In this chapter an account is given of a golden image made by Nebuchadnezzar; its size; and where placed, Dan. 3:1, a summons to all his princes, governors, and officers, to attend the dedication of it, Dan. 3:2, Dan.

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold Not of solid gold; but either of a plate of gold, and hollow within; or of wood overlaid with gold; for otherwise it must have took up a prodigious quantity of gold to make an image of such dimensions as follow; this be ordered his statuaries or workmen…

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes He sent letters, or dispatched messengers, into the several provinces of his empire, and parts of his dominions, to convene all the peers of his realm, and governors of provinces, and all officers, civil, military, and religious,…

Then the princes, the governors, and captains And all the rest of the officers before mentioned, having received their orders from the king, in obedience to them, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; at great expense, and with much fatigue and…

Then an herald cried aloud That his voice might be heard all over the plain; or if it should be thought that one was not sufficient to be heard throughout, which probably was the case, and where; so great a number being assembled together, all could not hear one man, the singular may be put for the…

That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet So called of the horn of which it was made; a sort of trumpet; so the Jews had trumpets of rams’ horns: flute; or pipe, or whistle, so called for its hissing noise; it is used of the shepherd’s pipe or whistle; see , harp; an instrument of music…

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth Who refuses to worship it, or wilfully neglects it; which would be interpreted a contempt of it, and of the king’s command: shall in the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; such as were used to burn stones in for lime, as Jarchi…

Therefore at that time Such a severe edict being published, threatening with so terrible a punishment: when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music; not only at Babylon, and that lived near the plain of Dura, but in all places where it…

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near That is, to King Nebuchadnezzar, either in his palace at Babylon, or more likely in the plain of Dura: and accused the Jews; particularly Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as after mentioned, of not obeying the king’s command, to worship the golden…

They spake and said to Nebuchadnezzar Having got access unto him, and within his hearing, they expressed themselves in the following manner: O king, live for ever; this they said to show their fidelity and hearty attachment to him, and their regard to his welfare, and the continuance of his life;…

Thou, O king, hast made a decree According to his own mind and will, and which he had published as such to his subjects: that every man; let him be who he will, high or low, rich or poor, in whatsoever station or condition: that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery,…

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth The image; the above is the decree, this that follows the sanction of it: that he should be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace; (See Gill on Dan. 3:6).

There are certain Jews Men, by birth, by nation, and religion, despicable, foreigners, exiles, and captives; this they observe by way of contempt, and tacitly suggest that they were never worthy of the king’s regard, and improper persons to be put in places of profit and trust, and that the king…

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury Which did not became him as a man, much less as a king, and still less as engaged in devotion and religion; commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; that is, immediately before him; who very probably were not afar off: he did not order them in…

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, is it true What I have heard of you, what you are charged with and accused of; surely it cannot be; so Aben Ezra and Saadiah interpret the word as we do, and all the Oriental versions: it is only used in this place: it is expressed by way of admiration, as…

Now if ye be ready that at what time ye shall hear The meaning is, that if they were disposed in mind, which the king was very desirous they should, both for his own honour, and for their safety, for whom he had a regard; and were willing to comply with his orders, and readily yield obedience to…

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king In a mild and gentle manner, without affronting his majesty, or insulting his gods, and yet without the least degree of servile fear or fawning flattery: O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter; about…

If it be so That we must be cast into the fiery furnace, as thou hast threatened: our God whom we serve; for though they did not serve the gods of the Babylonians, they did not live without God in the world; they believed in the one true God, the God of Israel, their covenant God and Father; whom…

But if not If our God does not think fit to exert his power, and deliver us, which we are well assured he is able to do; if it is not his will, we are content, we are resigned unto it: be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, be it as it will, whether we are delivered or not;…

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury Nettled at the answer given him; perceiving his threats made no impression on these three men, and that they were resolutely determined at all events not to obey his will: and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; not only…

And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army, &c.] The most famous for courage of mind, and strength of body, that were in all his army: to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego either their hands or their feet, or both; unless it can be thought that they were all three bound together…

Then these men were bound in their coats Their upper coats, cloaks, or mantles, as Aben Ezra and Jacchiades; though, according to the use of the word in the Arabic language, the “femoralia” [[16]] or breeches are meant: their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments: their turbants on their…

And therefore, because the king’s commandment was urgent Or was ordered to be obeyed in haste, and with expedition and dispatch, hence the men were cast into the furnace with clothes on; or those that cast them were not so careful of themselves: and the furnace exceeding hot; being heated seven…

And these three men fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. ] The fire not so much as destroying what they were bound with, and much less them; but being bound they fell, and there they lay for the present, unbound and alive; when those that cast them in were destroyed.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, At the burning of those that cast the three men into the furnace, as Jacchiades; or he might be seized with a panic, and his spirits filled with fear and dread, the word [[19]] is by some said to signify, and this from the immediate hand of God: and rose up in…

He answered and said, lo, I see four men loose Not bound as the three were, when cast in; but quite at liberty in their hands and feet, and separate from one another.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace He came so nigh before, as to see at a distance four persons walking in it; now he comes nearer, as near as he could with safety: and spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God; he not…

And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together Either by the order of the king, or of their own accord, to see the miracle that was wrought: saw these men; saw them walking in the furnace, saw them come out of it at the king’s call, and saw them when…

Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said In the presence of his princes and prime ministers of state, and made the following confession, to the praise and glory of the true God; which was extorted from him at this time through the force of conviction; for it does not appear to be a thorough conversion;…

Therefore I make a decree Or, a “decree is made by me” [[21]]; which is as follows: that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; anything indecent, blasphemous, or by way of contempt: he does not give orders that their God…

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon He restored them to their places of trust and profit, and increased their honours: or, “made them to prosper”, as the word [[22]] signifies; they flourished in his court, and became very great and famous.