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Daniel Chapter
Three
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 3
In
this chapter an account is given of a golden image made by Nebuchadnezzar; its
size; and where placed, Daniel 3:1, a
summons to all his princes, governors, and officers, to attend the dedication
of it, Daniel 3:2, a
proclamation commanding men of all nations to fall down and worship it, at
hearing the sound of music, Daniel 3:4, an
accusation of the Jews to the king, particularly Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, for not worshipping it, Daniel 3:8, the
king's sending for them in rage, and threatening to cast them into a fiery furnace
if they continued to disobey his will, Daniel 3:13, their
answer, which showed an inflexible resolution at all events not to comply with
it, Daniel 3:16 the
king's order to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, and cast them
into it, which was executed; the consequence of which was, they that cast them
in were destroyed through the vehement heat of the furnace, but the three Jews
were unhurt, Daniel 3:19.
Nebuchadnezzar's amazement at the sight of four persons, instead of three; and
these loose, walking in the midst of the fire without hurt; and one of them
like the Son of God, which he observed to his counsellors, Daniel 3:24, upon
which he called to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to come out of the furnace,
which they did in the presence of his princes, governors, and officers, having
received not the least harm in their persons or clothes, Daniel 3:26 and
then the king, praising the God of the Jews, published an edict that none
should speak against him on pain of death; and restored the three men to their
former dignity, Daniel 3:28.
Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar
the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and
its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of
Babylon.
YLT 1Nebuchadnezzar the king
hath made an image of gold, its height sixty cubits, its breadth six cubits; he
hath raised it up in the valley of Dura, in the province of Babylon;
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold,.... Not of
solid gold; but either of a plate of gold, and hollow within; or of wood
overlaid with gold; for otherwise it must have took up a prodigious quantity of
gold to make an image of such dimensions as follow; this be ordered his
statuaries or workmen to make for him; whether this image was for himself, or
his father Nabopolassar, or for his chief god Bel, or as a new deity, is not
easy to say; however, it was made for religious worship: the reasons that moved
him to it cannot be ascertained; it might be out of pride and vanity, and to
set forth the glory and stability of his monarchy, as if be was not only the
head of gold, but as an image all of gold; and to contradict the interpretation
of his dream, and avert the fate of his empire signified by it; or to purge
himself from the jealousies his subjects had entertained of him, of
relinquishing the religion of his country, and embracing the Jewish religion,
by his praise of the God of Israel, and the promotion of Jews to places of
trust and honour; or this might be done by the advice of his nobles, to
establish an uniformity of religion in his kingdom, and to prevent the growth
of Judaism; and it may be to lay a snare for Daniel and his companions; of
which we have an instance of the like kind in chapter six. When this image was
made is not certain; some think in a short time after his dream before related;
if so, he soon forgot it, and the God that had revealed it. The Septuagint and
Arabic versions place it in the eighteenth year of his reign; and some are of opinion
that it was after his victories over the Jews, Tyre, Egypt, and others; and
that being flushed therewith, in the pride of his heart, ordered this image to
be made; and out of the spoils he brought with him from the various countries
he had conquered. Mr. WhistonF21Chronological Tables, cent. 10.
places this fact in the year of the world 3417 A.M., and before Christ 587; and
so Dr. PrideauxF23Connexion, &c. par 1. B. 2. p. 87. , who makes
it to be in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, agreeably to the above
versions. Mr. BedfordF24Scripture Chronology, p. 709. puts it in the
year before Christ 585:
whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six
cubits; a common cubit being half a yard, it was thirty yards high, and
three yards broad; but HerodotusF25Clio, sive l. 1. c. 178. says the
king's cubit in Babylon was three fingers larger than the usual one; and,
according to that, this image must be thirty five yards high, and three yards
and a half broad; but since there is so great a disproportion between the
height and breadth, some have thought that the height includes the pedestal on
which it stood; and, allowing twelve cubits for that, the height of the image
was forty six cubits. Diodorus SiculusF26Bibliothec. Hist. I. 2. p.
98. Ed. Rhod. makes mention of a statue of gold in the temple of Belus, which
Xerxes demolished, which was forty feet high, and contained a thousand
Babylonish talents of gold, which, at the lowest computation, amounts to three
millions and a half of our money; which image Doctor PrideauxF1Connexion,
&c. par. 1. B. 2. p. 103. conjectures was this image of Nebuchadnezzar's;
but this seems not likely, since the one was between thirty and forty yards
high, the other but thirteen or fourteen; the one in the plain of Dura, the
other in the temple of Bel:
he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon; that so it
might be seen of all, and there might be room enough for a vast number of
worshippers together. The Septuagint version calls this place the plain of
Deeira, which some take to be the Deera of PtolemyF2Geograph. l. 6.
c. 3. ; but that is in the province of Susiana; rather this is DurabaF3lbid.
l. 5. c. 20. , which he places near the river Euphrates, in the province of
Babylon. Aben Ezra says, this is the place where the children of Ephraim fell,
and where the Chaldeans slew the Jews when they came into captivity. In the
TalmudF4T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 92. 2. it is said,
"from
the river Eshal unto Rabbath is the valley of Dura;'
in
Arabic, "dauro" signifies "round"; it was a round valley.
The Jews have a notion that this was the valley in the land of Shinar where the
tower of Babel was built; and observe, that
"although
the design of that generation was not accomplished, yet after their times their
punishment was made manifest, in that they said, "let us make us a
name", Genesis 11:4 for
Nebuchadnezzar having wasted and subverted many kingdoms, and destroyed the
sanctuary, thought it possible to put in execution the wicked design of the age
of the dispersion; hence it is said, Daniel 3:1,
"King Nebuchadnezzar made an image, &c. and set it up", בבקעת דורא, "in the valley
of generation", in the province of Babylon, which is the valley spoken of
in Genesis 11:2 what
therefore they could not do, he attempted to do; hence he gathered all the
people to worship the image, which agrees with Genesis 11:4, for
he put a certain vessel of the vessels of the temple on the mouth of it (the
image), on which was engraven the divine name, that he might render ineffectual
the intention of the dispersed generation but the Scripture says, Jeremiah 51:44,
"and I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth
that which he hath swallowed up, and the nations shall not flow together any
more unto him"; for Daniel came and caused that vessel that was swallowed
to be taken out of the mouth of the image, whence it fell, and was broke to
pieces, which is the same as that in Genesis 11:4 F5Kabala
Denudata, par. 1. p. 671. .'
Daniel 3:2 2 And
King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the
administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the
magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication
of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
YLT 2and Nebuchadnezzar the king
hath sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the
honourable judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the
rulers of the province, to come to the dedication of the image that
Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up.
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes,.... He sent
letters, or dispatched messengers, into the several provinces of his empire,
and parts of his dominions, to convene all the peers of his realm, and
governors of provinces, and all officers, civil, military, and religious,
expressed by various names and titles:
the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the
counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces; who are
particularly and distinctly designed is not easy to say. Jacchiades thinks they
answer to the same offices and officers which now obtain in the Turkish empire;
princes are the "bashaws"; governors the "beglerbegs";
captains the "agas" of the janizaries; judges the "kadies";
treasurers the "dephterdaries"; the counsellors the
"alphakies"; and "zayties the sheriffs"; their chief
doctors their "muphties", as L'Empereur; and the rulers of the provinces
the "zangiakies" or "viziers"; but, be they who they will,
they were the principal men of the empire, both in things civil, military, and
ecclesiastic, who were ordered
to come to the dedication of the image, which Nebuchadnezzar the
king had set up; for though it was made and set up, it was not a proper object of
worship till dedicated; and which was done by burning incense, blowing
trumpets, &c. now these great men were gathered together on this occasion,
because of the greater honour done hereby to the king and his image; and also
by their example to engage the populace the more easily to the worship of it;
and likewise as being the representatives of them since they could not all be
collected together in one place; and it may be it was done, as some think, to
ensnare Daniel and his companions. PhilostratusF6De Vita Apollonii,
l. 1. c. 19. makes mention of an officer at Babylon that had the keeping of the
great gate into the city; which some take to be the same with the first sort
here mentioned; who first offered the golden statue of the king to be
worshipped before he would permit any to enter into the city, which perhaps
might take its rise from the worship of this golden image.
Daniel 3:3 3 So
the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers,
the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered
together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up;
and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
YLT 3Then are gathered the
satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the honourable judges, the
treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the province,
to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up: and
they are standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar hath raised up.
Then the princes, the governors, and captains,.... And all
the rest of the officers before mentioned, having received their orders from
the king, in obedience to them,
were gathered together unto the dedication of the image
Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; at great expense, and
with much fatigue and trouble, they came from all parts to attend this great
solemnity:
and they stood before the image Nebuchadnezzar had set up; they stood
and looked at it, and viewed its several parts; they stood and beheld it with
wonder, its richness and largeness; they stood and attended to all the rites
and ceremonies of the dedication of it; they stood and were ready to fall down
and worship it, when the word of command was given; so obsequious were they to
the king's will.
Daniel 3:4 4 Then
a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and
languages,
YLT 4And a crier is calling
mightily: `To you they are saying: O peoples, nations, and languages!
Then an herald cried aloud,.... That his voice might
be heard all over the plain; or if it should be thought that one was not
sufficient to be heard throughout, which probably was the case, and where; so
great a number being assembled together, all could not hear one man, the
singular may be put for the plural; and many being set in different places in
the plain, and speaking different languages, might proclaim when the image was
dedicated, as follows:
to you it is commanded; by the king's authority:
O people, nations, and languages; the several kingdoms,
states, and provinces, that belonged to the Babylonian monarchy, and spoke
different languages, as now represented by their several governors and
officers; as the Armenians, Parthians, Medes, Persians, &c.
Daniel 3:5 5 that at the time you hear the
sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all
kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King
Nebuchadnezzar has set up;
YLT 5at the time that ye hear
the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, the
symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the golden
image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up:
That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,.... So called
of the horn of which it was made; a sort of trumpet; so the Jews had trumpets
of rams' horns:
flute; or pipe, or whistle, so called for its hissing noise; it is used
of the shepherd's pipe or whistle; see Zechariah 10:8,
harp; an instrument of music used by David, and much in use among the
Jews, and other nations;
sackbut; or "sambuca"; which, according to AthenaeusF7Deipnosoph.
I. 4. , was a four stringed instrument, an invention of the Syrians; and StraboF8Geograph.
l. 10. p. 324. , a Greek writer, speaks of it as a barbarous name, as the
eastern ones were reckoned by the Grecians:
psaltery; this seems to be a Greek word, as does the next that follows,
rendered "dulcimer"; but in the original text is
"symphonia"; which does not signify symphony, or a concert or consort
of music, but a particular instrument of music. MaimonidesF9Hilchot
Celim, c. 10. sect. 14. makes mention of it as a musical instrument, among
others; ServiusF11In Virgil. Aeneid. I. 11. calls it an oblique
pipe; and IsidoreF12Originum, l. 3. c. 21. describes it a hollow
piece of wood, with leather stretched upon it, and beat upon with rods or
sticks, something like our drum: the king of Babylon might have Grecian
musicians, or, however, Grecian instruments of music, in his court, as the
Grecians had from the eastern nations:
and all kinds of music; that could be had or
thought of; and this was done in honour to this idol, and to allure carnal
sensual persons to the worship of it, according to the order given:
ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the
king hath set up; when they heard the music sound, immediately they were to repair
to the plain where the image stood, and pay their adoration to it; or to fall
down prostrate in their own houses in honour of it; and perhaps persons were
appointed in all cities and towns throughout the empire to play this music; at
hearing which, all people, nations, and tongues, were to bow down, in token of
their religious regard unto it.
Daniel 3:6 6 and
whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace.”
YLT 6and whoso doth not fall
down and do obeisance, in that hour he is cast into the midst of a burning
fiery furnace.'
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth,.... Who
refuses to worship it, or wilfully neglects it; which would be interpreted a
contempt of it, and of the king's command:
shall in the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace; such as were used to burn stones in for lime, as Jarchi
observes: the music was to draw, the furnace was to drive, men to this
idolatrous worship; the one was to please and sooth the minds of men, and so
allure them to such stupid service; the other to frighten them into obedience.
This is the first time that mention is made of "hours" in the sacred
Scriptures; it was very probably the invention of the Chaldeans or Babylonians;
for HerodotusF13Euterpe, sive l. 2. c. 109. says the Greeks received
the twelve parts of the day from the Babylonians.
Daniel 3:7 7 So
at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and
lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and
languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
YLT 7Therefore at that time,
when all the peoples are hearing the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp,
the sackbut, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, falling down are all the
peoples, nations and languages, doing obeisance to the golden image that
Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up.
Therefore at that time,.... Such a severe edict
being published, threatening with so terrible a punishment:
when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music; not only at Babylon, and
that lived near the plain of Dura, but in all places where it was played:
all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and
worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; what through
love of music, the fear of the furnace, regard to superstition and idolatry,
and to the king's command, men of all nations and languages gave it homage and
worship.
Daniel 3:8 8 Therefore
at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
YLT 8Therefore at that time
drawn near have certain Chaldeans, and accused the Jews;
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near,.... That is,
to King Nebuchadnezzar, either in his palace at Babylon, or more likely in the
plain of Dura:
and accused the Jews; particularly Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, as after mentioned, of not obeying the king's command,
to worship the golden image: these Chaldeans at the time of adoration had their
eyes upon the Jews, particularly those three men, to observe how they would
behave; and as they stood up while the others fell down, they were easily
observed; wherefore they immediately hasten to the king, to give this
information against them; whose places of trust and honour they envied, and now
hoped to be put into them in their place and if these were the Chaldeans, or
some of them, whose lives these men had been the means of saving, as is
probable, they acted a very ungrateful part. Should it be asked, how came these
three men to be present? it may be answered, they came here in obedience to the
king's orders, as his officers, who had summoned them to this place; which they
judged their duty to do, though they determined not to worship his image,
should he require it; or they came here on purpose to bear their testimony
against such idolatry. No mention is made of Daniel; very probably he was not
here; for what reasons cannot be said; however, no accusation is laid against
him; perhaps he was too great to be meddled with, being high in the king's
favour.
Daniel 3:9 9 They
spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
YLT 9they have answered, yea,
they are saying to Nebuchadnezzar the king, `O king, to the ages live!
They spake and said to Nebuchadnezzar,.... Having
got access unto him, and within his hearing, they expressed themselves in the
following manner:
O king, live for ever; this they said to show
their fidelity and hearty attachment to him, and their regard to his welfare,
and the continuance of his life; and the rather to ingratiate themselves into
his affections, and gain audience of him; See Gill on Daniel 2:4.
Daniel 3:10 10 You,
O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn,
flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music,
shall fall down and worship the gold image;
YLT 10Thou, O king, hast made a
decree that every man who doth hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the
harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, doth
fall down and do obeisance to the golden image;
Thou, O king, hast made a decree,.... According to his own
mind and will, and which he had published as such to his subjects:
that every man; let him be who he will, high or low, rich
or poor, in whatsoever station or condition:
that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music; such as had been just
then blown or played on:
shall fall down and worship the golden image; which the
king had ordered to be made and set up, and now dedicated, and had been
worshipped by men of all ranks.
Daniel 3:11 11 and
whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
YLT 11and whoso doth not fall
down and do obeisance, is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth,.... The
image; the above is the decree, this that follows the sanction of it:
that he should be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace; See Gill on Daniel 3:6.
Daniel 3:12 12 There
are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard
to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have
set up.”
YLT 12There are certain Jews whom
thou hast appointed over the work of the province of Babylon -- Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego, these men have not made of thee, O king, [any] regard;
thy gods they are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up --
are not making obeisance.'
There are certain Jews,.... Men, by birth, by
nation, and religion, despicable, foreigners, exiles, and captives; this they
observe by way of contempt, and tacitly suggest that they were never worthy of
the king's regard, and improper persons to be put in places of profit and
trust, and that the king had done a wrong thing in advancing them:
whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon; not to see
that the streets, ways, and walls, were kept in order, as Saadiah observes; for
this is mentioned as an aggravation of their crime, that, being set in such
high places, should be guilty of such ingratitude to the king, and set such a
bad example to his subjects:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; by name; they say
nothing of the common people of the Jews, who either were not present, being
employed in a servile manner, or were below their notice; nor of Daniel, who
was above them, and out of their reach, and whom the king himself, as Aben Ezra
observes, had ordered an oblation to be offered to; or perhaps he was not
there, being sick, or on the king's business elsewhere; for that he was
present, and worshipped, can never be imagined by any that know his character.
The Jews, who do not show all the respect that is due unto Daniel, sayF14T.
Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 93. 1. some very idle and foolish things of him, as
reasons why he was not present at this time. It is asked,
"where
did Daniel go? says Rab, to dig a large river in Tiberias; some copies read, in
a mountain; but Samuel says, to fetch the seed of herbs, food for beasts; and
R. Jochanan says, to fetch swine from Alexandria in Egypt there were three in
the consultation about his absence at this time, the holy blessed God,
Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel himself. The holy blessed God said, let Daniel be
gone, that it may not be said, they (the three children) were delivered by his
merits; Daniel said, I will be gone from hence, that I may not fulfil that,
"the graven images of their gods shall ye burn"; Nebuchadnezzar said,
let Daniel be absent, that it may not be said he burnt his God in the fire.'
These
men, O king, have not regarded thee; showed no respect to his person and
authority; they disobeyed his orders, and were guilty of rebellion against him,
and contempt of majesty: the proof follows,
they serve not thy gods; whom the king and the
nation worshipped, as Bel, Nebo, Merodach, and others:
nor worship the golden image, which thou hast set up; they did not
bow down to it, in reverence of it, as had been ordered; this they knew would
he most provoking to the king.
Daniel 3:13 13 Then
Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
YLT 13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in
anger and fury, hath said to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Then
these men have been brought in before the king.
Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury,.... Which did
not became him as a man, much less as a king, and still less as engaged in
devotion and religion;
commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; that is,
immediately before him; who very probably were not afar off: he did not order
them in his wrath and fury to be slain directly, as he did the wise men and
soothsayers in another case; but to be brought before him, and examined first,
that he might know the truth of these allegations against them; which shows,
amidst all his rage, he retained still some respect for them, and esteem of
them:
then they brought these men before the king; which they
had not much trouble to do, being very ready to come and answer for themselves,
and give an account of their conduct, and their reason for it.
Daniel 3:14 14 Nebuchadnezzar
spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that
you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
YLT 14Nebuchadnezzar hath
answered and said to them, `Is [it] a laid plan, O Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-Nego -- my gods ye are not serving, and to the golden image that I have
raised up ye are not doing obeisance?
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, is it true,.... What I
have heard of you, what you are charged with and accused of; surely it cannot
be; so Aben Ezra and Saadiah interpret the word as we do, and all the Oriental
versions: it is only used in this place: it is expressed by way of admiration,
as Jacchiades observes; it being incredible to the king, what he could never
believe, unless it appeared plain in his own eyes. SomeF15הצדא "nunquid desolatio?" Montanus. So
Jacchiades, and some in Ben Melech. render it, is it a "desolation?"
so Jarchi; is my decree such? or should you not obey it? was this suffered,
nothing but disorder and desolation would follow in the kingdom: or, "is
it of purpose?" as othersF16"An certo consilio?"
Junius & Tremellius; "sive ex proposito?" Piscator; so Rabbenu
Hai in Ben Melech; "an de industria?" Cocceius; "num revera, vel
studiose?" Michaelis. ; have you done this willingly and knowingly, or
through imprudence and inadvertency? if the latter, it is pardonable; if not,
it cannot be borne with. De Dieu, from the Syriac use of the word, renders it,
"is it a joke?" are you serious, and in good earnest, or in joke,
"that ye worship not my gods? or do you mock me and them?"
O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; on whom I have conferred
so many favours, raised from a low to a high estate, and yet used by you in
this manner:
do ye not serve my gods; one would think he had
no need to have asked this question; since he must needs know, that, by their
nation and religion, they served only one God, and could serve no other; and
that by their daily practice they never did, in which they were indulged:
nor worship the golden image that I have set up? it is for the
sake of this the question is put; this was the thing his heart was set upon;
and such was his pride, that he could not bear any control in it.
Daniel 3:15 15 Now
if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre,
and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and
worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship,
you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And
who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
YLT 15Now, lo, ye are ready, so
that at the time that ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the
sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down
and do obeisance to the image that I have made! -- and lo, ye do no obeisance
-- in that hour ye are cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; who is
that God who doth deliver you out of my hands?'
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye shall hear,.... The
meaning is, that if they were disposed in mind, which the king was very
desirous they should, both for his own honour, and for their safety, for whom
he had a regard; and were willing to comply with his orders, and readily yield
obedience to his will, and worship his idol; the following would be a signal to
them, and all would be well with them: or it may be rendered, "when now ye
shall be, that at what time ye shall hear"F17הן איתיכון עתידין
"si futuri estis", Gejerus. ; for the word signifies future, as well
as "ready", and is by some so translated; and the sense is, when it
shall be, or for the future, that they should hear
the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and
dulcimer, and all kinds of music; which was played not
once only, but perhaps at certain times every day, and designed to be
continued:
ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; it is well;
so doing the king's wrath would be appeased, their lives would be preserved,
and they continued in his favour, and in their honourable posts:
but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the
midst of a burning fiery furnace; immediately, without any
delay; no reprieve will be granted, and much less a pardon:
and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? he knew their
confidence in the God of Israel, which he attempts to break and remove; he
foresaw the objection they would make, which he endeavours to anticipate by this
proud and vain boast, forgetting what he himself had said, Daniel 2:47.
Daniel 3:16 16 Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we
have no need to answer you in this matter.
YLT 16Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-Nego have answered, yea, they are saying to the king Nebuchadnezzar, `We
have no need concerning this matter to answer thee.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king,.... In a mild
and gentle manner, without affronting his majesty, or insulting his gods, and
yet without the least degree of servile fear or fawning flattery:
O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter; about
worshipping the image; we are not solicitous about a choice of words, or in
what manner to draw up our answer, it is ready in our mouths; we have no need
to take time and consider of this matter, and think what to say, we are at a
point about it: as thou art peremptory in thy will to have thine image
worshipped, we are as resolute, as determined, never to worship it; so that
there is no need to spend time in a debate about it; thou art come to a
conclusion, and so are we: or in this matter, about the power of our God to
deliver, we are not solicitous about an answer to that; we leave him to defend
himself, and his own power, against such insults upon him.
Daniel 3:17 17 If
that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
YLT 17Lo, it is; our God whom we
are serving, is able to deliver us from a burning fiery furnace; and from thy
hand, O king, He doth deliver.
If it be so,.... That we must be cast into the fiery furnace, as thou hast
threatened:
our God whom we serve; for though they did not
serve the gods of the Babylonians, they did not live without God in the world;
they believed in the one true God, the God of Israel, their covenant God and
Father; whom they worshipped, had an interest in, and who had and would have a
regard for them: he, say they,
is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; either to
prevent their being cast into it, or to preserve them unhurt in it, and to
bring them safe out of it: instances of his power in other cases, such as the
passage of the Israelites through the Red sea safe, when their enemies were
drowned, with others, confirmed their faith in this:
and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king; they might
have a well grounded hope and persuasion of deliverance, arising partly from
former instances of the divine power and goodness in such like cases; and
partly from the consideration of the glory of God, which would be greatly
conspicuous herein; and chiefly because of the king's defiance of God, and
blasphemy against him, which they had reason to believe would be taken notice
of; for it does not appear that they had any foresight of certain deliverance,
or any secret intimation of it to them, or a full assurance of it, as is
evident by what follows:
Daniel 3:18 18 But
if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor
will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
YLT 18And lo -- not! be it known
to thee, O king, that thy gods we are not serving, and to the golden image thou
hast raised up we do no obeisance.'
But if not,.... If our God does not think fit to exert his power, and
deliver us, which we are well assured he is able to do; if it is not his will,
we are content, we are resigned unto it:
be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, be it as it
will, whether we are delivered or not; we are not sure of the one, but we are
at a point as to the other:
nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up; come life,
come death, we are ready; we had rather die than sin: they were all of one
mind, and agreed in this matter; a noble instance of spiritual fortitude and
courage!
Daniel 3:19 19 Then
Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the
furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
YLT 19Then Nebuchadnezzar hath
been full of fury, and the expression of his face hath been changed concerning
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; he answered and said to heat the furnace
seven times above that which it is seen to be heated;
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury,.... Nettled
at the answer given him; perceiving his threats made no impression on these
three men, and that they were resolutely determined at all events not to obey
his will:
and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego; not only to what it was in times past, when they were his
favourites, and he smiled upon them; but with respect to what it was while they
were under examination, and he was trying to bring them to his will; when
finding it impracticable, fury rose up, and showed itself in the furrows and
frowns of his forehead; in the sharpness of his nose; in his sparkling eyes,
foaming mouth, and gnashing teeth, and that general redness his face was
covered with:
therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the
furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated; this seems to
be a furnace for this purpose, and where it was usual to burn malefactors; it
being a common punishment with the Chaldeans; see Jeremiah 29:22 the
order was to put seven times more fuel in the furnace, that it might be so much
the hotter, and burn so much the fiercer; which order of the king shows indeed
the greatness of his wrath and fury, but at the same time that it had
transported him out of his sense and judgment; since so fierce a fire was the
better for the three men, supposing them to have died as he intended; who would
have been the sooner dispatched by it, and so not suffer so much pain and
torment as in a slow fire, or less heat; but this was overruled by the
providence of God, that so it should be, that the miracle of their walking in
it unsinged and unhurt, and their deliverance out of it, might appear the
greater.
Daniel 3:20 20 And
he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery
furnace.
YLT 20and to certain mighty men
who [are] in his force he hath said to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego,
to cast into the burning fiery furnace.
And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army,.... The most
famous for courage of mind, and strength of body, that were in all his army:
to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego either their
hands or their feet, or both; unless it can be thought that they were all three
bound together in one bundle, and so cast into the furnace; which is not
improbable, as Gejerus observes; seeing the king afterwards wondered to see
them walk separately in the furnace: there was no need to bind them, for they
would not have resisted; and if he ordered this to secure them from the power
of their God, it was vain and foolish:
and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace: if they were
all three bound together, it required some able bodied men to take them up and
cast them in, especially if the furnace was above them; though it is more
probable that it was a more depressed place, or below them, and so the cast was
more easy.
Daniel 3:21 21 Then
these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other
garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
YLT 21Then these men have been
bound in their coats, their tunics, and their turbans, and their clothing, and
have been cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Then these men were bound in their coats,.... Their
upper coats, cloaks, or mantles, as Aben Ezra and Jacchiades; though, according
to the use of the word in the Arabic language, the "femoralia"F18בסרבליהון "cum femoralibus", Pagninus; so Syr.
Ar.; "cum braccis suis", V. L. or breeches are meant:
their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments: their
turbants on their heads, which were usually wore in those countries; and their
stockings and shoes, and other under garments, as waistcoats and shirts; which
through haste or negligence, or with design, were kept on them, to make their
torment the greater; but were intended by the Lord to make the miracle the more
conspicuous. According to CocceiusF19Expos. Dict. Chald. Colossians 1022. rad פטיש. and
BynaeusF20De Calceis Hebr. l. 2. c. 10. sect 4,5, 6,7. , the first
of these words signifies the outward covering of the body, as cloaks, &c.;
the second the covering of the feet, as socks, shoes, and sandals; and the
third the covering of the head, as caps, turbants, helmets, &c.; the last
the inner garments that were under the upper ones:
and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace; in the manner
and circumstances before related.
Daniel 3:22 22 Therefore,
because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the
flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-Nego.
YLT 22Therefore, because that the
word of the king is urgent, and the furnace heated exceedingly, those men who
have taken up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego -- killed them hath the spark of
the fire.
And therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent,.... Or was
ordered to be obeyed in haste, and with expedition and dispatch, hence the men
were cast into the furnace with clothes on; or those that cast them were not so
careful of themselves:
and the furnace exceeding hot; being heated seven times
more than usual:
the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego; which came out of the furnace, being so excessive hot, and the
smoke along with it; so that when those men took up the three children, and
brought them so near to it as was necessary to cast them in, the flame and
smoke catched their breath, and suffocated them; who might be men that advised
the king to such cruel measures, or however were very ready, out of ill will to
these good men, to execute them, and therefore righteously perished in their
sins: in the Apocrypha it is said, that the flame issued out forty nine cubits
above the furnace.
"So
that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits.' Song of
the Three Holy Children 1:24
Daniel 3:23 23 And
these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the
midst of the burning fiery furnace.
YLT 23And these three men,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, have fallen down in the midst of the burning
fiery furnace -- bound.
And these three men fell down bound into the midst of the burning
fiery furnace. The fire not so much as destroying what they were bound with, and
much less them; but being bound they fell, and there they lay for the present,
unbound and alive; when those that cast them in were destroyed. In the
Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, follow sixty seven verses,
containing the song of Azariah and his companions in the furnace, which are not
in the Hebrew text.
Daniel 3:24 24 Then
King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke,
saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of
the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
YLT 24Then Nebuchadnezzar the
king hath been astonished, and hath risen in haste; he hath answered and said
to his counsellors, `Have we not cast three men into the midst of the fire --
bound?' They have answered and are saying to the king, `Certainly, O king.'
Then Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, At the burning of those
that cast the three men into the furnace, as Jacchiades; or he might be seized
with a panic, and his spirits filled with fear and dread, the wordF21תוה "expavit", Munster, Piscator, Michaelis;
"trepidavit", Gejerus; so Ben Melech from the Targum on Gen. xxvii.
33; "trepidus", Junius & Tremellius. is by some said to signify,
and this from the immediate hand of God:
and rose up in haste; from the place where he
was, and went to the mouth of the furnace, to see what was become of those that
were cast into it:
and spake and said unto his counsellors; who had
advised him to do what he had done, out of envy and ill will to these Jews:
did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? that is, was
there not an order of council for it? and was it not done according to it?
they answered and said, true, O King; it was
certainly so: thus they are brought to bear a testimony to the truth of this;
it was not only the king that gave the orders, and saw them obeyed, but his
counsellors also; and which they own, and serves to corroborate the truth of
the miracle.
Daniel 3:25 25 “Look!”
he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they
are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”[a]
YLT 25He answered and hath said,
`Lo, I am seeing four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they
have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth [is] like to a son of the gods.'
He answered and said, lo, I see four men loose,.... Not bound
as the three were, when cast in; but quite at liberty in their hands and feet,
and separate from one another. As this fiery furnace may be an emblem of the
fiery trials and afflictive dispensations the children of God pass through in
this world, being not joyous, but grievous to the flesh, though useful to purge
and purify; so this and some other circumstances attending these good men in
the furnace are applicable to the saints in such cases; for though afflictions
are sometimes themselves called cords, with which men are said to be bound, yet
by means of them they are loosed from other things from the power and
prevalence of sin over them; from the world, and the things of it, they
sometimes too much cleave and are glued unto; from a spirit of bondage, and
from doubts and fears; their hearts under them being comforted and enlarged
with the love of God; he knowing, visiting, and choosing them in the furnace of
affliction; or making known himself to them, his love and choice of them;
whereby their souls are set at liberty, and the graces of his Spirit are drawn
forth into a lively exercise, through his love being shed abroad in them.
Walking in the midst of the fire; the furnace being large
enough to walk in, and where they took their walks as in a garden; nor were
they concerned to come out of it; nor uneasy at being in it; the violence of
the fire being quenched, as the apostle says, referring to this instance, Hebrews 11:34. Saadiah
says, the angel Gabriel, who is over the hail, came and cooled the fire of the
furnace. So afflictions are a path to walk in, the narrow way to eternal life,
through which all must enter the kingdom of heaven, of which there will be an
end. Walking in it supposes strength, which God gives his people at such
seasons; and when they have his presence they are unconcerned; none or these
things move them, nor can they separate them from the love of Christ; they walk
on with pleasure and delight, sing the praises of God, as did Paul and Silas in
a prison, and as many martyrs have done in the flames: conversing with Christ,
and with his people, they pass on, and pass through the more cheerfully, and
are not anxious about their deliverance, but leave it with God to work it in
his own time and way; nay, are ready to say with the disciples, it is good for
them to be here; and indeed it was better for these good men to be with Christ
in the fiery furnace, than to be with Nebuchadnezzar in his palace without him.
And they have no hurt; either in their bodies,
or in their garments, neither of them being burnt; they suffered no pain in the
one, nor loss in the other. Afflictions do no hurt to the people of God; not to
their persons, which are safe in Christ, and to whom he is a hiding place and
covert, as from the storm and tempest, so from the force of fire, that it shall
not kindle upon them to hurt them; nor to their graces, which are tried,
refined, and brightened hereby; faith is strengthened, hope is encouraged, and
love made to abound. All the afflictions of the saints are in love, and are
designed for good, and do work together for good to them that love God; they
are sometimes for their temporal, and often for their spiritual good, and
always work for them an exceeding weight of glory.
And the form of the fourth is like the Son of God; like one of
the angels, who are called the sons of God; so Jarchi, Saadiah, and Jacchiades;
but many of the ancient Christian writers interpret it of Christ the Son of
God, whom Nebuchadnezzar, though a Heathen prince, might have some knowledge of
from Daniel and other Jews in his court, of whom he had heard them speak as a
glorious Person; and this being such an one, he might conclude it was he, or
one like to him; and it is highly probable it was he, since it was not unusual
for him to appear in a human form, and to be present with his people, as he
often is with them, and even in the furnace of affliction; see Isaiah 43:2, to
sympathize with them; to revive and comfort them; to bear them up and support
them; to teach and instruct them, and at last to deliver them out of their
afflictions.
Daniel 3:26 26 Then
Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and
spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High
God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
came from the midst of the fire.
YLT 26Then Nebuchadnezzar hath drawn
near to the gate of the burning fiery furnace; he hath answered and said,
`Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of God Most High come forth, yea,
come;' then come forth do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, from the midst of
the fire;
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery
furnace,.... He came so nigh before, as to see at a distance four persons
walking in it; now he comes nearer, as near as he could with safety:
and spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants
of the most high God; he not only spake to them in a different tone than he did
before; not in wrath and fury, but mildly and gently, with great respect unto
them, and reverence of them; and not only calls them by the names he and his
courtiers had given them, but styles them the servants of the most high God; he
owns their God was a God above his: the Chaldeans worshipped fire, but the God
of the Jews had power over that, and could restrain the force of it at
pleasure; and he acknowledges that these men were faithful worshippers of him;
who had in this wonderful manner appeared for them, and thereby approved their
faith and confidence in him, and their service of him; see Acts 16:17,
come forth, and come hither; that is, come out of the
furnace, and come to the place where I and my nobles are:
then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of
the fire; as they had been cast into it by the king's order, therefore
they did not presume to go out of it without the same; nor were they concerned
about coming out; they had very agreeable and delightful company, and had
reason to say it was good for them to be there; however, when they had the
king's order, they immediately obeyed it.
Daniel 3:27 27 And
the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered
together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the
hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the
smell of fire was not on them.
YLT 27and gathered together, the
satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the counsellors of the king, are
seeing these men, that the fire hath no power over their bodies, and the hair
of their head hath not been singed, and their coats have not changed, and the
smell of fire hath not passed on them.
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's
counsellors, being gathered together,.... Either by the order
of the king, or of their own accord, to see the miracle that was wrought:
saw these men; saw them walking in the furnace, saw them
come out of it at the king's call, and saw them when they were out, and
examined them thoroughly; so that they had ocular demonstration, full proof and
conviction, of the truth of what was done:
upon whose bodies the fire had no power; to blister,
scorch, burn, and consume them, as it has usually over the bodies of men, or
any creature:
nor was an hair of their head singed; which is
easily done with the weakest flame; and this must be understood of the hair of
their eyebrows and beards also; see Luke 21:18,
neither were their coats changed; neither the substance,
nor form, nor colour of them, but were just as they were when cast into the
furnace; the same holds good of all their other garments, their interior ones,
with their turbants, shoes, and stockings:
nor the smell of the fire had passed on them; as will upon
persons that stay at any time in a place where there is much fire and smoke;
and especially where much combustible things are burnt, as pitch, sulphur, and
the like, as in furnaces; and very probably in this, which had been so
vehemently heated; and yet there was no smell of it on their garments; all
which serve to make the miracle the more wonderful.
Daniel 3:28 28 Nebuchadnezzar
spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who
sent His Angel[b] and
delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s
word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god
except their own God!
YLT 28Nebuchadnezzar hath
answered and hath said, `Blessed [is] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-Nego, who hath sent His messenger, and hath delivered His servants who
trusted on Him, and the word of the king changed, and gave up their bodies that
they might not serve nor do obeisance to any god except to their own God.
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said,.... In the presence of
his princes and prime ministers of state, and made the following confession, to
the praise and glory of the true God; which was extorted from him at this time
through the force of conviction; for it does not appear to be a thorough
conversion; nor did he relinquish his gods, and the worship of them:
blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; he does not
call him his God, but theirs, as he had called him the God of Daniel before, Daniel 2:47,
who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted
in him; the fourth man he saw in the furnace he now calls an angel of
God; for the Heathens had notions of some being the messengers of the gods:
this seems to favour the sense of those who think an angel is designed by the
fourth person; though it does not follow that a created one must be meant; for
it may be understood of the Angel of God's presence, the uncreated Angel, Jesus
Christ; who, being sent by his divine Father; came and delivered these three
persons from being consumed in the fire, who had in so strong a manner
expressed their confidence in God, which the king now remembers and observes;
see Daniel 3:17,
and have changed the king's word; made it null and void,
refused to obey it, knowing it was their duty to obey God rather than man; so
that the king was forced to change his word, and, instead of obliging them to
worship his image, blesses their God:
and yielded their bodies; freely gave them up,
without any resistance, into the hands of those who were ordered by the king to
take and bind them, and cast them into the furnace, to which also they readily
yielded themselves: so the Septuagint and Arabic versions add, "to the
fire",
that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God; they chose
rather to deliver up themselves to death, to be burnt in a furnace, than to
serve any other god than the God of Israel; such was their constancy and
firmness of mind; such their attachment to the true God, and their faithfulness
to him.
Daniel 3:29 29 Therefore
I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything
amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in
pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other
God who can deliver like this.”
YLT 29And by me a decree is made,
that any people, nation, and language, that doth speak erroneously concerning
the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, pieces he is made, and its house
is made a dunghill, because that there is no other god who is able thus to
deliver.'
Therefore I make a decree,.... Or, a "decree
is made by me"F23מני שים טעם "a me proponitur
edictum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Broughtonus; "a me positum
decretum", Montanus, Cocceius, Michaelis. ; which is as follows:
that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything
amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; anything
indecent, blasphemous, or by way of contempt: he does not give orders that
their God should be worshipped or signify that he would worship him himself,
and quit his false deities; no, only that he should not be spoken against, as
very probably before this time he was, to the great grief of these good men;
and to whom, therefore such an edict would be grateful, though no more could be
obtained; by which it was enacted, that any such person, so blaspheming and
reproaching,
shall be cut to pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; See Gill on Daniel 2:5;
because there is no other god that can deliver after this manner; no, not even
Bel himself, as was plain; for he could not deliver the men at the mouth of the
furnace, that cast in these three, for they were destroyed by the force of the
flame and smoke that came out; but the true God delivered the three men cast
in, even in the midst of it; this was beyond all contradiction, and therefore
he could not but own it.
Daniel 3:30 30 Then
the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
YLT 30Then the king hath caused
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, to prosper in the province of Babylon.
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the
province of Babylon,.... He restored them to their places of trust and profit, and
increased their honours: or, "made them to prosper", as the wordF24הצלח "prosperare fecit", Munster;
"prosperari jussit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator;
"prosperos felicesque fecit", Gejerus. signifies; they flourished in
his court, and became very great and famous. The Septuagint and Arabic versions
add,
"and
he counted them worthy to preside over all the Jews that were in his kingdom.'
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)