Part 15 (2/2)
”It is even so!” cried the monarch, in deep agitation. ”It is not a delusion! It is a marvelous reality! But did we not cast in three men bound? And I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt! And the form of the fourth is like unto a son of the G.o.ds! Arise, let us hasten to the spot!”
The king, attended by a number of his n.o.bles, and surrounded by the royal guard, was soon on his way towards the furnace. The thronging ma.s.ses divided to give way to their sovereign. There were but few there that knew the cause of the king's agitation. Those who witnessed his countenance attributed it to the awful death of Scribbo and s.h.a.goth.
All eyes are fastened on the king. With a hurried pace he ascends the steps of the furnace. He has nearly reached the top. He stops. Now the vast a.s.sembly eagerly listen for a royal address. But why turns he not his face toward the throng? Regardless of the swaying ma.s.ses, he lifts his hand on high--he speaks! Hark! ”Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high G.o.d, come forth and come hither!”
At the conclusion of this, which seemed to the mult.i.tude an incomprehensible speech, there were but few present who did not inwardly p.r.o.nounce the king to be laboring under a sudden fit of insanity.
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While all is still and solemn, behold, arm in arm, the forms of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! A heavenly smile rests on their countenances.
Already they have reached the top, and they stand in the presence of the wondering thousands. For a moment they cast a smiling glance on the throng below; then, with that ease of manner which always characterized them, they approach the king, and make their obeisance, with as much apparent good feeling as if nothing of an unkind nature had ever transpired. The king grasps them by the hand, and a mighty shout of good feeling and gladness resounds from thrice ten thousand tongues. The king then, turning to the mult.i.tude, in a loud voice exclaims:
”Blessed be the G.o.d of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have yielded their bodies that they might not serve nor wors.h.i.+p any G.o.d except their own G.o.d. Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the G.o.d of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces; because there is no other G.o.d that can deliver after this sort. And now, by the command of the king, let that image be taken down, and let it be carried to the temple of Belus, and there, in a secluded part, let it remain.”
The a.s.sembly was now disbanded and broken up by royal authority. The ma.s.ses began to move homeward with deep astonishment. The golden image was lost sight of, and the miraculous deliverance of the three Hebrews was the all-absorbing theme. The priests of Belus were utterly confounded. This mighty demonstration of the power of Jehovah soon spread throughout the land. The numerous Hebrew captives were treated with much more kindness; thousands of Chaldeans lost all confidence in their G.o.ds, and learned to pay their homage at the shrine of Jehovah.
Daniel returned from the court of Pharaoh, after having arranged all things to the satisfaction of his sovereign, in whose estimation he now stood higher than ever. The three brothers were held in awe and reverence by all, and the king communed with them freely on all subjects. Their lives were rendered comfortable, and, according to the late decree of the king, whosoever dared to speak disrespectfully of their G.o.d did so at his imminent peril.
The priests of Belus kept much within their temple, and whenever they appeared in public, it was with far greater modesty and much less arrogance. They were fast losing the confidence of the populace, and the wors.h.i.+p of the G.o.ds was greatly disregarded. The great Rab Mag was universally admired, and his three companions stood above reproach.
CHAPTER XIX.
FOR some years after that wonderful display of Divine power, as exhibited before vast thousands on the plains of Dura, Chaldea was comparatively free from wars.
The king contented himself with adding to the already magnificent grandeur of the seat of his empire. Thousands were continually employed in carrying out the schemes developed by his inventive mind, and no sooner was one mighty enterprise completed, than another project was brought forward. But the monarch's vast ambition was not to be satisfied by the erection of ma.s.sive walls and costly edifices. The fire of war and the love of conquest were not yet quenched in his soul. He had a strong pa.s.sion for the din of battle.
Tyre was a strong and opulent city on the Mediterranean coast of Syria.
It was one of the most celebrated maritime cities of antiquity, and remarkable for its power and grandeur. Hitherto, it had never been subject to any foreign power. It was built by the Sidonians, two hundred and forty years before the Temple of Jerusalem. For Sidon being taken by the Philistines of Askelon, many of its inhabitants made their escape in s.h.i.+ps, and founded the city of Tyre; and for this reason we find it called in Isaiah, the ”Daughter of Sidon.” But the daughter soon surpa.s.sed the mother in grandeur, riches, and power.
Toward this proud city of Syria, the King of Babylon, in the twenty-first year of his reign, led his conquering legions, with full confidence of a speedy surrender. With a powerful army he encamped before the city, and soon commenced his attack, which was vigorously repelled. It became evident to the Chaldeans that the subduing of Tyre was not the work of a few days, or even a few months. His troops suffered incredible hards.h.i.+ps, so that, according to the Prophet's expression, ”every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled.” Not until after a protracted siege of thirteen years was the city conquered, and even then Nebuchadnezzar found nothing to recompense him for the suffering of his army and the expense of the campaign.
Soon after the surrender of Tyre, the King of Babylon led his forces into Egypt, where he was much more successful than on the sh.o.r.es of the Mediterranean. A large number of provinces were brought to subjection, and thousands of captives were carried to Chaldea and distributed along the sh.o.r.es of the Euphrates.
The king of Babylon ”was at rest in his own house, and flouris.h.i.+ng in his own palace.” The thoughts of the past, present, and future deeply occupied his mind. The past of his own history had been crowned with unparalleled success. The present was all that his heart could wish. He found himself surrounded with glory and magnificence that completely eclipsed the splendor of all other nations combined. The future--ah, the future! Who could penetrate its darkness? Could it be possible that the predictions of Belteshazzar, in regard to the future, were true? Was the glory of Chaldea to be trampled in the dust? Was the kingly line of Nebuchadnezzar to be broken? Was not the kingdom at last established on an immovable foundation? But, had he not, at different times, been convinced that Belteshazzar had been instructed by the G.o.d of heaven in regard to the future? Tea, truly! But many years had pa.s.sed since then, and his greatness had been daily increasing. The king would have gladly persuaded himself that all was clear in the future, but it was beyond his power, and under a degree of perplexity he threw himself upon his couch.
A few wandering thoughts, and the king was asleep.
”Another dream of troubles!” cried the king, while his countenance bespoke alarm. ”Do the G.o.ds, indeed, delight in my misery? Why must I be thus tormented? Aye! a dream big with meaning! A vision surcharged with great events! But who will show me the interpretation thereof? Where is Belteshazzar! But why may not my Chaldean wise men answer the purpose?
Yea! Let them have the first trial. Why do I thus tremble? Whom shall I fear? 'Hew down the tree!' O, ye G.o.ds, how that voice sounded! 'Let his portion be with the beasts, in the gra.s.s of the earth!' What meaneth it?
Why do I fear to call Belteshazzar first? Is it not best at once to know the worst? But let my Chaldeans have the first trial;” and the king called a young page into his presence.
”Young man, where is thy father?”
”My father is in the adjoining chamber, O king.”
”Call him hither without delay.”
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