Thank you for the biblical question, “Who went to the king and told him that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego weren’t worshipping the statue?”
In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had in his royal court consultants for “determining” the will of the gods or the success of a war campaign. In his court, he had these men: “In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers[a] to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.[b] 4 Then the astrologers answered the king,[c] “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” (NIV).
According to Daniel 3, the astrologers accused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of not worshipping the statue made by King Nebuchadnezzar. Astrologers are individuals who professes to possess the divine ability to foretell future events by the appearance of the stars.
Daniel 3 says this, “At this time some astrologers[b] came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up” (NIV).
The deeper question is why did the astrologers accused them. Certainly the astrologers knew that the Jews do not worship other gods. It may be that King Nebuchadnezzar was tolerant and there was no law requiring it. That’s a conjecture on my part. By King Nebuchadnezzar making that specific degree that everyone must bow down to that image, this became the law of the land.
When Daniel interpreted the dream for King Nebuchadnezzar, he had his three friends promoted to administrators over the province of Babylon. Daniel 2 says this, “Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court” (NIV).
The promotion of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego angered the former administrators. They were demoted and they wanted their position back. It may be through a plot by them and the other royal court members to remove them by having this statue made and requiring everyone to bow down to it. They already knew that the newly appointed Jews wouldn’t bow down to it. They would be killed and then, they would have their positions back.
The astrologers had no reason to be involved with the accusation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This was an administrative problem, not a forecasting issue. Their accusation show that they had an interest in having the Jews removed from their office. If the former administrators accused the promoted Jews, this may be viewed as a conflict of interest, but a third party making that accusation would be “viewed” as a neutral party. The plan was foolproof by the astrologers and the demoted administrators. We see this also with Daniel.
Summary: The astrologers accused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of refusing to bow down to the image made by King Nebuchadnezzar.
-Kingston