Chananya, Mishael and Azarya were three great Jewish princes who occupied a prominent place in Nebuchadnezzar's court in Babylon. These Jewish youths, however, remained true to their religion, observing the laws of the Torah.
Nebuchadnezzar's haughtiness and pride knew no limits. He decided that all mankind must recognize him as a divine being, and must bow down to an idol that he set up. Whosoever would disobey would be burned to death in a specially prepared furnace.
All the people threw themselves to the ground in obeying the royal decree. That is, everyone, excepting three men who remained standing, and they were, of course, Chananya, Mishael and Azarya.
A terrible anger seized the king. "How dare you disobey my orders!" he snarled.
"You are a powerful king," they answered. "We serve you devotedly, as king, but not as a god. We have only one G-d and nothing can stop us worshipping Him alone."
"Into the furnace with them, and burn them alive!" screamed the enraged Nebuchadnezzar.
The three faithful Jews were thrown into the roaring furnace. At that moment the great miracle occurred! The Angel Gabriel came down from Heaven to protect the three pious Jews from the flames.
The king himself ran to the furnace to witness the great wonder. He watched in awe as Chananya, Mishael and Azarya were walking in the midst of the fire, unharmed. Their clothes not even singed.
Nebuchadnezzar called to Chananya, Mishael and Azarya to come out of the fire. And there was a great sanctification of G-d's Holy Name.
"Where did you learn such staunch devotion?" they were asked in awe.
"We learned a lesson from the frogs of the second plague in Egypt," they replied. "G-d had commanded the frogs to enter the Egyptian ovens. These creatures did not earn reward or punishment, yet, even so, they obeyed G-d's command without hesitation. We Jews, whom G-d has commanded so many times in the Holy Torah not to serve idols, are certainly duty-bound to go into fire, if necessary, to sanctify G-d's name."
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