Abed Nego
“Servant of Nebo or servant of Ishtar (the shining one)”
Summary
One of the three Hebrew companions of Daniel who was miraculously delivered from Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace after refusing to worship the golden image.
☩Identity and Name
Abed-Nego was the Babylonian name given to Azariah, one of four young Jewish nobles of royal blood taken captive to Babylon. The name likely means 'servant of Nebo' (the Babylonian god) or may be a translation of 'servant of Ishtar,' the Babylonian goddess of the morning star. This renaming was part of Nebuchadnezzar's attempt to assimilate the Jewish youths into Babylonian culture.
☩Faithfulness in Diet
Along with Daniel, Shadrach, and Meshach, Abed-Nego refused to defile himself with the king's provisions and instead chose to eat pulse and drink water. God blessed their faithfulness, causing them to appear healthier than those who ate the king's food.
☩Position and Service
After successfully interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel requested that Abed-Nego and his companions be appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, a position of significant administrative responsibility.
☩The Fiery Furnace
When Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden image on the plain of Dura and commanded all to worship it under penalty of death, Abed-Nego and his companions refused to bow. Cast into a furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, they were miraculously preserved by one whose appearance was 'like a son of the gods.' They emerged unharmed, without even the smell of fire upon them.
☩Legacy
The faithfulness of these three is commemorated in Hebrews 11:34, which speaks of those who 'quenched the violence of fire.' Their story demonstrates that God can deliver His servants from any danger, and that faithfulness to God takes precedence over obedience to earthly authorities when these conflict.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Abed-nego," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Abed-Nego," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Abednego," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Abednego," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).