Nebuchadnezzar sets up a colossal golden image, and summons to its dedication all the officials of his empire, who are commanded to fall down and worship the image at a given musical signal, on pain of being cast into a furnace (Daniel 3:1-6). They all do so, with the exception of Daniel’s three friends, whose refusal is reported to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:7-12). They are summoned before the king, and persist in their refusal (Daniel 3:13-18). Nebuchadnezzar commands the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual, and the three Jewish youths are bound and cast into it, the flames slaying their executioners (Daniel 3:19-22). The king sees them walking in the fire unbound and accompanied by a divine figure (Daniel 3:23-25). He summons them forth. finds them unharmed, magnifies their God, decrees that He be held in universal reverence; and gives them further promotion (Daniel 3:26-30).
Teaching.This story of religious constancy and its reward was specially fitted to instruct and encourage the Jews in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes. There is a similar legend about Abraham and Nimrod.
1. Of gold] not necessarily solid, but perhaps overlaid. Threescore cubits.. six cubits] 90 feet by 9, or rather more. Dura is represented by the mounds of Dura, some 12 m. SSE. of Babylon.
2. Princes.. govenors.. captains] RV ’satraps.. deputies.. governors’: so in Daniel 3:3, Daniel 3:27. ’Satraps’ is a distinctly Persian term. Judges] RM ’chief soothsayers.’ Sheriffs] RM ’lawyers.’
4. People] RV ’peoples.’
5. Sackbut] properly trigon, a stringed instrument with a triangular frame: so in Daniel 3:7, Daniel 3:10, Daniel 3:15.
Psaltery] psanterin = Gk. psalterion—a stringed instrument. Dulcimer] RM ’bagpipe’: so in Daniel 3:7, Daniel 3:10, Daniel 3:15.
6. Burning fiery furnace] a form of death penalty mentioned in Jeremiah 29:22 as inflicted by Nebuchadnezzar.
8. Chaldeans] a special offcial class, moved by jealousy.
12. See Daniel 2:49,
14. Is ittrue.. do not ye serve] RV ’Is it of purpose.. that ye serve not.’ Nebuchadnezzar is willing to put a favourable construction on their first refusal, and to give them another opportunity of obeying.
16.Arenot careful] RV ’have no need.’
17. If it be so, etc.] read, ’If our God.. is able.. he will deliver us.’ The words do not really question God’s power, but mean rather, ’If our God sees fit,’ etc.
18. But if not] The refusal is absolute, come what will.
23. In LXX the ’Song of the Three Holy Children’ is inserted after this v.
25. The Son of God] RV ’a son of the gods,’ a heavenly being, called an angel in v.,28. Nebuchadnezzar could not have used the expression in the definite Christian sense suggested by AV.
Bibliographical Information Dummelow, John. "Commentary on Daniel 3". "Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dcb/daniel-3.html. 1909.
Verses 1-30
The Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace
Nebuchadnezzar sets up a colossal golden image, and summons to its dedication all the officials of his empire, who are commanded to fall down and worship the image at a given musical signal, on pain of being cast into a furnace (Daniel 3:1-6). They all do so, with the exception of Daniel’s three friends, whose refusal is reported to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:7-12). They are summoned before the king, and persist in their refusal (Daniel 3:13-18). Nebuchadnezzar commands the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual, and the three Jewish youths are bound and cast into it, the flames slaying their executioners (Daniel 3:19-22). The king sees them walking in the fire unbound and accompanied by a divine figure (Daniel 3:23-25). He summons them forth. finds them unharmed, magnifies their God, decrees that He be held in universal reverence; and gives them further promotion (Daniel 3:26-30).
Teaching.This story of religious constancy and its reward was specially fitted to instruct and encourage the Jews in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes. There is a similar legend about Abraham and Nimrod.
1. Of gold] not necessarily solid, but perhaps overlaid. Threescore cubits.. six cubits] 90 feet by 9, or rather more. Dura is represented by the mounds of Dura, some 12 m. SSE. of Babylon.
2. Princes.. govenors.. captains] RV ’satraps.. deputies.. governors’: so in Daniel 3:3, Daniel 3:27. ’Satraps’ is a distinctly Persian term. Judges] RM ’chief soothsayers.’ Sheriffs] RM ’lawyers.’
4. People] RV ’peoples.’
5. Sackbut] properly trigon, a stringed instrument with a triangular frame: so in Daniel 3:7, Daniel 3:10, Daniel 3:15.
Psaltery] psanterin = Gk. psalterion—a stringed instrument. Dulcimer] RM ’bagpipe’: so in Daniel 3:7, Daniel 3:10, Daniel 3:15.
6. Burning fiery furnace] a form of death penalty mentioned in Jeremiah 29:22 as inflicted by Nebuchadnezzar.
8. Chaldeans] a special offcial class, moved by jealousy.
12. See Daniel 2:49,
14. Is it true.. do not ye serve] RV ’Is it of purpose.. that ye serve not.’ Nebuchadnezzar is willing to put a favourable construction on their first refusal, and to give them another opportunity of obeying.
16. Are not careful] RV ’have no need.’
17. If it be so, etc.] read, ’If our God.. is able.. he will deliver us.’ The words do not really question God’s power, but mean rather, ’If our God sees fit,’ etc.
18. But if not] The refusal is absolute, come what will.
20. The most mighty men] RV ’certain mighty men.’
21. Coats.. hosen.. hats] RV ’hosen.. tunics’ (RM ’turbans’).. ’mantles.’
23. In LXX the ’Song of the Three Holy Children’ is inserted after this v.
25. The Son of God] RV ’a son of the gods,’ a heavenly being, called an angel in v.,28. Nebuchadnezzar could not have used the expression in the definite Christian sense suggested by AV.
29. Made a dunghill] see on Daniel 2:5.