CHAPTER III _Nebuchadnezzar, having erected an image, whose height (including_ _probably a very high pedestal) was sixty cubits, and the_ _breadth six, ordered a numerous assembly, which he had_ _convened, to fall down and worship it; threatening, at the_ _same time, that whosoever refused shou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 3:2. _SENT TO GATHER TOGETHER THE PRINCES_] It is not easy to show what these different offices were, as it is difficult to ascertain the meaning of the _Chaldee_ words. _Parkhurst_ analyzes them thus: - _THE PRINCES_] אחשדרפניא _achashdarpenaiya_, from אחש _achash,_ _great_ or _eminen... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 3:4. _THEN A HERALD CRIED ALOUD_] כרוזא קרא בחיל _caroza kara_ _bechayil_, "a crier called with might." _A bedel cried mightili_. - Old MS. Bible.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 3:5. _THE SOUND OF THE CORNET_] There is not less difficulty in ascertaining the precise meaning of these _musical instruments_ than there is in the _offices_ in Daniel 3:2. קרנא karna, here translated _cornet_, is the common _blowing horn_, which makes a deep and hollow sound, as well... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 3:6. _SHALL THE SAME HOUR_] This is the first place in the Old Testament where we find the division of time into _hours_. The Greeks say that _Anaximander_ was the inventor. He had it probably from the Chaldeans, among whom this division was in use long before Anaximander was born. _BE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 3:8. _ACCUSED THE JEWS._] That is, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. The other Jews were left unnoticed; and probably at this time Daniel was too high to be touched; but we may rest assured that he was not found among these idolaters, see Daniel 3:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _WE_ ARE _NOT CAREFUL_] We have no need to put thee to any farther trouble; we have made up our minds on this subject, and have our answer ready: Be it known unto thee, WE WILL NOT SERVE THY GODS. This was as honest as it was decisive.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _IF IT BE SO_] Thou mayest cast us into the furnace; the terror of it has no effect on our minds to induce us to alter the resolution we have taken, nor shall the fire change our purpose. We serve a God who is able to deliver us. Should he not, we are equally determined; but we are satisfi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _THEN WAS NEBUCHADNEZZAR FULL OF FURY_] How strange is this, after having had so many proofs of the supremacy of Jehovah! He had seen how God poured contempt upon his authority in the case of the _three_ Hebrews, and yet he will try his strength once more! How infatuated is man! _SEVEN TI... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _THE MOST MIGHTY MEN_] The generals, or chief officers of his army; not _strong_ men, there was no need of such.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _THEIR HATS_] This word, _hat_, is found only in this place in the Old Testament. The word סרבל _sarbal_ properly means an outer garment. _Herodotus_, who lived about _one hundred_ years after Daniel, says, "the dress of the Babylonians consisted of a tunic of linen reaching down to the f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _AND THESE THREE MEN - FELL DOWN BOUND_] There is a most evident want of connexion between this and the following verse; and it is between these verses that the apocryphal Song of the Three Children, as it is called, has been inserted by St. Jerome and others; but with this note: Quae seq... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _IS LIKE THE SON OF GOD._] A most improper translation. What notion could this idolatrous king have of the _Lord Jesus_ _Christ_? for so the place is understood by thousands. בר אלהין _bar_ _elahin_ signifies _a son of the gods_, that is, a Divine person or _angel_; and so the king calls h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _UPON WHOSE BODIES THE FIRE HAD NO POUTER_] The heathens boasted that their priests could walk on burning coals unhurt; and _Virgil_ mentions this of the priests of Apollo of Soracte: - Summe Deum, sancti custos Soractis Apollo! Quem primi colimus, cui pineus ardor acervo Pascitur; et m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _BLESSED BE THE GOD OF SHADRACH, C._] Here is a noble testimony from a heathen. And what produced it? The intrepidly pious conduct of these three noble Jews. Had they been time-servers, the name of the true God had not been known in Babylon. What honour does the Lord put on them that are s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _SPEAK ANY THING AMISS_] Though by the decree the king does not oblige the people to worship the true God, yet he obliges them to treat him with reverence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 3:30. _THEN THE KING PROMOTED, C._] He restored them to the offices which they held before the charge of disobedience and treason was brought against them. At the end of this verse the _Septuagint_ add, "And he advanced them to be governors over all the Jews that were in his kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]