Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar was furious. His face was twisted with rage at these young officers of his—and foreigners at that!— who had not only dared to defy him but who had now embarrassed him at a public celebration, in front of all his subjects.
In his rage, Nebuchadnezzar overreacted. For one thing, he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, although the fire already burning in the furnace would have been hot enough for the execution. According to an ancient tradition, the king had his men throw naphtha and pitch into the furnace to make the fire burn hotter. And then the king foolishly ordered some of his strongest warriors to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego hand and foot and throw them into the furnace. The foolishness of the king’s anger became clear when the flames leaped out and consumed the brave soldiers who carried out their king’s foolish command.
Meanwhile God’s three loyal sons, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Various items of their clothing are mentioned, because they add to the wonder of the miracle God was about to perform. Each item of the men’s clothing was just so much more flammable material, fuel for the flames. The furnace is perhaps best pictured as made of stone or brick, with an opening at the top into which the unfortunate victims were thrown. There also seems to have been an opening on the side, near ground level, to provide the draft to fan the flames as well as to offer the morbidly curious an opportunity to observe the gruesome goings-on.
What did Nebuchadnezzar accomplish with his frantic efforts at revenge? Two things. For one, he lost several of his best warriors to the flames that now leaped out of the furnace. Second, he made God’s miracle of deliverance more impressive. With the additional heating of the furnace and with the strength of his mightiest warriors, the proud king had hoped to back up his boast that nobody, not even God, could deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from his power. But Nebuchadnezzar was wrong, and now a whole nation was going to know it.