Naturally the king became very angry to see that someone dared to disobey him, and asked for them to be brought before him immediately. Since they were part of his personal staff he was willing to give them one more chance to save themselves. He told them that the band would play again, and they had to bow down this time. He also warned them that if they still disobeyed him he would have them thrown alive into a fiery furnace.

Their reply showed their allegiance to God above all, and their trust and confidence in Him whatever happened. They replied to the king that they believed that their God was quite able to deliver them from the fire. But since they didn't know what exactly God would do, they also said that even if they were to die in the fire, they would still not bow down to this image. As Hebrew young men they knew that it would be totally against God to bow down to anyone or anything else.

As may be expected, this made the king more furious than ever. He ordered the soldiers to catch these three men and throw them into the fiery furnace, after making sure that the furnace was made seven times hotter. As these soldiers carried them to the furnace the fire was so hot that these soldiers were burnt to death. But as the three men fell into the fire, the ropes that tied them became loose and fell away, and they stood up in the fire unscathed by the fire. Not even one of their hairs was burnt! But, wonder of all, King Nebuchadnezzar looked at the furnace and he saw one more person inside the fire who looked like a god!

The king was both amazed and in fear. He called for the men to come out of the fire, and then there was not even a smell of fire on them. The king made a declaration that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego was the true God.