The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 3:1-30
EXPOSITION THE GOLDEN IMAGE , AND THE FIERY FURNACE . read more
EXPOSITION THE GOLDEN IMAGE , AND THE FIERY FURNACE . read more
Principle illuminated by fire. "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful," etc. ( Daniel 3:16-18 ). Sketch the leading features of this intensely interesting martyr-history; and then— I. RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE . And here, that we may not move in mist, let us open out, step by step, what needs to be said. 1 . Principle. What is it .9 A principle is literally a first thing; a beginning; a cause. The spring on the mountain-side, whence the mighty river. The root of the tree. Newton's... read more
Brave carelessness. The three Jews set an example of unhesitating decision and fearless promptness, which may afford a wholesome lesson to us who live in the midst of the quibbling cauistry and timid expediency of a less simple age. I. TO A HEALTHY CONSCIENCE THE DUTY OF FIDELITY TO GOD IS CLEAR AND UNQUESTIONABLE . The three Jews had no question as to their duty, nor any wish to reconsider their decision. It was clear and final. 1 . Doubt and mystery are... read more
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. The Septuagint Version differs in several slight points from the Massoretic. "And Shadrach,... read more
The Church's triumvirate Nothing was further from these youths' thoughts than public notoriety, much less world-wide renown. They did but perform what seemed plain duty; and they asked no more than to be allowed to serve their God in quiet obscurity. When temptation spake through royal lips, they calmly said "No;" because loyalty to the King of kings had a previous and paramount claim. I. LOYALTY TO GOD RESISTS THE ENCROACHMENTS OF HUMAN AUTHORITY . " In this matter ... read more
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. The text of the LXX . is practically the same as the Massoretic, with only this exception, that "one" is omitted as unsuited to the Greek idiom. Theodotion differs more from the Massoretic—"the furnace" was to be heated "sevenfold, till it was perfectly... read more
The brief reign of violence. It is only consistent with the sketches of Nebuchadnezzar's character furnished us, to believe that he was not naturally a cruel man; nor was he so rigid an idolater as to oppose the worship of Jehovah. He was self-willed, excitable, easily inflamed; and was too easily led away by the base designs of others. For the moment he yielded to the excitement of passion. His autocratic pride had been wounded, and he would tolerate no resistance. I. WE SEE ... read more
The Saviour in the fire. "The form of the fourth" ( Daniel 3:3 ). A sketch of the further developments of the history will well introduce the following topics. I. THE SAVIOUR OF THE KING 'S IMAGINATION . "Like unto a son of the gods." The king was certainly not acquainted with the Hebrew doctrine of the Messiah, and even if he were, the appellation, "Son of God," would not be familiar to him. The deliverer to him was perhaps an angel, but surely a visitant from the unseen. ... read more
And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. The first clause might more correctly be rendered, "He commanded warriors, warriors of might, in his army." The Greek versions assume that the repetition of gubereen is equivalent to the superlative; hence the LXX . renders it ἄνδρας ἰσχυροτάτους ; and Theodotion, ἄνδρας ἰσχυρούς ἰσχύΐ . The Peshitta omits the first ... read more
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 3:21
Verse 21 Here Daniel relates the miracle by which God liberated his servants. He has two parts: first, these three holy men walked untouched in the midst of the flame; and the fires consumed those attendants who east them into the furnace. The Prophet diligently enumerates whatever tends to prove the power of God. He says, since the king’s command was urgent, that is, since the king ordered in such anger the furnace to be heated, the flames devour the men who executed his orders. For in Job,... read more