Thank you for the biblical question on King Nebuchadnezzar’s response to the Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s refusal to worship his statue, “What was King Nebuchadnezzar’s response to what he was told about Shadrach’s, Meshach’s and Abednego’s failure to worship his statue?”
Daniel 3 says that King Nebuchadnezzar was furious with rage (vs. 13) and furious (vs. 19).
One would have thought that King Nebuchadnezzar would have known or seen that Daniel never had bowed down to any of the Babylonian deities. He should also know that believed in a different deity than his own.
The astrologers and enchanters acknowledged that they were helpless in knowing the mind of the deities (Dan. 2:10–11). Daniel declares to King Nebuchadnezzar that the God of Heaven has given him answer to his dream of the future (Dan. 2:28, 37). King Nebuchadnezzar response was this, “47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
Nebuchadnezzar was a short temper man, arrogant man. He was angered with his royal court for not revealing his dream and he became angry when three of his administrators refused to bow down to his image. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusal to worship his image was interpreted as a personal affront to himself and to his power as king over the known world. He was so furious that he heated the furnace seven times hotter (Dan. 3:19). He thought that no one can deliver them from his mighty hand.
Summary: King Nebuchadnezzar’s response was one of personal fury against them by commanding them to be thrown in a superheated furnace.
-Kingston