Daniel 3:1-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 3:1-7

We have no certainty concerning the date of this story, only that if this image, which Nebuchadnezzar dedicated, had any relation to that which he dreamed of, it is probable that it happened not long after that; some reckon it to be about the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, a year before Jehoiachin's captivity, in which Ezekiel was carried away. Observe, I. A golden image set up to be worshipped. Babylon was full of idols already, yet nothing will serve this imperious prince but they must have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:1

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 to make for him; whether this image was for himself, or his father Nabopolassar, or for his chief god Bel, or as a new deity, is not easy to say; however, it was made for religious worship:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:2

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, expressed by various names and titles: the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces ; who are particularly... read more

John Gill

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

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 trouble, they came from all parts to attend this great solemnity: and they stood before the image Nebuchadnezzar had set up ; they stood and looked at it, and viewed its several... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:4

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 plural; and many being set in different places in the plain, and speaking different languages, might proclaim when the image was dedicated, as follows: to you it is commanded ; by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:5

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 Zechariah 10:8 , harp ; an instrument of music used by David, and much in use among the Jews, and other nations; sackbut ; or "sambuca"; which, according to Athenaeus F7 Deipnosoph. I. 4. , was a four... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:6

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 observes: the music was to draw, the furnace was to drive, men to this idolatrous worship; the one was to please and sooth the minds of men, and so allure them to such stupid service; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:7

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 was played: all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up ; what through love of music, the fear of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 3:1

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold - It is supposed that the history given here did not occur till the close, or near the end, of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. For it was after his insanity, as we see Daniel 4:33-36 , and this happened near the close of his reign. The authorized version, which is followed in the margin, fixes the date of this event seventeen years earlier, and ten years before the king's insanity. A few observations on this image may be necessary: - It is not likely... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 3:2

Sent to gather together the princes - It is not easy to show what these different offices were, as it is difficult to ascertain the meaning of the Chaldee words. Parkhurst analyzes them thus: - The Princes - אחשדרפניא achashdarpenaiya , from אחש Achash , great or eminent, and דר dar , "to go about freely," and פנים panim , "the presence." Satraps or privy counsellors who had free access to the presence of the king. The Governors - סגניא signaiya , lieutenants or... read more

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