Question

In the book of Daniel (chapters 1-3), it speaks about four youths taken captive and pressed into the king¹s service. Yet, in chapter three when everyone is commanded to bow down and worship the image, the passage only mentions three who did not. Daniel is not included.

My questions are: (1) Where was Daniel? (2) Why didn't Daniel have to bow down to the image? And, (3) why didn¹t Daniel come to the defense of the three?

Answer

Daniel was considered as a deity on his own, by Nebuchadnetzar. Therefore, they were afraid to involve him, lest the King would reject totally their reports on the other three. Daniel wisely did not endanger his own life as well, and stayed away - (source: "Ibn Ezra" and "Metzudot David" Daniel 3:12).