Daniel 3:17-30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:24

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 F21 תוה "expavit", Munster, Piscator, Michaelis; "trepidavit", Gejerus; so Ben Melech from the Targum on Gen. xxvii. 33; "trepidus", Junius & Tremellius. is by some said to signify, and this from the immediate hand of God: and rose up in haste ; from the place where he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:25

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. As this fiery furnace may be an emblem of the fiery trials and afflictive dispensations the children of God pass through in this world, being not joyous, but grievous to the flesh, though useful to purge and purify; so this and some other circumstances attending these good men in the furnace are applicable to the saints... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:26

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 only spake to them in a different tone than he did before; not in wrath and fury, but mildly and gently, with great respect unto them, and reverence of them; and not only calls them by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:27

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 they were out, and examined them thoroughly; so that they had ocular demonstration, full proof and conviction, of the truth of what was done: upon whose bodies the fire had no power ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:28

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; nor did he relinquish his gods, and the worship of them: blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ; he does not call him his God, but theirs, as he had called him the God of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:29

Therefore I make a decree ,.... Or, a "decree is made by me" F23 מני שים טעם "a me proponitur edictum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Broughtonus; "a me positum decretum", Montanus, Cocceius, Michaelis. ; 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 should be worshipped or signify... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:30

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 F24 הצלח "prosperare fecit", Munster; "prosperari jussit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "prosperos felicesque fecit", Gejerus. signifies; they flourished in his court, and became very great and famous. The Septuagint and Arabic versions add, "and he counted them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 3:17

If it be so - Thou mayest cast us into the furnace; the terror of it has no effect on our minds to induce us to alter the resolution we have taken, nor shall the fire change our purpose. We serve a God who is able to deliver us. Should he not, we are equally determined; but we are satisfied that in some way or other he will deliver us out of thy hand. Thy power cannot affect us in the kingdom of our God to which we shall ascend from thy furnace, should he permit the fire to kindle upon us.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 3:19

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury - How strange is this, after having had so many proofs of the supremacy of Jehovah! He had seen how God poured contempt upon his authority in the case of the three Hebrews, and yet he will try his strength once more! How infatuated is man! Seven times more - As hot as it could be made. Seven expresses the great intensity of the heat. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 3:20

The most mighty men - The generals, or chief officers of his army; not strong men, there was no need of such. read more

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