Having erected a golden image, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon required his officials to bow down in worship. Three Jewish officials - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - twice refused to commit this idolatry. Enraged, Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into a blazing furnace. When the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men instead of three, the fourth appearing "like a son of the gods." Nebuchadnezzar brought them out of the fire, offering praise to their God. (Dan. 3:1-30)
