Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego they were assigned Chaldean names, so that Hananiah became Shadrach (שַׁדְרַך "Šaḏraḵ"), Mishael became Meshach (מֵישַׁ֖ךְ "Mêšaḵ") and Azariah became Abednego (עֲבֵ֣דנְג֑וֹ "‘Ǎḇêḏ-Nəḡō") . Shadrach's name is possibly derived from Shudur Aku "Command of Aku (the moon god)", Meshach is probably a variation of Mi-sha-aku, meaning "Who is as Aku is?", and Abednego is either "Slave of the god Nebo/Nabu" or a variation of Abednergal, "Slave of the god Nergal." The Chaldean names are related to the Hebrew names, but the name of a heathen god has replaced that of Yahweh. The word "Dura" (where the statue is erected) means
Thomas Shadrach James Thomas Shadrach James Thomas Shadrach James (1 September 1859 – 9 January 1946) was a Methodist lay preacher, linguist and herbalist. However, it was as a teacher, first at Maloga Aboriginal Mission and later at Cummeragunja, that he is remembered in history. Through this role, he equipped and influenced generations of Aboriginal activists, including Margaret Tucker, Pastor Doug Nicholls, George Patten, Jack Patten, William Cooper and Bill Onus. On his birth certificate, Thomas James is recorded as being "Thomas Shadrach Peersahib". His father was denoted as James Peersahib (in other documents, this name is Peersaib). And his mother was Esther