Bible Commentaries
Daniel 3

Verse 1

image. This could not have been an image of a human being. The height and breadth are out of all proportion for this; the former being one to ten instead of one to six. A figure drawn on this scale, will at once be seen to be impossible. Having determined that it is a human figure, tradition then assumes it to have been a proportional figure "on a pedestal", or simply "a bust on a pillar". But there is nothing in the text to suggest this. It would exactly suit an Asherah ( App-42 ). The Hebrew tzelem denotes something shaped by cutting or carving. Ezekiel 16:17 , and Dan 23:14 , practically make this certain. See the verb in Ezekiel 7:20 ; and compare what is said in Numbers 33:52 .

height . . . breadth. See above note.

threescore . . . six. The numbers of man ( App-10 ). Note the six instruments (compare Daniel 5:7 , Daniel 5:10 , Daniel 5:15 ). See note on 1 Samuel 17:4 .

Verse 2

the king sent . This great Durbar would hardly have taken place till after the campaign referred to in note on "came" (Daniel 1:1 ). It was therefore probably held about 475 B. C, in Daniel's thirty-eighth year, twenty years after Nebuchadnezzar's dream of himself, the "head of gold" (Daniel 2:0 ).

to gather together, &c . Note the eight technical terms. Well known to Daniel, but difficult for a Jew in Jer 300 years later to enumerate so minutely and so accurately.

princes = satraps.

governors . See note on Daniel 2:48 .

captains = pashas (as in Nehemiah 5:14 , Nehemiah 5:18 . Haggai 1:14 ), the first three being governmental.

judges = viziers, or chief judges.

treasurers: these two being courtiers.

counsellors = counsellors of State, judges. The same word as in Daniel 3:3 . Not the same word as in verses: Daniel 3:24 , Daniel 3:27 .

sheriffs = lawyers; these two being legal .

rulers, &c . = superintendents, being functional and general.

Verse 4

herald . Chaldee. karo z a '. Not from the Greek kerux, but an old Persian word khresic', a crier, from which comes the Chaldee verb k evar, to make a proclamation, as in Daniel 5:29 .

people = peoples, or nations.

nations = races, or tribes.

languages = tongues. Figure of speech Catabasis. App-6 .

Verse 5

cornet, &c. These names are supposed to be Greek, or from the Greek; but Athenaeus, a Greek grammarian (about A.D. 200-300), says the sambuke ("sack-but") was a Syriac invention. Strabo, in his geography (54 B.C. A.D. 24), ascribes Greek music to Asia, and says: "the Athenians always showed their admiration of foreign customs".

harp . Chaldee. kithros ; Greek. kithara. Terpander, a Greek musician (seventh century B. C), the father of Greek music, invented the kithara with seven strings (Strabo says) instead of four, and one is sculptured on a monument of Assurbanipal (Lenormant, La Divination chez les Chaldiens, pp 190, 191).

sackbut . See note on "cornet", above.

hour = moment. Chaldee sha' ah , as in verses: Daniel 3:3 , Daniel 3:6 , Daniel 3:15 ; Daniel 4:33 ; Daniel 5:5 .

Verse 8

certain = men: probably our grandees. Plural of Chaldee. g ebar. App-14 .

Chaldeans . See note on Daniel 1:4 .

Verse 10

man. Chaldee ' anash . App-14 .

Verse 12

Shadrach, &c . See note on Daniel 1:7 .

men = strong men, or grandees. Plural of Chaldee. gebar . App-14 .

gods . Chaldee ' elah . App-4 .

Verse 14

true = of set purpose.

Verse 15

well . Note the Figure of speech Aposiopesis ( App-6 ). Or, supply [well and good].

God . Chaldee ' elah . App-4 .

Verse 16

answered and said . See note on Deuteronomy 1:41 .

are not careful = do not account it needful.

Verse 17

is able to deliver us . The Massoretic pointing requires this punctuation: "to deliver us; from the burning fiery furnace He will deliver us".

Verses 17-18

the. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "thy".

Verses 17-19

full of = filled with, form = appearance.

visage = countenance.

Verse 20

most mighty men . Chaldee = mighty [ones] of strength.

to bind. Chaldee. kephath. Occurs only here and verses: Daniel 3:21 , Daniel 3:23 , Daniel 3:24 .

Verse 21

coats = cloaks, or mantles.

hosen = tunics.

hats = turbans, mantles, or cloaks.

Verse 22

commandments word .

those men = those very men.

Verse 24

counsellors: or, ministers [standing near] to him; either to his throne or near at the time. Chaldee. haddabrin. Not the same word as in verses: Daniel 3:2 , Daniel 3:3 .

Verse 25

the son of God = a son of God (no Art.): i.e. a superhuman being, or an angel. Compare Daniel 3:28 , and see App-23 . Nebuchadnezzar could know nothing of N.T. revelation.

Verse 26

mouth = door.

Verse 27

saw = kept gazing upon.

changed: or, discolored.

Verse 29

speak, &c . = charge any fault or error.

amiss: or, rash. Compare 2 Samuel 6:7 , as Nebuchadnezzar himself had done.

cut in pieces, &c See note on Daniel 2:5 .

deliver = rescue.