The officer, faithful to his charge, was soon on his way to summon the wise men to appear before the king.
It was not long before a number of the Chaldeans stood in the presence of the king, ready to learn his will and do his pleasure.
“Are ye able to give me the correct interpretation of a wonderful dream?” asked the king, in a doubtful tone.
“We surely can, O king!” replied the chief of the wise men; “we derive our knowledge from the gods, and the interpretation of the dream must be sure.”
“But what proof do your gods give of their own existence?” asked the king, looking sternly on the chief.
“Our gods made the world, O king!”
“Some gods, or God, made the world; but why not the God of Israel? Can you point to any miraculous interference of your gods in the affairs of mortals? If I have forgotten my dream, can ye, through your gods, restore it? And if, in case ye fail, I should cast you all into a fiery furnace, would your gods preserve you unhurt in the midst of the fire? Answer me!”
“Thy servants,” said the trembling magician, “from their youth up have been taught to reverence and adore the gods of Chaldea. That there is a God in Israel, we are ready to admit; and far be it from us to hide from the king our convictions that this God has given us infallible proofs of his power. This we do not admit before the populace: but why should we dissemble before our king? Since the issuing of thy decree on the plains of Dura, we have never said aught against the God of the Hebrews. Let thy servants, I pray thee, find favor in thy sight, and deal not with us harshly!”
“At this time,” said the king, “ye are not required to restore a lost dream. I have the vision in all its parts, and, if ye are able, ye may give me the interpretation. If ye are not able, confess your ignorance, or, by the God of Israel, I will pour my vengeance on every head!”
The king then carefully rehearsed his dream in their presence. When he had finished he arose, and, approaching the head magician, with a look that made him tremble, he asked: