Page 71 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

CHAPTER XVII

DANIEL RETURN TO BABYLON

A little more than a year from the time of his departure, Daniel returned to

Babylon.

He arrived back with his entourage a little after sundown and repaired immediately
to his own palace, the palace of the Prime Minister, where all preparations had been

made to receive him. When he learned that a sumptuous dinner had been made ready
he ordered that a messenger should be sent to the home of his three friends, Hananiah,
Mishael and Azariah, inviting them to come and share the repast with him.

This they were prompt to do, and the Prime Minister greeted them with great
cordiality. The evening was occupied with an exchange of experiences. Daniel gave to
them a detailed description of the conditions prevailing in Jerusalem and brought them
news and greetings from the members of their own families.

He told them of the shocking deterioration in the worship of Jehovah and of the
hardening of heart of the nobles of Jerusalem. Zedekiah, he said, was a well-
intentioned, but a weakling king. Though privately sympathizing with the Prophet

Jeremiah, he had not only lacked the courage to defend him openly, but had yielded to
their pressure to put him in prison. The king excused his action in putting Jeremiah
into detention, by saying that it was a protection to him against the violent antagonism
of the Jewish leaders who would like to do him physical violence. He related that

Zedekiah was largely convinced of the futility of the course of rebellion against
Babylon, but Daniel saw it to be inevitable that he would give in to the nationalistic
Jews and finally participate with them in the attempt. Daniel told of his attempt to
dissuade Zedekiah from such folly, but said that he felt sure the rebellion would come,

and that would mean the complete destruction of the city and of the Temple.

The three listened attentively and soberly to his discourse. Then Daniel said:

“Now tell me, in detail, of the wonderful deliverance that our God wrought in your
behalf in delivering you from the fiery furnace. The news came to Jerusalem and the
godly remnant greatly rejoiced. None were more happy over the news of your
faithfulness in that testing and Jehovah’s miraculous vindication of you than our
beloved old teacher, Elishama. The dear old gentleman has since died. I am glad that

he will not live to see the further distress that will come upon Judah.”
“There is little to tell of our experience that you have not heard,” Hananiah