III. An important addition appears in both Greek Versions of Daniel, in accordance with which the event recorded in this chapter took place in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. Whence the tradition arose cannot be ascertained. It was certainly unknown to Josephus. It has been supposed that the... [ Continue Reading ]
AN IMAGE. — If this image was made after the manner described (Isaiah 44:9), the body was formed of wood, and the whole, when properly shaped, was covered with thin plates of gold. As the height of the whole is disproportionate to the width, it is probable that the height of the pedestal on which th... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT — _i.e.,_ sent heralds, as appears from Daniel 3:4. (On the Babylonian officers, see _Exc._ A.)... [ Continue Reading ]
PEOPLE, NATIONS. — In Biblical language the latter word is used (Genesis 25:16) of the tribes of Ishmael, each of which had its own head, or of the Midianites (Numbers 25:15). The former is applied to Israel in Psalms 111:6, where occurs the phrase, “people of Jehovah.” The word “languages” is appli... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CORNET. — On the musical instruments, see _Exc._ B.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE CAST... — This punishment was not uncommon among the Babylonians. One instance of it is mentioned by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:22; see also _Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archœology,_ vol. ii., p. 361). The occasion being a national festival, any refusal to worship the national gods w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE. — _i.e.,_ because certain Jews were noticed to be absent at the time. It is natural to suppose that the promotion of three men of Jewish extraction would have been viewed with the greatest jealousy by the Babylonian officers, who, no doubt, had been carefully watching their opportunity of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM THOU HAST SET. — The high position of these men is mentioned partly to explain the king’s anger on account of their supposed ingratitude, and partly to account for the malice and jealousy of their calumniators. But why was Daniel absent from the ceremony? His behaviour some years later (Daniel... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT TRUE? — Literally, _Is it of design_ or _of set purpose that you have done this? _... [ Continue Reading ]
WELL. — The word is not in the Chaldee, where an aposiopesis is to be observed, as in Exodus 32:32. Comp. Luke 13:9. WHO IS THAT GOD? — Nebuchadnezzar has so little belief in his own gods that he ranks himself as far above them as above Jehovah. He defies all supernatural powers. Very different is... [ Continue Reading ]
O NEBUCHADNEZZAR. — They mention the king by name, so as to make their address correspond with his (Daniel 3:14). His attention would in this way be directed to the strong antithesis between his statement (Daniel 3:15) and theirs (Daniel 3:17). Great though the distinction was between king and subje... [ Continue Reading ]
IF IT BE SO. — The meaning becomes clearer by omitting the word “so.” The sentence will then stand as follows: “If our God is able to deliver us... then He will do so; but if He does not deliver us, be assured that we will not serve thy gods.” The three holy children are quite content to leave the w... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE SEVEN TIMES. — It is doubtful whether “seven” is used here as a round number or not. According to the Babylonian mythology, there were seven demons, named “Maskim,” who were the most formidable of the infernal powers. Perhaps the number “seven” has a reference to them, for the religious nature o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOST MIGHTY MEN. — He selected these as being the most likely to be able to bear the unusual heat of the fire. Whether he had any expectation that some attempt at a rescue would be made does not appear. We may gather, however, that the army was present at this horrible tragedy.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR COATS. — The dresses spoken of here correspond with what Herodotus tells us (i. 195) of the Babylonian costume. As far as can be determined from the etymology of the words, the “coat” was an under-clothing, which covered the whole body; the “hose” was some species of tunic — something “spread... [ Continue Reading ]
URGENT. — The same word is translated _hasty_ (Daniel 2:15). The king’s command had been uttered while he was in a furious rage, and in consequence of this, the furnace was raised to so high a temperature that the executioners were slain. The death of the executioners forms an evident contrast with... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS ASTONIED. — He had been watching the proceedings from a distance through the “mouth” (Daniel 3:26), which was in the side of the furnace.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SON OF GOD. — These words, let us remember, are uttered by a heathen king, who calls this same Person, in Daniel 3:28, “an angel” of the God whom the three children worshipped. Probably Nebuchadnezzar thought that He stood to Jehovah in the same relation that he himself did to Merodach. His conc... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE CHANGED. — Literally, _have transgressed. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_29_)_ ANYTHING AMISS. — The marginal version is to be preferred.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROMOTED — _i.e.,_ he reinstated them to their former posts, from which they had been temporarily deposed.... [ Continue Reading ]