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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 3:4-5

Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up. The Septuagint rendering is, "And the herald proclaimed to the multitudes, To you it is announced, peoples and countries, nations and tongues, when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 3:6

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace . The only difference between the Septuagint and the Massoretic text is that instead of rendering, "shall be cast," it is put in the plural active, "they shall cast him." There may have been a difference of reading— יִרְמונֵה instead of יִתְרְמֵא . It is, perhaps, more probable that it is simply that the translator preferred this construction to the one which would have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 3:7

Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. The Septuagint renders, "And at that time, when all the nations (Gentiles) heard the sound of the trumpet, the pipe and harp, sackbut and psaltery, and every sound of music, then all the nations (Gentiles), tribes, and tongues, fell... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 3:8

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. The Septuagint is in this verse closer to the Massoretic than is Theodotion. The latter has nothing to represent the כָל־קֱבֵל דְנָה ( kol-qobayl d'nah ) of the original, which appears in our versions as "wherefore." The Septuagint renders κατέναντι τούτου . The Peshitta also has omitted "wherefore;" in the next clause it is slavishly accurate, giving the peculiar turn of the phrase in the original, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 3:8-12

The working of base and bitter envy. The men of Chaldea, who plumed themselves with great titles, but possessed little souls, were not content with rendering servile homage to the king's golden image; they must needs turn informers against those who had the courage of religious conviction. While true religion ennobles a man every way, superstition dwarfs intellect and soul—emasculates a man. A gnat may sting to madness a mettled war-horse, and some men who are impotent to do good are busy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 3:9-12

They spake and said to the King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 3:1

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold - The time when he did this is not mentioned; nor is it stated in whose honor, or for what design, this colossal image was erected. In the Greek and Arabic translationns, this is said to have occurred in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. This is not, however, in the original text, nor is it known on what authority it is asserted. Dean Prideaux (Consex. I. 222) supposes that it was at first some marginal comment on the Greek version that at last... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 3:2

Then, Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes - It is difficult now, if not impossible, to determine the exact meaning of the words used here with reference to the various officers designated; and it is not material that it should be done. The general sense is, that he assembled the great officers of the realm to do honor to the image. The object was doubtless to make the occasion as magnificent as possible. Of course, if these high officers were assembled, an immense... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 3:3

And they stood before the image - In the presence of the image. They were drawn up, doubtless, so as at the same time to have the best view of the statue, and to make the most imposing appearance. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 3:4

Then an herald cried aloud - Margin, as in Chaldee, “with might.” He made a loud proclamation. A “herald” here means a public crier.To you it is commanded - Margin, “they commanded.” Literally, “to you commanding” (plural); that is, the king has commanded.O people, nations, and languages - The empire of Babylon was made up of different nations, speaking quite different languages. The representatives of these nations were assembled on this occasion, and the command would extend to all. There was... read more

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