The Legal System in Babylon

Daniel 2–3 depicts King Nebuchadnezzar as the ultimate judge who is free to order execution without counsel (Dan 2:5, 9; 3:15). Wiseman argues this was expected from kings of ancient Mesopotamia, who had strong senses of divine appointment (Wiseman, Nebuchadrezzar and Babylon, 99). According to Babylonian documents, Nebuchadnezzar had a passion for justice and built up the Babylonian court system (Wiseman, Nebuchadrezzar and Babylon, 99). The narrative of the fiery furnace illustrates how the legal system worked during his reign. The process takes this form:

• issuance of decree (Dan 3:1–6);

• offense observed (implied in Dan 3:12);

• accusation (Dan 3:12);

• opportunity to reform (Dan 3:13–15);

• testimony by the defendants (Dan 3:16–18);

• verdict (Dan 3:19–20);

• application of the sentence (Dan 3:21–23).

A unique feature of this account is that King Nebuchadnezzar offered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego an opportunity to reform. Collins suggests they may have been given this opportunity due to their high rank (Collins, Daniel, 187). Hill suggests it is because the king had previously found them useful (Hill, “Daniel,” 80).