, or a den of ravenous lions - these guys certainly didn't have an easy ride!!!!
Tim
 
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