How did ancient Oriental kings treat people who failed to fulfill their requests?
Ancient Oriental kings were ruthless. When individuals could not fulfill what the king asked, the king would put them to death. King Nebuchadnezzar, for example, became furious and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed because they could not recover his dream.
Les explains that these ancient Oriental kings, including Nebuchadnezzar, were ruthless. If somebody could not fulfill what they asked him to fulfill, they would put him to death. Nebuchadnezzar, agitated by a terrifying dream, demanded that his magicians not only interpret the dream but also tell him what the dream was. When they could not, he became angry and very furious and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. The decree went forth that the wise men should be slain, and Daniel and his fellows were sought because they were in the same kettle of fish as far as Nebuchadnezzar was concerned.