_NEBUCHADNEZZAR DEDICATETH A GOLDEN IMAGE IN DURA. SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO ARE ACCUSED FOR NOT WORSHIPPING THE IMAGE. THEY, BEING THREATENED, MAKE A GOOD CONFESSION. GOD DELIVERETH THEM OUT OF THE FURNACE. NEBUCHADNEZZAR, SEEING THE MIRACLE, BLESSETH GOD._ _Before Christ 587._ THIS chapte... [ Continue Reading ]
NEBUCHADNEZZAR—MADE AN IMAGE OF GOLD— But what did this image or statue represent? Grotius insists that it was the _statue_ of Nabopalassar, the father of Nebuchadnezzar, whom this prince chose to rank with the gods. Others think that Nebuchadnezzar erected his own statue, and intended to be adored... [ Continue Reading ]
HARP— The original word is קיתרס _caithros,_ which seems to be denominated from the _citron-tree,_ the product of Armenia, Media, and Persia; the tree itself might take its name from the ground in which it flourished, or from the round figure of its fruit: for קתר _ceter,_ signifies a _rock_ in the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME HOUR— This is the first place in the Old Testament, where we meet with the division of time into _hours._ The Greeks ascribe the invention of them to Anaximander, who perhaps received it from the Chaldees. The mode of punishment here mentioned was common among this people. Compare Jeremiah... [ Continue Reading ]
BURNING FIERY FURNACE— Another cruel method of punishment among the Chaldeans; see Jeremiah 29:22. Burning alive is still inflicted, as Shaw tells us, on Jews and Christians, for capital crimes, at Algiers: see also Psalms 21:9. Mr. Bruce, vol. 1: p. 516 has given us the following narrative: "Phinea... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SERVE NOT THY GODS— _Gods_ in general; not _one god,_ represented by the golden statue. The statue, says Houbigant, in agreement with Calmet, was not of a human form, as is plain from its proportions; for it was ten times higher than broad. However, whatever form it had, whether of a column or... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY— _And they._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHO IS THAT GOD, &C.— This is a proof of the inattention and inconstancy of this prince, who had so often proved and known the sovereign power and superiority of the God of the Jews. See chap. Daniel 2:47. The Jews answer him with great firmness, telling him that in so plain a case, there is no... [ Continue Reading ]
IF IT BE SO— _Behold. There is a God whom we worship, who is able to snatch us from the furnace of burning fire, and to deliver us from thy hand, O king._ Houbigant. "As we are firmly persuaded of his power to deliver us, so we trust in his mercy and goodness that he will do so." They speak this out... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOST MIGHTY MEN— His _guards;_ whom he employed, according to the ancient custom, to execute criminals.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR HATS— _Their turbans._ As to the particulars of the dress of these young men, the first word seems to mean their principal garment, which hung loose and flowing down to their ancles, perhaps not unlike the Roman tunick; and Montfaucon in his Antiq. vol. 3: tells us, that the Babylonians, accor... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE BECAUSE— _And forasmuch as._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THESE THREE MEN—FELL DOWN, &C.— Houbigant inserts between the 23rd and 24th verses two verses which are found in the Vulgate to this purpose: "But an angel of the Lord descended to Azariah and his companions into the furnace, and drove the flame of fire from the furnace, and they walked in the m... [ Continue Reading ]
IS LIKE THE SON OF GOD— Rather _like a Son of God,_ or _of the gods:_ in agreement with the Hebrew, LXX, and Syriac; that is to say, "Like a divine and glorious person, sent from the powers above to rescue and deliver these men." For, as Nebuchadnezzar was an idolater, it is scarcely to be conceived... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRE HAD NO POWER— The several expressions here used are meant to shew, that not the least injury was received from the fire. The expressions rise in fine order, and the climax is beautiful. The fire not only had no prevailing power over their bodies, but neither was a hair of their head burnt,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE KING PROMOTED SHADRACH, &C.— Or, "Restored them to their former places and dignities," according to the force of the original word. The LXX add at the end of the verse, And he advanced them to be governors over all the Jews who were in his kingdom. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The king had, as we rea... [ Continue Reading ]