Daniel 3:1

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 should be cast into a fiery

furnace, 1-7;

a punishment not uncommon in that country, (see Jeremiah 29:22.)

Daniel's three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,

who were present, being observed to refrain from this

idolatrous worship, were accused before the king; who, in

great wrath, commanded them to comply with his orders on pain

of death, 8-15.

But these holy men, with the greatest composure and serenity,

expressed their firm resolution not to worship his gods or his

images, whatever might be the consequence, 16-18.

Upon which the king, unaccustomed to have his will opposed, in

the height of his wrath, ordered the furnace to be made seven

times hotter than usual, and these men to be cast into it,

bound by the most mighty of his army, who were killed by the

flame in the execution of this service, 19-23.

On this occasion God literally performed his promise by Isaiah,

(Isaiah 43:2:)

"When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee;" for an angel of

God, appearing in the furnace, protected these young men, and

counteracted the natural violence of the fire; which, only

consuming the cords with which they were bound, left them to

walk at liberty, and in perfect safety, in the midst of the

furnace. The king, astonished at this prodigy, called to them

to come out of the furnace, and blessed God for sending an

angel to deliver his servants; and commanded all his subjects,

upon pain of death, not to speak irreverently of the God of

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who were promoted to great

power and honour, 24-30.

A striking example of the interposition of Providence in favour

of true and inflexible piety.

NOTES ON CHAP. III

Verse Daniel 3:1. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold] It is supposed that the history given here did not occur till the close, or near the end, of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. For it was after his insanity, as we see Daniel 4:33-27, and this happened near the close of his reign. The authorized version, which is followed in the margin, fixes the date of this event seventeen years earlier, and ten years before the king's insanity. A few observations on this image may be necessary:-

1. It is not likely that this image was in human form - the dimensions show the improbability of this; for what proportion is there between sixty cubits (ninety feet) in length, and six cubits (nine feet) in breadth?

2. It is not likely that this image was all of gold; for this would have required more of this precious metal than the whole province of Babylon could produce; for as I suppose the sixty cubits apply to the perpendicular altitude, so I take it for granted that the six cubits intend the diameter. Now a column of gold of this height in diameter, upon the supposition that the pillar was circular, contains five thousand seven hundred and twenty-five and a half cubic feet; and as there are nineteen thousand avoirdupois ounces in a cubic foot, the weight of the whole pillar would be eight million two hundred and sixty-two thousand eight hundred and six pounds, ten ounces of gold.

3. It might have been a pillar on which an image of the god Bel was erected. The image itself might be of gold, or more probably gilt, that is, covered with thin plates of gold, and on this account it might be called the golden image; and most probably the height of the image may be confounded with the height of the pillar. Or perhaps it was no more than a pillar, on the sides of which their gods and sacred emblems were engraven, surmounted with Bel on the top.

The plain of Dura] The situation of this place is not exactly known; there was a town or city called Dura, or Doura, in Mesopotamia, near the Tigris.