Sekudlule isikhathi esithile uNebhukhadinezari ephuphe isithombe, wenza isithombe segolide esikhulu. Wasibeka egcekeni laseDura wasebiza bonke abantu abaqakathekileyo elizweni. UShadreki, uMeshaki lo-Abhediniko labo babizwa. Inkosi yasisithi: ‘Nxa lingavele lizwe ukukhala kwamachacho libokuthi mbo phansi lisikhonze isithombe. Loba ngubani ongasoze asikhothamele uzaphoselwa emlilweni omkhulu.’ AmaHebheru amathathu ayezasikhothamela yini isithombe leso kumbe ayezakhonza uJehova kuphela?

Inkosi yasisithi kudlalwe umculo. Wonke umuntu wasikhothamela isithombe leso ngaphandle kukaShadreki, uMeshaki lo-Abhediniko. Amanye amadoda akunanzelela lokhu asesiyatshela inkosi athi: ‘AmaHebheru lawana amathathu awazange asikhothamele isithombe.’ UNebhukhadinezari wawabiza wasesithi kuwo: ‘Ngizalinika elinye ithuba lokuthi lisikhonze isithombe. Nxa lingayekela, ngizaliphosela emlilweni. Akula nkulunkulu ozalikhulula.’ Amphendula athi: ‘Ungasiniki elinye ithuba. UNkulunkulu wethu uzasikhulula. Lanxa engayekela, kasisoze sisikhonze isithombe.’

UNebhukhadinezari wazonda kakhulu. Watshela izinceku zakhe wathi: ‘Baselani umlilo ukuze utshise kakhulu.’ Wasetshela amasotsha akhe wathi:  ‘Bophani amadoda la liwaphosele emlilweni.’ Umlilo wawutshisa kakhulu okokuthi amasotsha ahle afa ngesikhathi ebaphosela emlilweni. AmaHebheru amathathu awela emlilweni. Kodwa kwathi uNebhukhadinezari ekhangela phakathi, wabona kulamadoda amane ayezihambela. Wesaba wathi ezikhulwini zakhe: ‘Kasiphoselanga amadoda amathathu yini emlilweni? Ngibona amane, futhi eyinye yawo ingathi yingilosi.’

UNebhukhadinezari wasondela eduze komlilo wasememeza wathi: ‘Phumani zinceku zikaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke.’ Abantu bonke bamangala bebona bephuma bengatshanga. Inwele lezigqoko zabo kwakungatshanga futhi babenganuki intuthu.

UNebhukhadinezari wathi: ‘Mkhulu uNkulunkulu kaShadreki, uMeshaki lo-Abhediniko. Uthume ingilosi yakhe yabavikela. Akulankulunkulu ofanana laye.’

Uzimisele yini ukuhlala uthembekile kuJehova loba sekutheni njengamaHebheru amathathu?