Daniel 3:7-8. Daniel 3:7-The People From Every Nation, Ethnicity And Language Group Obey Nebuchadnezzar s Order To Worship The Statue Of Himself

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1 Daniel 3:7-8 Daniel 3:7-The People From Every Nation, Ethnicity And Language Group Obey Nebuchadnezzar s Order To Worship The Statue Of Himself Review of Daniel 3:1-6 Daniel 3:1 records Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon erecting a gold statue of himself, ninety feet tall, nine feet wide in the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king sculptured an image composed of gold, its height ninety feet, its width nine feet. He erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. (Author s translation) Daniel 3:1 records Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon sculpturing an image composed of gold, which was ninety feet tall and nine feet wide. It was erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. This action taken by the king is the direct result of Daniel s interpretation in Daniel 2:38, which records Daniel telling him that he was the head of gold of the statue. There are some commentators who suggest like Archer that the statue was not of himself but of one of the Babylonian gods, like Nabu. However, there is an obvious connection between the head of gold in the statue in Nebuchadnezzar s dream in Daniel chapter 2 and the gold statue constructed by the king in chapter 3. That the events recorded in chapter 3 follow the events recorded in chapter 2 is indicated by the fact Daniel s three friends are functioning in their new positions of authority (3:12) to which they were appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (2:49) per Daniel s request. Furthermore, chapter 4 records the Lord judging Nebuchadnezzar and deposing him for seven years and giving a mind of an animal resulting like the king acting like an animal for those years. This was to bring the king to the place where he acknowledges the Lord s sovereignty over him and that he is subordinated to the Lord. Lastly, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:38 that wherever members of the human race, wild animals of the field or birds of the sky live, the God ruling the heavens has given them into his power. Consequently, God has caused him to rule over each and every one of them. Thus, we see Nebuchadnezzar, an unregenerate man interpreting this revelation from Daniel as giving him authority to demand their worship, which of course was not the response God wanted from him. He wanted the king to worship Him rather than demand the worship of himself. The construction of this image of himself was due to his megalomania, which the Lord deals with in chapter 4, which records the Lord s response to the arrogance of Nebuchadnezzar as recorded in chapter 3. Nebuchadnezzar s actions in constructing an image of himself to be worshipped, 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 was not unusual in the ancient world. The Assyrian kings also set up statues of themselves symbolizing their dominion. Also, the Hellenistic kings did the same. The Roman emperors deified themselves as well. J. Vernon McGee addresses the issue as to why Nebuchadnezzar would do such a thing after just receiving revelation from God that He will destroy all Gentile power and establish His kingdom on earth. He writes What did Nebuchadnezzar really have in mind in making this image? We can observe here three things: (1) The making of this image shows the rebellion of Nebuchadnezzar against the God of heaven who had given him world dominion. Instead of gratitude, this is a definite act or rebellion. (2) This also shows his vaunted pride in making an image which evidently was self-deification. The Roman emperors also attempted this later on. (3) Obviously, Nebuchadnezzar was seeking a unifying principle to weld together the tribes and tongues and peoples of his kingdom into one great totalitarian government. In other words, he was attempting to institute a world religion. This was nothing in the world but a repetition of the tower of Babel-a forming of one religion for the world. (McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, volume 3: Genesis-Deuteronomy; pages ; Published in Nashville, Tennessee by Thomas Nelson Inc. 1981) Daniel 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king issued an order to assemble the satraps, military commanders as well as the governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges in other words, each and every one of the dignitaries from the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue, which Nebuchadnezzar erected. (Author s translation) Daniel 3:2 describes the next event that took place after Nebuchadnezzar sculptured an image of gold and erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. Thus, it continues to describe Nebuchadnezzar s response to Daniel interpreting his dream and specifically telling him that he is the head of gold on the statue in his dream. In Daniel 3:2, we have Nebuchadnezzar issuing an order to assemble each and every one of the dignitaries in the various provinces of his kingdom to attend the dedication of the gold statue he erected. The satraps is the noun ʾǎḥǎš dǎr pǎn which refers to group of officials who were the chief representatives of Nebuchadnezzar. They were governors of certain types of provinces. They were the highest officials in his kingdom, which is supported by the statement in Daniel 6:1, which records that Darius appointed 120 satraps over his kingdom who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. The military commanders is the noun s e ḡǎn, which refers to the military commanders of the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom. The governors is the noun pě ḥā(h), which refers to the civil administrators or governors of civil government in the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 The advisers is the noun ʾǎḏǎr gā zǎr, which refers to those individuals who give counsel or advise those in governmental authority. The treasurers is the noun g e ḏā ḇǎr, which refers to those individuals in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom who were in charge of the finances of the various provinces throughout the kingdom. They administered the funds in the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom. They were the superintendents of the treasuries in the various provinces throughout the empire. The lawyers is the noun d e ṯā ḇǎr, which refers to those individuals who were administrators of the law in the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom. The judges is the noun tip tāy, which refers to the judges in the various provinces throughout the Babylonian kingdom who passed judgment in keeping with the law. Each and every one of the dignitaries from the provinces is an explicative clause meaning that it clarifies the list of seven classes of officials who were ordered by Nebuchadnezzar to assemble for the dedication of the gold statue which he erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. It is describing in summary fashion the list of seven classes of officials who were ordered by Nebuchadnezzar to assemble for the dedication of the gold statue which he erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. It refers to to those individuals who possesses an exalted rank or position of dignity and honor in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom. Thus it does not refer to lesser officials who were subordinate to the satraps or governors. It is used to define the seven classes of officials previously listed by Daniel. It describes in summary fashion that the satraps, military commanders, governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges were all officials of high standing or dignitaries in Nebuchadnezzar s government. This explicative clause emphasizes that there were no exceptions with the order meaning every one had to attend. The dedication is the noun ḥ ǎ nǔk kā(h), which denotes solemn ceremony in which Nebuchadnezzar s gold statue was consecrated as the symbol of world-wide worship and power of himself as a divine being. Politically, this dedication was intended to symbolize the unity of the various provinces under Nebuchadnezzar s authority. Religiously, this dedication was an act of worshipping the gold statue, which represented Nebuchadnezzar. That this dedication is religious is clearly indicated by verses 3-7. Therefore, this dedication is an attempt by Nebuchadnezzar to join religion with politics, which has been attempted throughout history by various rulers and will be successfully attempted by the Antichrist during Daniel s Seventieth Week who will demand worship from the inhabitants of the earth as symbolized by the abomination of desolation in the rebuilt Jewish temple in the midway point of Daniel s Seventieth Week William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 Daniel 3:3 records the dignitaries in the various provinces in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom obeying his orders and standing directly in front of this impressive statue in order to await the call to worship the image of the king. Daniel 3:3 Then when the satraps, military commanders as well as the governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges in other words, each and every one of the dignitaries from the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue, which Nebuchadnezzar, the king had erected, they stood directly in front of the statue which Nebuchadnezzar had erected. (Author s translation) Daniel 3:3 records the satraps, military commanders, governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges from the various provinces in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom obeying the king s orders by assembling for the dedication of the ninety foot tall gold statue of himself. Messengers were dispatched by the king to the various provinces in order to contact the various dignitaries who were subordinate to him. The dedication of the statue was a ceremony, which was both political and religious. It was a solemn ceremony in which Nebuchadnezzar s gold statue was consecrated as the symbol of world-wide worship and power of himself as a divine being. Politically, this dedication was intended to symbolize the unity of the various provinces under Nebuchadnezzar s authority. Religiously, this dedication was an act of worshipping the gold statue, which represented Nebuchadnezzar. That this dedication is religious is clearly indicated by Daniel 3:3-7. Therefore, this dedication is an attempt by Nebuchadnezzar to join religion with politics, which has been attempted throughout history by various rulers and will be successfully attempted by the Antichrist during Daniel s Seventieth Week who will demand worship from the inhabitants of the earth as symbolized by the abomination of desolation in the rebuilt Jewish temple in the midway point of Daniel s Seventieth Week. Daniel 3:3 tells the reader that once they all arrived on the plain of Dura, they stood directly in front of the ninety foot tall gold statue of Nebuchadnezzar awaiting the call to worship this image. This is indicated by Daniel 3:3-7, which records these various dignitaries in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom worshipping this image of himself which is idolatry. Daniel 3:4 Next, the herald publicly proclaimed with authority: To all of you nations, ethnicities and language groups, all of you are commanded. (Author s translation) Daniel 3:1 records Nebuchadnezzar commissioning a sculptor who sculptured an ninety food high and nine feet wide gold statue of himself, which was erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. Then, in Daniel 3:2, the king issued an order to assemble the satraps, military commanders as well as the governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges from the provinces to attend the 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 dedication of the statue. In Daniel 3:3, these dignitaries from the various provinces obeyed the king s orders and assembled for the dedication of the statue. This verse says that they stood directly in front of the statue awaiting orders from the king. Now, Daniel 3:4-5 records Nebuchadnezzar commissioning a herald to publicly proclaim at the dedication of this gold statue to bow down and pay homage to it at the sound of music. Daniel 3:4 says that the herald addressed various nations, ethnicities and language groups under his authority, which were represented by the dignitaries assembled at the dedication. Therefore, we can see quite clearly that Nebuchadnezzar is demanded world-wide worship of himself. Daniel 3:5 At the precise moment when all of you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer, drum as well as each and every type of musical instrument, all of you are to fall down in order to worship the gold statue, which Nebuchadnezzar, the king has erected. (Author s translation) In Daniel 3:5, the purpose for which the king assembled these dignitaries is revealed and the content of what the herald is to say to them is made known. Nebuchadnezzar is ordering that at the precise moment when they hear the sound trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer, drum as well as each and every type of musical instrument, they were to fall down in order to worship the gold statue, which he had erected of himself. Daniel 3:6 However, whoever refuses to fall down in order to worship, in that very hour, they will be deposited unceremoniously in the midst of a blazing, fiery furnace. (Author s translation) In Daniel 3:6, we have Nebuchadnezzar warning those assembled at the dedication of the gold statue that they will be immediately and unceremoniously executed if they refuse to comply with his order to worship this statue of himself. This is a clear example of unjustified use of the death penalty by Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar and all governmental authorities have been delegated authority by God to employ capital punishment of capital crimes. Nebuchadnezzar is ordering his subjects to commit idolatry which is prohibited by God (Exodus 20:3, 23). Thus his threat to execute those individuals who refuse to worship the image of himself is unjustified and an act of sin and rebellion against God by Nebuchadnezzar. The Basis for the Dignitaries Obedience to Nebuchadnezzar s Order Daniel 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. (NASB95) 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 Therefore is composed of the preposition k- (כּ ) (kee) and this is followed by the preposition lĕ ( (ל (leh) and then we have the preposition q ǒ ḇēl (ק ב ל) (kob-ale ) and then we have the demonstrative pronoun d e nā(h) (דּ נ ה) (dane-awe), which is not translated. kā l q ǒ ḇēl d e nā(h) The preposition k- is employed with the prepositions lĕ and q ǒ ḇēl to form a conjunctive clause which means because of. These three words are employed with the demonstrative pronoun d e nā(h), which means this and is anaphoric meaning it is referring to the proclamation read by the herald at the dedication of the statue Nebuchadnezzar erected of himself, which is recorded in Daniel 3:4-6. The demonstrative pronoun refers to the content of this proclamation which ordered all the dignitaries who represented the peoples from the various provinces in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom to worship the gold image he erected of himself the moment when the orchestra plays. It refers to this order with emphasis upon the threat of being executed for failure to not comply with this order. The demonstrative pronoun d e nā(h) is the object of the prepositions k- which is employed with the prepositions lĕ and q ǒ ḇēl, which together function as a marker of cause and mean because of. Therefore, this prepositional phrase indicates that because of this command from Nebuchadnezzar with emphasis upon the threat of death for refusing to comply, all the dignitaries representing the various people in the various provinces throughout his kingdom obeyed his order. It presents the basis for the obedience to the king s order by these dignitaries. It denotes that all the dignitaries who represented the people from the various provinces throughout his kingdom worshipped the image the moment the orchestra played the music played because of the king s order with emphasis upon the threat of being executed for refusing to do so. It implies that the threat of execution guaranteed their obedience. Therefore, we will translate this prepositional phrase because of this. The Orchestra Plays Daniel 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. (NASB95) At that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music is composed of the preposition b- (בּ ) (beh) and its object is the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), that and then we have the masculine singular form of the noun z e mǎn (ז מ ן) (zem-awn ), time, which is followed by the preposition k (כּ ) (kee) and its object is the particle dî (דּ י) (dee), which together are translated when and then we have the masculine plural peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active participle form of the verb š e mǎʿ (שׁ מ ע) (shem-ah ), heard which is followed by the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כּ ל) (kole), all which is modifying the masculine plural form of the noun ʿǎm (ע ם) (am), the peoples which is followed by the masculine singular construct form of the noun qāl (ק ל) (kawl), the sound of which is followed by the feminine singular noun qě rěn (ק ר ן) (keh -ren), the horn and then we have the feminine singular noun mǎš rô qî (מ שׁ ר וק י) (mash-ro-kee ), flute which is followed by the masculine singular noun qî ṯ e rōs (ק ית ר ס) (kee-the-rosh), lyre and then we have the feminine singular noun śǎb b e ḵā(ʾ) (שׂ בּ כ א) (shah-behkah), trigon which is followed by the masculine singular noun p e sǎn tē rîn (ו ( wa (pes-an-tay-reen ), psaltery and then we have the conjunction (פּ ס נ תּ ר ין) (כּ ל) (waw), and which is followed by the singular construct form of the noun kōl (kole), all which is modifying the masculine plural construct form of the noun (ז מ ר) (zan), kinds of and then we have the masculine singular noun z e mār (ז ן) zǎn (zem-awr ), music. b ēh zim nā(ʾ) The preposition b-, at and the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ), that and the noun z e mǎn, time are employed together and literally means at that precise or exact moment. The noun z e mǎn means the precise moment referring to a specified point in time when the dignitaries who represented the peoples from the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom fell down and worshipped the gold statue. It is the object of the preposition b-, which is functioning as a temporal marker meaning at referring to the precise or exact moment when the dignitaries who represented the peoples from the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom fell down and worshipped the gold statue the king erected of himself. The third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) means that since it is functioning like a demonstrative pronoun pointing out the noun z e mǎn. Therefore, these three words form an expression which literally mean at that exact moment or at that precise moment and answer the question when the dignitaries who represented the peoples from the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom fell down and worshipped the gold statue the king erected of himself in the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. It speaks of a specific point in time when these dignitaries who represented the peoples from the various provinces 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom obeyed the king s order and fell down and worshipped this gold statue. k ḏî The preposition k and the particle dî are employed together also as a temporal marker and are also answering the question as to when the dignitaries who represented the peoples from the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom fell down and worshipped the gold statue. They worshipped the image when they heard the orchestra play the music they were ordered by Nebuchadnezzar to play. These two words function as a marker relating points of time. The two points of time are again the sound of the music and the worship of the image of Nebuchadnezzar which he erected of himself. Therefore, they denote that at the precise moment when the dignitaries from the various provinces in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom heard the music played by the orchestra, they fell down and worshipped the gold statue the king erected of himself. ʿǎm The noun ʿǎm is in the plural and means the people from the nations in the sense of a large group based on various cultural, physical and geographical ties. It refers to a large group that is larger than a tribe or clan but smaller than a race. This word refers to the larger national units according to Leupold (page 143). It speaks of the national entities. The word refers to the various peoples from the various nations which were subjugated to Nebuchadnezzar. Specifically, it refers to the dignitaries who represented these various peoples from various nations. The adjective kōl is modifying this noun and denotes totality but is used in a distributive sense meaning each and every. Here it refers to the totality of the peoples from the various nations who were subjugated to Nebuchadnezzar and specifically to the dignitaries who were assembled at the dedication of the king s statue of himself and represented the peoples from the various nations that Nebuchadnezzar had subjugated to himself. š e mǎʿ The verb š e mǎʿ means to hear referring to the sense of hearing. Here it is used of the dignitaries who represented the people from the various provinces in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom bowing down and paying homage to the image of 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 himself, which he erected at the precise moment when they heard the sound of the music played. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem of the verb is fientive expressing an action. Here it denotes the action of the dignitaries hearing the sound of the music played. The participle form of the verb denotes simultaneous action with the participle form of the verbs n e p ǎl, fell down and s e ḡiḏ, worshipped which indicating that all three verbs occurred at the same instant. It indicates that at the exact moment the dignitaries who represented the people from the various nations under Nebuchadnezzar s authority heard the music they fell down and worshipped the image in obedience to the king s command to do so. We will translate this verb š e mǎʿ heard. qāl The noun qāl means sound and is used in relation to the musical instruments listed here in verse 7. Thus, it refers to the sound made by these instruments when they are played. This noun is in the construct state which means that it governs the nouns qě rěn, the horn, mǎš rô qî, flute, qî ṯ e rōs, lyre, śǎb b e ḵā(ʾ), trigon, p e sǎn tē rîn, psaltery, and z e mār, music, which is modified by noun kōl, all and noun zǎn, kinds of. This expresses a genitive relation, which expresses possession indicating that the sound belongs to these instruments. qě rěn The noun qě rěn means trumpet which was a wind musical instrument made of an animal horn, or horn-shaped wood or metal. mǎš rô qî The noun mǎš rô qî means flute, double reed pipe refers to a musical wind instrument with a tub-like cylinder shape, made of wood, reed or even bone which produced a course, shrill, whistling sound. This noun in Daniel 3:5 most likely was a reed flute which was made of several reeds of varying thicknesses and lengths bound together. qî ṯ e rōs The noun qî ṯ e rōs means lyre referring to a stringed musical instrument of the harp class William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 śǎb b e ḵā(ʾ) The noun śǎb b e ḵā(ʾ) means harp which was also a stringed musical instrument consisting of a resonator, an arched back or angled neck that may be supported by a post, and strings of graded strength that are perpendicular to the soundboard. p e sǎn tē rîn The noun p e sǎn tē rîn means dulcimer which was another musical stringed instrument of trapezoidal shape which was played by either plucking or with plectra. wa The conjunction wa is used in an adjunctive sense meaning that in addition to the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer and drum, there would other kinds of musical instruments being played to signify when the dignitaries were to fall down and pay homage to the statue Nebuchadnezzar erected of himself. z e mār The noun z e mār means music instrument referring to unidentified musical instruments. The word is modified by the noun zǎn, which means kind, type, sort describing these unidentified musical instruments of being of different categories or classification. Also, modifying the noun z e mār is the noun kōl, which denotes each one of a totality and is used in a distributive sense meaning each and every. Thus, these three words denote that the dignitaries were to fall down and worship the image Nebuchadnezzar erected of himself when they hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer as well as each and every type of musical instrument. The People Comply with Nebuchadnezzar s Order Daniel 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. (NASB95) 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 All the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up is composed of the masculine plural peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active participle form of the verb n e p ǎl (נ פ ל) (nef-al ), fell down and then we have the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כּ ל) (kole), all which is modifying masculine plural form of the noun ʿǎm (ע ם) (am), O peoples which is followed by the masculine plural noun (ו ( wa (oom-maw ), nations and then we have the conjunction (א מּ ה) ʾǔm mā(h) (waw), and which is followed by the masculine plural noun liš šān (ל שּׁ ן) (lishshawn ), language and then we have the masculine plural peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active participle form of the verb s e ḡiḏ (ס ג ד) (seg-eed ), worshipped which is followed by the masculine singular construct form of the noun ṣ e lēm (צ ל ם) (tseh - (דּ ה ב) lem), the image which is modified by the masculine singular noun d e hǎḇ (deh-hab ), gold and this is followed by the particle dî (דּ י) (dee), that and then we have the third person masculine singular hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil) active perfect form of the verb qûm (קוּם) (koom), has set up which is followed masculine singular form of the proper name n e ḇû ḵǎḏ ně(ʾ)ṣ ṣǎr (נ בוּכ ד נ אצּ ר) (neb-oo-kad-netstsar), Nebuchadnezzar which is followed by the masculine singular form of the noun mě lěḵ (מ ל ך) (meh -lek), the king. ʿǎm This time the noun ʿǎm means nations in the sense of a large group based on various cultural, physical and geographical ties. It refers to a large group that is larger than a tribe or clan but smaller than a race. This word refers to the larger national units according to Leupold (page 143). It speaks of national entities. ʾǔm mā(h) The noun ʾǔm mā(h) is in the plural and means ethnicities referring to an ethnic group, divided on the basis of constituting a unique entity. Thus, the word speaks of the various ethnic backgrounds in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom. This word refers to the smaller tribal groups according to Leupold (ibid). It speaks the various ethnicities. wa The conjunction wa is used in an adjunctive sense meaning that it is introducing another description of those who lived in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom who were commanded by him to worship the image he erected of himself, which was in addition to the previous two descriptions William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 liš šān The noun liš šān means language groups referring to a distinct, rational form of communication unique to a socio-linguistic group, i.e. national people. It speaks of those groups who share the same language. kōl The adjective kōl is modifying the nouns ʿǎm, nations, ʾǔm mā(h), ethnicities and liš šān, language groups and denotes totality but is used in a distributive sense meaning each and every. Here it refers to the totality of these nations, ethnicities and language groups who were represented at the dedication of the statue by the satraps, military commanders, governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges from the various provinces in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom. This word emphasizes that there were no exceptions. Everyone obeyed the king s order. n e p ǎl The verb n e p ǎl means to fall down, to be prostrate oneself before someone in order to express one s humble submission to someone or something and to honor them and show them respect. Here it refers to the act of the satraps, military commanders, governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers and judges from the provinces in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom prostrating themselves before the statue which the king erected of himself in order to express their humble submission to him and to honor him and show him respect. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem of the verb is fientive expressing an action. Here it denotes the action of the dignitaries prostrating themselves before the statue of Nebuchadnezzar when they heard the sound of the music played. The participle form of the verb denotes simultaneous action with the participle form of the verbs š e mǎʿ, n e p ǎl and s e ḡiḏ, which indicates that all three verbs occurred at the same instant. s e ḡiḏ The verb s e ḡiḏ means to worship referring to the act of committing idolatry. Here the subject of this verb is the dignitaries from the various provinces who represented each and every one of the nations, ethnicities and language groups in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom. Receiving the action of this verb is the statue Nebuchadnezzar erected of himself. Therefore, this indicates that these dignitaries 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 representing each and every one of the nations, ethnicities and language groups in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom worshipped the gold statue which the king erected of himself. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal stem) stem of the verb s e ḡiḏ is fientive expressing an action. Here it expresses the action performed by the dignitaries who represented the various nations, ethnicities and language groups in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom worshipping the image the king erected of himself. The participle form of the verb denotes simultaneous action with the participle form of the verbs š e mǎʿ and n e p ǎl, which indicates that all three verbs occurred at the same instant. ṣ e lēm The noun ṣ e lēm means statue, a sculpted image to be worshipped as a god indicating that when the dignitaries who represented the people from the various nations, ethnicities and language groups in Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom heard the music played by the orchestra they fell down worshipping the statue the king had erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. This noun is the object of the preposition lĕ, which marks the word as the direct object of the verb s e ḡiḏ, worship indicating that this gold image Nebuchadnezzar erected of himself was the object of worship in his kingdom the moment the music played. This noun ṣ e lēm is in the construct state which means that it governs the noun d e hǎḇ, gold. This expresses a genitive relation and specifically it is a material genitive which denotes the substance out of which the construct term is constructed. This indicates statue was composed of gold. d e hǎḇ The noun d e hǎḇ means gold indicating that Nebuchadnezzar statue of himself was made of this material. dî The particle dî means which since it functions as a relative pronoun and refers to the noun ṣ e lēm, which refers to Nebuchadnezzar s gold statue. n e ḇû ḵǎḏ ně(ʾ)ṣ ṣǎr The proper name n e ḇû ḵǎḏ ně(ʾ)ṣ ṣǎr, Nebuchadnezzar refers to the second ruler of the Chaldean dynasty of Babylon William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 mě lěḵ The noun mě lěḵ means king and of course is used with reference to Nebuchadnezzar referring to the fact that he was governmental head of Babylon. qûm The verb qûm means to cause to stand up, to erect, to set up and is used with Nebuchadnezzar as its subject and the ninety foot tall and nine foot wide gold image as its object. Thus, the word refers to the king erecting or setting up this gold statue on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. The hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil stem) stem is causative meaning that the subject causes its direct object to do the action described by this verb in the peʿal (Hebrew: qal). Here the subject is Nebuchadnezzar and the direct object is the gold statue. Thus, this stem denotes Nebuchadnezzar causing this gold statue to undergo the process of being constructed to a height of ninety feet tall and a width of nine feet. The perfect tense of the verb is constative describing in summary fashion this action. We will translate the verb qûm, has erected. Translation of Daniel 3:7 Daniel 3:7 Because of this, at the precise moment when each and every one of the people from the nations heard the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, dulcimer as well as each and every type of musical instrument, each and every one of the nations, ethnicities and language groups fell down worshipping the gold statue which Nebuchadnezzar the king had erected. Exposition of Daniel 3:7 Daniel 3:7 records the dignitaries who represented the various nations, ethnicities and language groups throughout Nebuchadnezzar s empire obeying his command to worship the gold image he erected of himself. It reveals that Nebuchadnezzar s attempt to unite religion with the state was a success but not total and complete as we shall read later on in the chapter. This verse presents the basis for the obedience to the king s order by these dignitaries, which is the king s order to worship the image of himself with emphasis upon their execution if they refused to do so. Thus, it implies that the threat of execution guaranteed their obedience. Nebuchadnezzar ruled the world and his attempt to join religion in the form of the worship of himself and his government repeats the sin at the tower of Babel William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 Like Nimrod, Nebuchadnezzar was attempting to unite the world independently of God. Nimrod is presented in Scripture as the founder of the kingdom of Babylon, which is presented in Scripture as an evil system originating from Satan in both type and prophecy (Isa. 21:9; Jer. 50:24; Rev. 16:19; 17:5; 18:2). Genesis 10:8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod ( rebel ); he became a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD. 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (NASB95) Babel is located in modern Iraq, about twenty miles south of Baghdad, near the modern city of Hilla, on the Euphrates River, south of where the Tigris and Euphrates approach. The story of the Tower of Babel is told in Genesis 11:1-9. This building was a ziggurat, which rose in the center of the court of the Temple of Marduk. The expression Tower of Babel does not appear in the Bible but is used popularly for ziggurat structure built on the plain of Shinar where the descendants of Noah migrated and settled after the Flood. The name Babel has no connection with the Hebrew balal, He confused and its meaning is in fact patent in its Assyrian form, Bab-ili, gate of god. The final syllable, `el in Hebrew, is common to all Semitic languages and means, god while bab is well-known in Assyrian, Arabic, Aramaic and late Hebrew. In Genesis 11:9, Moses is indulging in a play on words, meaning a verbal irony. Babel, therefore, became a synonym for the confusion caused by the language barriers, which God imposed on the human race because of their pride and arrogance in attempting to establish a one-world government and state religion that would honor mankind rather than God and would be independent of Him. Genesis 11:1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar (in modern day Iraq) and settled there. 3 They said to one another, Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly. And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. 5 The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 The LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth. (NASB95) City is the noun `ir, which refers to a fortified city that had its own king with surrounding villages. None of our modern terms such as city, town or village adequately convey the meaning or the mental picture contained in this word. Not only is there a difference between the modern and ancient city, there were differences between the ancient cities themselves, making a definition even more difficult. The primary distinction between a city and a village is that the former `ir generally had a wall and the frequent reference to the gate of the city where governmental functions were held, underscores the walled nature of cities. The villages were in an adjacent agricultural area of a city and were in turn dependent on the city for protection. In the ancient world, the city was primarily intended for religious and public purposes or gatherings. Therefore, based upon the meaning of this word `ir in the Hebrew, we know that this city that Nimrod and his followers decided to build would be fortified with a wall with surrounding villages and an adjacent agricultural area and would be for religious and public purposes. The building of this city would have taken place after a council of elders whom Nimrod presided over and would be the center or meeting of this one world government and religion. The ziggurat comes from the term ziqqurratu, apparently meaning peak, or the highest point of a mountain and were massive and lofty, solid-brick, staircase structures and at the top, there was a place to worship the stars of the stellar universe and the fallen angels. There are many ziggurats in Babylon but the one considered to be the tower of Babel of their ancient city is called The Temple of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth, which was called by Nebuchadnezzar, the tower of Babylon. This structure was situated in the southern portion of the city, not far from the right bank of the Euphrates and was dedicated to the god of Babylon, Marduk. If you drop the first consonant of Nimrod's name and take the others, MRD, you will have the basic root of the god of Babylon, whose name was Marduk, and whom most scholars identify with Nimrod. At the Tower of Babel, the human race was deceived by Satan and under the rulership of Nimrod, and united by a common language and purpose in rebelling against God s rulership. This rebellion expressed itself in building of the city of Babel and its Tower, which would serve as the center of their one-world government and state religion under the rulership of Nimrod foreshadowing the 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 one-world government and state religion that will be under Antichrist during the Tribulation. At the Tower of Babel, the human race was saying in effect God we don t trust You, nor do we need You, we will go it alone without You and set up a government, with our own religion and our own ruler to lead us. The Lord s response to this rebellion was to sovereignly decide to divide the human race geographically by confounding their universal language into many different languages, which resulted in the human race being divided by ethnicity, geography, language and politics (Gen. 10:32). This sovereign decision was executed through the function of His omnipotence. Satan s strategy against God in relation to the human race is to establish internationalism whereas at the Tower of Babel, God demonstrated that His desire for the human race is nationalism. In Acts 17:26-27, Paul teaches that God established nationalism so that the human race might see their need for Him whereas at the Tower of Babel, they did not see their need for Him. The Tower of Babel teaches that when the human race is united independently of God that they will not see their need for Him whereas divided and independent from each other, they will. God s purpose is to give the nations as an inheritance to His Son Jesus Christ with His Bride, the Church ruling with Him in the city of Jerusalem with Israel as head of the nations. At the present time, Jesus Christ is not on planet earth bodily ruling the nations in Jerusalem rather, He is seated at His Father s right hand while the Father makes His enemies a footstool for His feet (Psalm 110:1). The nations of the earth are enemies of Jesus Christ because Satan deceives them (1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:10) At the present time, the Father is working out His purpose to gather these nations for a showdown with His Son at His Second Advent, at which time, the Son will destroy those who oppose His rulership and receive the nations as His inheritance. The Second Advent of Christ takes place seven years after the rapture of the church and will be visible to the entire world and at that time, the Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven with the Church and the elect angels to deliver Israel from the Tribulational armies and Antichrist and will establish His millennial reign. Zechariah prophesied that the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Advent will establish His millennial reign and will rule bodily in Jerusalem over the nations. Zechariah 14:1-7 is a prophecy of the Second Advent of Christ. God the Father has given the nations as an inheritance to His Son Jesus Christ because He was obedient to His will and died for the sins of the entire world. Satan is attempting at the present time to prevent Jesus Christ from receiving His 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 inheritance and ruling over the nations and he does this by promoting internationalism and antagonism towards Israel but he is fighting a losing battle against an omnipotent and omniscient and sovereign God. During Daniel s Seventieth Week, Antichrist will also attempt to unite the world independently of Jesus Christ by doing the same thing as Nebuchadnezzar, namely by joining religion with politics. During Daniel s Seventieth Week, Antichrist will demand the worship of himself from the inhabitants of the earth as symbolized by the abomination of desolation he will set up in the rebuilt Jewish temple in the midway point of Daniel s Seventieth Week. In Daniel chapter 3, these people who obeyed Nebuchadnezzar s order chose to commit the sin of idolatry rather than to die. They compromised by doing so. Thus, like many people today among Christians they compromise obedience to God s Word in order to save their lives or their position or reputation in life. They compromise obedience to God s Word in order to preserve their career or salary. They are people pleasers rather than God pleasers. If they were God pleasers, they would refuse to obey this king s command to commit idolatry and suffer death. Thus, they are not unlike their king in that they are sinners like him. However, he is promoting this sin of idolatry and using himself as the object of worship which is the greater sin. It mimics Satan s attempt to deceive the human race into worshipping him. In fact, Satan is behind this idolatrous worship since he attempts to get the human race to worship any one or any thing other than Jesus Christ. So both the king and his subjects are demonstrating their total depravity. In Romans 5:12, Paul is teaching his readers of the total depravity of mankind. Romans 5:12 Therefore, based on this (principle), just as, through one man, the sin nature entered into the human race so that spiritual death entered through this sin nature. Thus, in this manner, spiritual death spread to each and every member of the human race without exception because each and every member of the human race sinned (the moment Adam sinned). (Author s translation) Total depravity means that all aspects of man s nature are corrupted. It also means that because of that corruption mankind has no merit with God. The implications of depravity are critical in relation to salvation in that man has no ability whatsoever to save himself or justify himself before a holy God. The Lord labeled His disciples evil in Matthew 7:11 because of their depraved nature. Romans 1:28 and Ephesians 4:18 teach that the mind of mankind is affected and Hebrews 9:14 says that the conscience is unclean. The heart is deceitful according to Jeremiah 17:9 and by nature mankind is under the righteous indignation of God, i.e. His wrath according to Ephesian 2:3 and Romans 1:18. Depravity affects the soul (Mark 7:20-23), thus defiling man s thought process, which manifests itself in sinful words and actions William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18

19 The concept of total depravity does not mean that mankind cannot perform actions that are good or helpful to others or in God s sight. What it does mean is that man can perform no action that could gain him merit with God. Total depravity means that man has absolutely no merit with God since he does not measure up to God s perfect standards. It also means that man s conscience has been affected by the Fall of Adam so that it cannot be a safe and reliable guide. Nor, does total depravity mean that people will indulge in every form of sin or any sin to the greatest extent possible. Commenting on the subject, Dr. Shedd writes, The depravity or corruption of nature is total. Man is wholly inclined to evil, and that continually. Westminster L. C., 25. Gen. 6:5, God saw that every imagination of the thoughts of man was only evil continually. There can be but a single dominant inclination in the will at one and the same time; though with it there may be remnants of a previously dominant inclination. Adam began a new sinful inclination. This expelled the prior holy inclination. He was therefore totally depraved, because there were no remainders of original righteousness left after apostasy, as there are remainders of original sin left after regeneration. This is proved by the fact that there is no struggle between sin and holiness, in the natural man, like that in the spiritual man. In the regenerate, the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, Gal. 5:17. Holiness and sin are in a conflict that causes the regenerate to groan within themselves, Rom. 8:23. But there is no such conflict and groaning in the natural man. Apostasy was the fall of the human will, with no remnants of original righteousness. Regeneration is the recovery of the human will, with some remnants of original sin. Total depravity means the entire absence of holiness, not the highest intensity of sin. A totally depraved man is not as bad as he can be, but he has no holiness, that is, no supreme love of God. He worships and loves the creature rather than the creator, Rom. 1:25. (Dogmatic Theology, 11, 257). Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, writes, The Bible further teaches with complete unanimity that the race is depraved apart from the saving grace of God and it is equally evident that no time can be indicated when this came to pass other than the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. The claim that the unregenerate are totally depraved is resented by many and for want of a right under- standing of its meaning. If, as viewed by men, it is asserted that there is nothing good in man, the statement is untrue; for, as man is quick to declare, there is no human being so degraded that there is not some good in him. If, on the other hand, as viewed by God, it is claimed that man is without merit in His sight, the case is far different. Depravity as a doctrine does not stand or fall on the ground of man s estimation of himself; it rather reflects God s estimation of man. What the Bible avers on the fallen and depraved estate of man would not be written by man. He would have no sufficient perspective by which to form a worthy conclusion, nor would he thus 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 19

20 abase himself The experience of man is a confirming testimony to his sinful nature. Men expect little good from themselves or their fellow men; they avoid every relationship to God and even blaspheme His holy name; a child goes naturally in the ways of evil, but must be disciplined in the direction of good. Writing of the depravity of human nature, Dr. Timothy Dwight states: In truth, no doctrine of the Scriptures is expressed in more numerous or more various forms, or in terms more direct or less capable of misapprehension (Theology, Serm. 29). So also Dr. Thomas Chalmers, If it be through the blood of Christ, the blood of expiation, that all who get to heaven are saved, then does it follow universally of them who get to heaven as of them who are kept out of heaven,-inclusive of the whole human race,-that one and all of them have sinned (Institutes of Theology, i, p. 385). Likewise, Dr. Pye Smith: The Scriptures represent holiness of character in any of mankind as the exception, and as owing to grace which makes men new creatures and all things new; whereas the wickedness of extremely depraved men is put as affording fair specimens of human nature, because it is the spontaneous unchecked growth of our nature (First Lines of Theology, p. 383). Observe, also, Dr. Lindsay Alexander s brief word: The gospel is a call to the race as such to repent and return unto God. God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent (Acts xvii. 30). But what need of universal repentance, except on the supposition of universal sinfulness? The whole need not a physician, but they that are sick; the Lord came to call sinners, not righteous persons, to repentance; and when, consequently, we hear Him addressing this call to all men everywhere, we cannot doubt that in the view of heaven all men are sinners, and further, that unless this be admitted and realized, there is no just apprehension of the true nature and design of Christianity obtained (Op. cit., p. 205). The word of Aristotle is equally as impressive: There appears another something besides the reason natural to us which fights and struggles against the reason; and just as the limbs of the body when under paralysis are when they would move to the right are carried away to the left, so is it in the soul (Eth. Nicom., i. 11). So also Plutarch declaims: Some portion of evil is mingled in all who are born; for the seeds of our being are mortal, and hence they share in causing this, whence depravity of soul, diseases, and cares creep upon us (De Consol. ad Apoll.). The assertion of Kant is equally clear and forceful: That the world lieth in wickedness is a lament as old as history, nay, as old as the oldest poetry. The world began, it is allowed, with good, with a golden age, with a life in Paradise, or with one still happier in communion with heavenly being. But this felicity, it is admitted, has vanished like a dream; and now man s course is even with accelerated speed from bad (morally bad, with which the physically bad ever advances pari passu) to worse.... A few moderns have advanced the opposite opinion, which, however, has found favour only with philosophers, and in our day chiefly among pedagogues, that the world is 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 20