Daniel 3
3
Nebuchadnezzar’s Statue
1King Nebuchadnezzar # 3:1 Two Greek versions add: “in the eighteenth year [of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign].” The Septuagint further adds “having subdued towns and provinces and all the inhabitants of the world from India to Ethiopia.” had a golden statue made that was sixty cubits high and six cubits # 3:1 It is difficult to be precise regarding the length of a cubit. Generally, a standard cubit is believed to be about 17.5 inches or 0.44 meters. A long cubit was a cubit plus a handbreadth (3.5 inches or 90 millimeters); in total about 21 inches or 0.53 meters. Unless otherwise noted, conversions from cubits to modern units in this translation will be calculated using the long cubit measurement. This massive statue was nearly 105 feet (32 meters) high and 11 feet (3 meters) wide. wide. He erected the statue on the plain of Dura # 3:1 Or “walled plain.” See Edward M. Cook, “ ‘In the Plain of the Wall’ (Daniel 3:1),” Journal of Biblical Literature 108, no. 1 (1989): 115–16. Possibly Tura Dula, a river that flows into the Euphrates about six miles (ten kilometers) south of Babylon. in the province of Babylon. 2He then ordered an assembly of his princes, # 3:2 Or “satraps,” a Persian loanword that means “overseer [protector] of the province.” They were appointed by the king for a lifetime appointment. They usually were princes or were related to the royal family. They had authority to tax the people of their province and to have a provincial army. Apparently, not all the people of Babylon were assembled at this dedication; it was only the nation’s elite. See v. 27; 6:1. magistrates, and governors, as well as the counselors, treasurers, judges, sheriffs, and all the other provincial authorities, that they should be present at the dedication of the statue he had erected. 3So all these officials # 3:3 Or “princes, magistrates, and governors, as well as the counselors, treasurers, judges, sheriffs, and all the other provincial authorities.” This repetition of attendees is condensed for the sake of English narrative. gathered in front of the golden statue that the king had made.
4Then a herald made the loud proclamation: “Attention everyone! Listen to what the king commands of you—you of every nation and language. 5When you hear the ram’s horn, and the music of the flute, # 3:5 Or “pipe.” The Hebrew is literally “hiss,” the onomatopoeic sound of a shepherd’s pipe (see Judg. 5:16). the lyre, # 3:5 Or possibly “zither.” the ten-stringed harp, the triangular harp, the drums, # 3:5 Or “pipes”; some scholars believe it may have been the dulcimer. The Aramaic word is sumponyah and is related to the Greek symphonia. For this reason, some translators render this as “accompanying sound.” (For more precise information regarding these instruments, see Charles H. Dyer, “The Musical Instruments in Daniel 3,” Bibliotheca Sacra 147 [1990]: 426–36.) and all the other instruments, you will bow down to the ground and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has made. 6Whoever does not bow down to worship it will immediately be thrown into a white-hot fiery furnace.”
7Therefore, at the set time, as soon as they heard the musical instruments, # 3:7 Or “the ram’s horn, and the music of the flute, the lyre, the ten-stringed harp, the triangular harp, the drums, and all the other instruments.” This repetition of instruments is condensed for the sake of the English narrative. those present from all nations and languages bowed down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. # 3:7 In a sense, Nebuchadnezzar was setting up a counterfeit, open-air temple complex, complete with worshipers (musicians, see 2 Chron. 29:25–28). Instead of a brazen altar, it was a fiery furnace. Instead of a golden ark of glory, it was an idolatrous golden statue. The king was going to sacrifice the three Jews in the fire as his offering to his false god (statue).
The Condemnation of the Young Jewish Men
8At that point, certain Babylonian astrologers # 3:8 Or “Chaldeans,” which may have its derived meaning of “fortune tellers [astrologers].” approached the king and maliciously denounced # 3:8 Or literally “ate [or chewed up] the pieces of.” This idiomatic expression seems to carry the idea of spiteful slander as well as accusation. the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar: “O king, live forever! 10You issued a royal decree, O king, that when everyone hears the ram’s horn and the music # 3:10 Or “the music of the flute, the lyre, the ten-stringed harp, the triangular harp, the drums, and all the other instruments.” See v. 5. begins they must bow down to the ground and worship the golden image. 11And whoever does not bow down and worship it will be thrown inside a white-hot fiery furnace. 12Yet, the prominent Jews, whom you have appointed administrators of the province of Babylon, have greatly disrespected you, Your Majesty. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They do not serve your gods # 3:12 Or “your god” (i.e., the statue he erected). According to the traditional reading of the synagogue, as marked in the margin of the text, the reader was instructed to read a singular “your god” at this point. This would then be a direct reference to the god represented by the golden statue. See v. 14. nor worship the golden image you have set up.”
13Upon hearing this, King Nebuchadnezzar flew into a furious rage and ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought before him. When these men came before the king, 14he asked them, “Is it true, # 3:14 Or “Is it deliberate?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue that I erected? 15I now give you one more chance. # 3:15 The Aramaic sentence is an incomplete conditional phrase, “If now . . . you will fall down.” When you hear the ram’s horn and the music of the flute, # 3:15 Or “pipe.” See the first footnote on v. 5. the lyre, # 3:15 Or possibly “zither.” the ten-stringed harp, the triangular harp, the drums, # 3:15 Or “pipes.” See the third footnote on v. 5. and all the other instruments, you will bow down to the ground and worship the golden statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a white-hot fiery furnace. So now, who is the god that can save you from my power?” # 3:15 Or “from my hands.”
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar: “We have no need to offer you a defense in this matter. 17If the God we serve truly exists, then he will save us from death at your hand, O king. # 3:17 These three Jewish young men knew the truth of Deut. 4:20 and Isa. 43:2. God had once delivered his people from the iron furnace of Egyptian bondage, and they were confident that he would do it again. So, if you throw us into the fiery furnace, our God is able to save us. 18But even if he does not save us, you can be sure, O king, that we would not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have erected.”
Daniel’s Three Friends Are Sentenced to Death
19Upon hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger, and his face was distorted with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered his men to heat the fiery furnace seven times hotter than it usually was. # 3:19 The number seven could be seen more figuratively than literally since there was no thermometer to measure the heat accurately. 20He also commanded some of his mighty men to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the white-hot furnace. 21Immediately, they tied up the three men while they still had on all their clothes—their trousers, shirts, and turbans—and then threw them into the white-hot furnace. 22But because the king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so overheated, the raging flames burned up the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire. # 3:22 The Greek versions state that the flames jumped out from the furnace “forty-nine cubits,” which is over eighty-six feet (twenty-six meters)! Additionally, according to b. Sanhedrin 92b–93a, Nebuchadnezzar himself was half-burned. (See Louis Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews [The Jewish Publication Society], 4.329, 6.416.) 23And the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, tied and bound, fell inside the blazing, white-hot furnace. # 3:23 Following the end of v. 23, the Greek (Theodotion and LXX) and Syriac versions of Daniel include sixty-six verses not found in the Aramaic. These verses include the passages commonly referred to as “The Song [Prayer] of Azariah” and “The Song of the Three Young Men,” which are considered inspired Scripture by the Roman Catholic tradition. The first three verses of the sixty-eight verses of “The Song [Prayer] of Azariah” read: “They [the three young Hebrews] walked around in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. Then Azariah stood still in the fire and prayed aloud: ‘Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors, and worthy of praise; and glorious is your name forever’ ” (Dan. 3:24–26, NRSVCE).
24Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his officials, # 3:24 Or “companions.” “Didn’t we throw three men, bound in fetters, into the fire?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty,” they answered him.
25“But look,” he shouted, “I see four men walking about freely in the fire. They’re all unharmed! And the fourth man has the appearance of a son of the gods!” # 3:25 Or “like a son of god” or “like a divine being.” In Jewish writings the expression “sons of God” refers to members of the divine council around the Lord (see 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6; Ps. 148:2). Most Christian expositors see the fourth man in the fire as a Christophany, an appearance of our Lord in the midst of the fiery flames.
26Then Nebuchadnezzar cautiously approached the opening of the white-hot blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Great God, # 3:26 Or “the Most High God.” come out here now!” So out of the midst of the fire walked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego completely unharmed. 27When all the kings’ officials had assembled, along with the princes, # 3:27 Or “satraps.” See the footnote on v. 2. magistrates, and governors, they discovered that the fire had not harmed these three men. Their hair was not singed, their clothes were not scorched, and they didn’t even smell like smoke.
28King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! For he sent his divine messenger # 3:28 Or “his angel.” to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed my orders and laid their lives on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own. 29So I hereby make this decree: Any person from any nation or language who says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb, and his house will be destroyed, because there is no other god who is able to rescue so miraculously!” 30Then the king promoted # 3:30 Or “caused to prosper.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
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Daniel 3: TPT
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