[1] He gathers his advisors and demands that someone interpret his dream. See Michael Segal, Daniels Vision of the Four Beasts and the Prehistory of Chanukah, TheTorah (2017). It could be beautiful, even if dead. It is dangerous to speak ill of God. Dr. Joe Crider says God wired humans for music. And so it was stipulated, and it was decreed that in the day of the dedication everybody may state his loyalty to Babylonian power by knelt at the image. In Haggai's final message the Lord promised to bless Zerubbabel who was the weak governor of Judah and a member of the house of David. The fourth man looks like a son of the gods.. Web3 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue. Crushing (..)In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar sees the stone crash against the statues feet and crush them, after which all the various parts of the statue were crushed at once. Daniel explains that Gods future kingdom will crush all other kingdoms just as the unhewn stone crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. This root appears in the Golden Calf story as well: It appears again in Moses retelling of the story in Deuteronomy: Thus Daniel, in describing how Gods kingdom will crush the statue with the golden head, subtly alludes to the description of Moses crushing the Golden Calf.[17]. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Now it will be Nebuchadnezzars turn to see the majesty of YHWH. Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. And the fourth man looks like a son of the gods!, Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. The golden image of Nebuchadnezzar was not gold, silver, brass, iron and clay as God had revealed to him in his dream but his image was all gold. See that the image was first revealed to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream ( Nebuchadnezzars dream) before Nebuchadnezzar made it but all of gold. He knew from his dream that he was the head of gold. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? (Ultimately, this is the story of how When they heard the sound of the horns, flutes, lyres, zithers, pipes, and all the other musical instruments, they bowed down and worshiped the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. AU $15.20 + AU $14.88 postage . [3] The text continues with three verses explaining the strange form of the feet and toes as a mix of iron and clay: The author of the chapter or a later scribe apparently wished to reflect in more detail about the Greek kingdom, which ruled over Judea in his time. These men are ignoring you, O king. Anyone who wouldnt do this was to be thrown into a blazing furnace. They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: O king, live forever! Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Just then, some Babylonian fortunetellers stepped up and accused the Jews. Daniel was thrown into a lion's den because he refused to stop praying. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. The Lord is vitally concerned about His reputation. To achieve his goal, he built a huge image, and commanded government leaders all over the world to come bow before it. The connection between God and the mountain may have another layer in Aramaic, since the Aramaic word for mountain, is cognate with Hebrew , a common metaphor for God.[12]. We rely on the support of readers like you. Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then Nebuchadnezzar in a furious rage gave a command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; and these men were brought before the king. But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. The image was made in the kings likeness. When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzars gold statue. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar summoned the regional authorities, d governors, deputy governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all of the other e administrators of the provinces, ordering them to come to the dedication of the statue that he f had erected. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. script>. However, He would not abandon the Temple for it was His own sanctuary. De estas, las cookies que se clasifican como necesarias se almacenan en su navegador, ya que son esenciales para el funcionamiento de las funcionalidades bsicas del sitio web. He set up the statue on the plain of Dura in the area of Babylon. Cyprian, asked by friends to deny Christ so the Emperor would reverse the edict of execution, said, There can be no deliberation in a matter so sacred.. The Devil, to achieve his own evil purposes, unashamedly perverted a blessed treasure from God. When they were brought to the king, Nebuchadnezzar said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods nor worship the gold statue I have set up? As time passed, he stopped honoring God and worshiped his idols more zealously and with more fanaticism than before. Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 2nd cent. And the fourth looks like a god!, King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. WebKing Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made a golden Image 27 meters (90 feet) tall. [14] The same contrast between natural stone and human-designed metal can be found in the story of the unarmored David killing the armored Goliath with a stone. At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of BabylonShadrach, Meshach and Abednegowho pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought [malicious] accusations against the Jews. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Proponents of the said act claim that requiring nationwide respect for the golden image of the great King Nebuchadnezzar is as necessary as it is powerful and brave. WebQuestion 8 1 1 pts nebuchadnezzar built a golden. 6438. The Hebrews became freer in the furnace than they had been before. Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews. Then they brought these men before the king. Pages 11. The King decreed, When you hear the music, everyone must fall down and worship the image of The earliest sources for the kingdoms schema predate the author of these chapters of Daniel. TheTorah.com is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.We rely on the support of readers like you. Music, a wondrous gift to people from God, would be the signal for all to bow before the idol. Nebuchadnezzar unveils his statue of gold to his sub-rulers. WebDaniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue of a man with the head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, and legs of iron (Dan 2:31-45). King Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue 90-feet high and 9-feet wide, and had the people worship the statue. He said, Look! 3 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide[ a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He commanded certain strong men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. He will save us from your power, O king. Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did, they replied. When the men were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar asked, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you dont respect my gods and refuse to worship the gold statue that I have set up? According to Islamic tradition, the storm came after they had rejected the teachings of a monotheistic prophet named Hud. In the Book of Daniel, for instance, Nebuchadnezzar builds a giant golden statue in his own image. Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. In constructing Nebuchadnezzars dream, Daniel 2 also borrowed the motif of generations degrading over time, symbolized by moving down the hierarchy of precious metals. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. In the interpretation of the dream, he had been told to be the head of gold.4 The king had recognized the power of God when he said to Daniel: Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings,and a revealer of mysteries.5 After that, Nebuchadnezzar felt for a time the influence of the fear of God; but his heart wasnt cleaned of worldly ambition or of the desire of extolling himself. Judgment, however, was not the final word for Judah or the nations. ): Sura, who lived in the Roman period, continues by describing Rome as the fifth kingdom, but it seems reasonable to assume that in the Pre-Roman Hellenistic period, when Daniel was composed, the scheme had only four kingdoms, with Macedonia or Greece as the final one.[7]. Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue and required Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as well all of his government officials to worship this statue when certain music played. What does this play have to tell us about our own society? He then ordered all the important leaders in the province, everybody who was anybody, to the dedication ceremony of the statue. [9] This text has been preserved only in Middle Persian (224651 C.E. Before every troubled step we take, Jesus footprint is already on the path. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar is best known as the Babylonian king who destroyed Jerusalem in 526 BC and led away many Hebrews into captivity in Babylon. According to Josephus Antiquities, Nebuchadnezzar later returned to besiege Jerusalem again in 586 BC. The book of Jeremiah reveals that this campaign resulted in the capture of the city, the destruction They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up. Liona $\underline{\text{was hit}}$ by a fast-moving ball. Notice how this prophecy begins at the time of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (605 B.C.) It belongs to us as a special gift from our Creator. Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. In the following sentences, put a caret ($_\wedge$) over any comma that should be a semicolon, and write a semicolon above the caret. is properly an image in human likeness (cf. The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Byron Almen, Dorothy Payne, Stefan Kostka, John Lund, Paul S. Vickery, P. Scott Corbett, Todd Pfannestiel, Volker Janssen. The more we believers are persecuted for our beliefs, the more freedom we can enjoy in our hearts. Hebrews 11:34 and Dedicating the Image to Nebuchadnezzar 3:1 Some time later, king Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue, making it 60 cubits high and six cubits wide. If you dont worship it, you will be pitched into a roaring furnace, no questions asked. 3:22-23). [15] See discussion of this law in Jonathan Ben-Dov, The Materiality of a Divine Dwelling, TheTorah (2017). WebNow King Nebuchadnezzar had a gold statue made. Once the world scorns us, we dont have to worry about trying to please it any more. It reflected his dream, interpreted by Despite the fact that the metals represent four different kingdoms, the statue as a whole represents the kingdom of humanity, which is why the statue is specifically of a person. 6:7). Web1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image of himself and required everyone to bow before it. In it all we have Him. WebChapter 3. It was ninety feet high and nine feet wide. Firmly tied, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the blazing furnace. You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Launched Shavuot 5773 / 2013 | Copyright Project TABS, All Rights Reserved, script type="text/javascript"> Course Title RELS 373. [4] Macedon is a Greek-speaking province, and before conquering Persia, its king, Alexander, had already conquered all of Greece. Hosea compared Israel's unfaithfulness to spoiled grapes, a wild vine, a trained heifer, and a rebellious daughter. They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. Para ver toda la informacin sobre cookies y este sitio web. WebDaniel 3:5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, Werent there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire? He saw a fourth person in the fire, a being so glorious that even Nebuchadnezzars heathen eyes could tell He was supernatural. A guilty conscience is one of lifes heaviest burdens. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Hezekiah, King of Judah, spread the letter before YHWH in the temple. The Judeans have survived the golden head, the body of silver and bronze, and are now living in the time of the crushing iron. But if you do not worship, you shall be thrown at once into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can rescue you out of my hands? Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 1 It is difficult to think about the exorbitant proportions of a statue made of gold of about 30 meters high which represented him. How vain and proud the king was! The texts emphasis that the stone was hewn out, not by hands forms a sharp contrast with a metal statue; shaped metal is a classic sign of human design, while the stone is unsullied by human craftsmanship. Zephaniah began his ministry at approximately the same time as Ezekiel. WebThe third chapter of Daniel brings the story of how King Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue made of gold for the people of the land to worship. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever! Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm and said, Didnt we throw three men, bound hand and foot, into the fire? I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! [5] And thus we read in the words of Aemilius Sura (ca. Daniel 3:15b If you dont worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire ( and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?. The extended message of salvation at the center of the book of Micah, as well as the emphasis on salvation at the end of each section, reflects Micah's focus on the hope of Israel's future salvation. He declared to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king. He answered and said, But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods., King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet thick. WebIt should be noted that some interpreters suggest the statue was an Asherah, an image something like a totem pole. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point. He wanted them to come to the special service for the statue he had set up. Surely there has been a mistake or misunderstanding. Whatever the trouble, however hot the fire, we can count on the Guest. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. Singing, trumpets, and harps are found in Heaven, not Hell. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Pharaoh learned the hard way who the Lord God was. Then a herald shouted out, People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the kings command! Is the play still relevant? In other words, the crushing of the statue makes room for Israels repentance and return to God. He set it up on the Dura plain in the province of Babylon. Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. School Virginia Commonwealth University. Matthew 8:17 quotes from Isa 53:4 ("He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases") as evidence that Jesus is Isaiah's suffering servant. [10] Scholars have noted the possible connection between iron mixture here, and the feet of the Nebuchadnezzars statue made of iron mixed with clay. WebThrough faith quenched the fury of the flames Daniels three friends Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego that was in the time of King Nebuchadnezzar. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Insert parentheses to set off parenthetical elements. In his construction of Nebuchadnezzars dream statue, the author of Daniel appears to have combined both the mythic, precious-metal motif, and the historical four-kingdoms motif. Ezekiel also delivered a series of oracles against Egypt. Jesus promised, I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b). It is clear that Daniel is making use of this Persian/Hellenistic historical schema. So they brought these men before the king. Moreover, Daniel includes Media, an empire which never ruled over Judea, showing that he was using a borrowed list of nations. In the zenith of his power, Nebuchadnezzar wanted a public display of allegiance to his god, which would represent solid support for him. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king [looked and] was astounded, and he jumped up and said to his counselors, Did we not throw three men who were tied up into the midst of the fire? They replied to the king, Certainly, O king. He answered, Look! Estas cookies no almacenan ninguna informacin personal. Daniel 3:1a (Holman) King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, 90 feet high and nine feet wide.. Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! Anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a roaring furnace. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Daniel's three friends were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The tribe's members, referred to as dites, formed a prosperous nation until they were destroyed in a violent storm. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. WebNebuchadnezzar wanted the golden statue he had made worshipped by everyone in Babylon. You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. The crushing of the statue by a stone mountain alludes to the story of the golden calf, and is a message of hope to the Judeans that God will eventually crush their Greek oppressors. Nebuchadnezzar became very angry and called for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He forgot about the notable providences related to the dream of the big image, and he also forgot that Israels God had clarified the meaning of the image through his servant Daniel.6 The symbolic representation, through which God had revealed to the king and his people his aim for the nations of the earth, was going to be used to glorify human power. Whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. They will do right whether God delivers them or not. WebDaniel 3:1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. There is freedom in the fiery furnace. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever! They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live for ever. This generation passes into Hades on their own as a direct result of their violent tendencies. Anyone who breaks this law will be burned alive in a furnace. He said to his advisers, Didnt we throw three men, bound, into the fire? Yes, of course, Your Majesty, they replied to the king. Greek poet, Hesiod, in the opening section of his Works and Days,[11] which divides human history into epochs, assigning each a metal (lns. David Pellauer (Atlanta : John Knox Press, 1979), 49. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? WebThe golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Zeus eventually removes this generation, who live on as spirits in the underworld. [17] See discussion in Yair Zakovitch, : - [I will Utter Riddles from Ancient Times: Riddles and Dream Riddles in Biblical Narrative] (Tel Aviv: Am Oved, 2005), 50. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. The King of Assyria wrote Hezekiah, Dont let your God, whom you trust, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. While amusing himself by watching the fire, Nebuchadnezzar suddenly bolted from his seat. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Music is powerful, affecting us deeply, for good or bad. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. Now people, nations, and those who spoke every language were there. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. The earth beast rose up and operated under the authority of the sea beast and caused images like Nebuchadnezzar's to be built and worshipped. Seeing the Letter Tet in a Dream: 9th Anniversary, Study the Torah with Academic Scholarship, By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use, The Statue in Nebuchadnezzars Dream and the Golden Calf, https://thetorah.com/article/the-statue-in-nebuchadnezzars-dream-and-the-golden-calf. But even if he doesnt, it wouldnt make a bit of difference, O king. If you bow down and worship the statue I made, that will be good. There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Look! Nebuchadnezzar shouted. Read the Bible, discover plans, and seek God every day. Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, we dont need to give you an answer to this question. Lamentations reveals that, as the Divine Warrior, the Lord poured out His anger on the city of Jerusalem. But the gold statue probably reflected the human image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream a few years earlier. and ends at the Second Coming. Music invigorates our feelings, and allows us to express sentiments which the words by themselves fall short of expressing. (28-30) Verses 1-7 In the height of the image, about thirty yards, probably is included a pedestal, and most likely it was only covered For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. ), though scholars believe it derives from a much more ancient source. I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods., King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. If you throw us into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from the furnace. Tear-stained eyes see the Lords beauty most clearly. Then these [three] men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their turbans, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever! Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. d (Arabic: , d) is an ancient tribe mentioned frequently in the Qurn.. He set it up on the Dura plain in the province of Babylon. In the final section of the book of Micah, God's relationship to His people is presented as. Spreading the RemainsWe saw above that Moses spreads the remains of the Golden Calf by throwing the powder into the nearby brook. Dr. Naama Golan is a Lecturer in the Department of Biblical Studies, Kibbutzim College of Education and Herzog College. Several literary connections between Daniel 2 and the story of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32 and Deuteronomy 9 imply that the author of Daniel 2 was purposefully alluding to this story: Golden StatuesThe obvious connection between the two stories is that both are problematic statues made of gold, which stand in opposition to Gods kingdom.