Lesson 3 Daniel 3:1-49 About 685 BC In lesson 2 we saw the story of Nebuchadnezzar s dream and how he demanded that the leading Magi of his court first tell him what the dream was, and afterward interpret it. All of them declared it was impossible. At that point Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed that if they didn t do as he asked; they and all the Magi in Babylon (probably just referring to the capital city) would pay with their lives. As the King s officer was going out to round up the Magi he encountered Daniel in the palace who asked to be taken to the King. He managed to persuade Nebuchadnezzar to give him some time. That night the LORD showed Daniel the dream and gave him the interpretation. The next morning Daniel described the King s dream and the figure with a golden head, silver arms, a brass trunk, iron legs, and iron mixed with clay for feet. He explained how the figure represented the course of four great empires that would occur in the Middle East in subsequent world history. In the dream, a rock cut without hands would eventually destroy all trace of the empires and replace them with an everlasting Kingdom. At the end, Nebuchadnezzar was greatly impressed and made Daniel ruler over the province of Babylon. Daniel in turn had his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego appointed as administrators under him. As chief administrator of the province of Babylon, Daniel was evidently spared the trip to the plains of Dura which we read about in Chapter 3. Daniel 3:1a In his eighteenth year King Nebuchadnezzar In the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament made by the Jews for Ptolemy in the 3 rd Century BC; this verse begins with the words which were translated into the Greek gj@ll @ijti"4*gi"j@l. That means In his eighteenth year. Now we have to answer the question whether we depend on the accuracy of the Hebrew manuscript that the 3 rd Century BC translators did, or the Hebrew manuscript of a much later date which the NIV depends on. While making up my mind, I couldn t help but notice that in the Book of Daniel; almost every other episode is chronologically located, while this one is not. Therefore, I have to conclude that it is probable that this chronological locator was probably included in the original autograph, and that the Septuagint version is accurate. If this episode did indeed occur in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, then we should probably note that while this episode took place in Babylon, Jerusalem was undergoing its 18 month siege (Jeremiah 32:1, 2 Kings 25:1-2) before the destruction of the Temple. 1 / 11
Daniel 3:1b made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, [a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. It seems a reasonable conjecture to suppose that Nebuchadnezzar got his idea for this from his dream sixteen years before, recorded in the previous chapter. There he had seen a large statue which had a head made of gold. That gold head had stood for the Kingdom of Babylon. It may be that by this time as he had grown ever more powerful that he thought that if he made a statue made of gold, from head to foot that the dominance of Babylon would never end. Daniel 3:2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. At this time he summoned the government officials to come to the plain of Dura. This is thought to have been located close to Babylon which was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, about 50 miles south of modern day Baghdad. It is completely flat. Daniel 3:3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. This seems to be limited to the government officials of the province of Babylon. Such a gathering of all the official of the empire would have been too disruptive, as it would have entailed weeks and months away from their duties. Therefore, as depicted here, this would have been a relatively select and small assembly, consisting of only the provincial officials. A statue this large and this expensive would probably have been years in the making. We aren t told who the image looked like, although in the dream the head was said to be Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:38), so the image probably looked like Nebuchadnezzar. The text does not seem to indicate a large gathering of the common people although it does not rule it out either. Perhaps this was Nebuchadnezzar s way of totally subjugating the bureaucracy which the previous chapter showed that he mistrusted. Daniel 3:4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 2 / 11
This language does not necessarily mean that these were the officials of every province, since we know from the case of Daniel and his three friends that it had long been the practice of Nebuchadnezzar to recruit young men from every nation and language that he had conquered to administer in Babylon. Daniel 3:5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Now they were informed what they were expected to do. I expect that Daniel had known what was going to be asked of him and he somehow managed to excuse himself. However, his friends couldn t get out of it. However, they had probably known what was coming and had prepared their minds for their great decision. Daniel 3:6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a the [b] blazing furnace fire. The Hebrew word translated furnace here only appears in this chapter of Daniel. Most scholars think the Aramaic word here is related to the Hebrew word for fire or altar fire. I would suggest-that this was a fiery altar. When I hear the word furnace I think of an enclosed iron or brick box with a door. Evidently what the King had created here was something like a huge altar of fire which stood before the image. There seemed to have been a grate over the fire source on which to place offerings. On this occasion, it could also be used as a means of execution. Either the grate was elevated, and the fuel source was at ground level, or the fuel source was below ground, and the grate was at ground level. It was no doubt big enough to match the proportions of the 90 foot statue. We know that the grate was big enough to hold four men walking around. Daniel 3:7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 / 11
When the full orchestra gave forth their music, everyone fell down to worship. That is, almost everyone. Daniel 3:8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. [c] Evidently, the disobedience of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had not been noticed by anyone else. The rest were probably down on their faces worshipping the image. However other Magi, like the three Jews, evidently standing close to them, possibly because they were their subordinates, were quick to accuse them. Their motive was no doubt jealousy. I must add that although Daniel may have been absent, it is quite possible that Daniel was there. He would not have fallen down either. If he was there his disobedience may not have been observed because he stood alone, or the people he stood with didn t want to betray him. We also must understand the scene. Whatever the ceremony and festivities were planned for this occasion, would not have ended with the beginning of the music, they would have begun. Probably during this period was entertainment and feasting. It was at this time that the accusers made their way to the King. Daniel 3:9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever! This was a usual way in that time to greet a ruler. It was addressed to David by Bathsheba, and to Artaxerxes by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:3), and to Darius by Daniel (Daniel 6:6). Daniel 3:10-11 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a the blazing furnace fire. 4 / 11
They made sure to repeat the King s previous instructions to the assembly exactly so that he could not evade punishing the three Jews. Daniel 3:12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up. This statement shows that the accusers had a long antipathy against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They betrayed their resentment of the authority and the faith of the three. They had eagerly waited for just such an occasion to get rid of them. Daniel 3:13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. At this time, Nebuchadnezzar probably called a halt to everything as he had the three hauled before his throne set on a dais high above all the others so they could see and hear. He wanted all to see the exercise of his power. Daniel 3:14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? We know that the King already knew that Daniel and his friends did not serve his gods (Daniel 2:47). It was not an original condition of obeying the Kings order of the day (verse 5), which was to worship the image. This was an issue only the accusing astrologers had brought up, perhaps to accuse all the Jews including Daniel. It was never state policy in Babylon, or any of the world empires to force submission or universal acceptance of the state religion. In the next sentence, Nebuchadnezzar seems to have recognized the trap he had almost fallen into, and he never mentions serving his gods again. Daniel 3:15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a the blazing 5 / 11
furnace re. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand? fi Nebuchadnezzar determined to give the three another chance to worship the image when the band played the music again. Presumably they would be playing the same thing as at the beginning, probably something like a song of praise for Nebuchadnezzar and the image. Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need (time) to defend ourselves before answer you in this matter. I have substituted the literal translation. They told the King he did not have to wait to see if they would worship the image when the music played again. They would not! And they wanted him to know why. In the process, they also informed the assembled leaders. Daniel 3:17-18 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. They were no doubt thinking of the promise recorded in Isaiah 43:2b about 140 years before: When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Daniel 3:18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. However, they didn t know whether the LORD would save them from the flames, through the flames (as He did), or by taking them home to Abraham s bosom. In any case, they would neither serve the Babylonian gods nor worship the image. Daniel 3:19a Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. 6 / 11
Evidently, to this point in the interview Nebuchadnezzar s attitude toward them had been friendly. He probably had suspected the motives of the accusers and respected the honesty and capability of the men s years of service to him. However, at this point he became enraged. After all, he had spent a great deal of money and time to build the statue and arrange this dog and pony show so he could sell this idea to his empire. Now, here were these three men who were rewriting the script. be. Daniel 3:19b-20 He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual it was seen to The Aramaic word here is א ז ח {khaz ä'} which means to see. It is in the peal passive participle form which should be translated seen to be. This may not be a big distinction, but we might as well be accurate. Remember, this was a new statue and place of worship. There was no usual. Nebuchadnezzar evidently looked at the fire, and thought it wasn t large enough for his purpose. They had never thrown anyone into this fire before, and hadn t thought it would be necessary today. Daniel 3:20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. Once he saw the fire was sufficiently large, he ordered the strongest soldiers in his army to be in charge of tossing the bound men into the flames. I think perhaps the altar was built raised up four or five feet with the fuel fed in below. The approach used to put the offerings on the altar must have been something like a ramp. The fire must have been built up so high that only the strongest soldiers could get close enough to throw the three men actually onto the altar as the King insisted. Daniel 3:21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 7 / 11
So, they were thrown into the flames in the full regalia of their offices with which they had attended the gathering. Daniel 3:22a The king s command was so urgent The Aramaic word translated urgent here is ף צ ח {khats af'}. It only appears twice in scripture and does not seem to have any closely related words. I think from the context we can take the meaning to be that the command was given in such harshness and anger that the soldiers charged with carrying it out knew the King would brook no delay. They figured it was safer to be badly burned than object that the fire was too big and too hot to carry out their mission safely. Daniel 3:22b and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, I am no expert on burns, but I expect the deaths of these soldiers did not occur immediately. For example, I have read accounts of the fire that destroyed the dirigible Hindenburg and how at first many of the victims were not even aware they were burned, and then they staggered around for some minutes before collapsing. Something like that probably happened here. Since Nebuchadnezzar was also commander of the army, these elite soldiers were also probably men that Nebuchadnezzar knew. Daniel 3:23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace fire. And so, the three men fell into the blazing fire. This was witnessed not only by Nebuchadnezzar, but by all the officials who were his guests. Daniel 3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, Weren t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire? They replied, Certainly, O king. 8 / 11
We are not told how long it was before then happened. It could have been immediately, or it could have been five or ten minutes or longer during which the dying soldiers were taken away. Then the King must have looked at the fire and where there should have been nothing but the ashes of the three Jews, he saw something he couldn t believe. Daniel 3:25 He said, Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods god. [d] He not only saw the three men that had been thrown in walking around unharmed, but he saw a fourth man with them. Whatever the fourth man appeared like, the appearance was enough for Nebuchadnezzar to identify him as like a son of god. As we shall see, the LORD was continuing to reach out to Nebuchadnezzar. In the meantime, he was also reaching out to all the people who were there. Daniel 3:26a Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening (or gate) of the blazing furnace fire Nebuchadnezzar approached place which had been provided to put offerings on the fire, and where the three men had been thrown in. The fire was far enough from the throne that Nebuchadnezzar had to get up and walk close so that even his shouting might be heard. Daniel 3:26b and shouted, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here! So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, Notice that Nebuchadnezzar had rediscovered that there was a Most High God, above any other god. And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were His servants. Just the three of them came out of the fire. Daniel 3:27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; 9 / 11
their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. All the personages of Babylon seemed to have lost their sense of decorum. They crowded around. Maybe they even jostled the King. The LORD had certainly given them a testimony that they would never forget. Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. We have to understand how unusual this was for any powerful King or ruler in history to openly admit before all his people that he was wrong. Although Nebuchadnezzar hadn t made the last leg of his journey to faith, he showed that he might still be open. Daniel 3:29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way. As we have noted earlier, it was about this time that the Babylonians were besieging Jerusalem. Although Nebuchadnezzar was warring (by the LORD s will [e] ) against the wicked Jewish government, he tried to show mercy to all true believers living in Judah at that time. [f] Daniel 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. As a final note, I will leave you to imagine what happened to those accusers of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 10 / 11
[a] Literally, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide. A cubit is the length of a man s forearm, or about 18 inches. [b] Although this has been translated a blazing furnace here and in verses 11 and 15, the exact same Hebrew construction is translated the blazing furnace in verses 17, 20, 21, 23 and 26. I suggest they should all be rendered the. [c] This is about the first time chronologically that the term Jews is used in the Bible. It seems to have been an Aramaic word that was primarily developed to refer to the post-exilic people of Judah living in Babylon. [d] The Aramaic is in the singular case and should be god. [e] Jeremiah 25:9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, declares the LORD, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants. [f] Jeremiah 39:11-12 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: Take him and look after him; don t harm him but do for him whatever he asks. 11 / 11