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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)