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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 3:19-27

In these verses we have, I. The casting of these three faithful servants of God into the fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar had himself known and owned so much of the true God that, one would have thought, though his pride and vanity induced him to make this golden image, and set it up to be worshipped, yet what these young men now said (whom he had formerly found to be wiser than all his wise men) would revive his convictions, and at least engage him to excuse them; but it proved quite otherwise.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:19

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 to what it was in times past, when they were his favourites, and he smiled upon them; but with respect to what it was while they were under examination, and he was trying to bring them to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:20

And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army ,.... 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 in one bundle, and so cast into the furnace; which is not improbable, as Gejerus observes; seeing the king afterwards wondered to see them walk separately in the furnace: there was no need to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:21

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" F18 בסרבליהון "cum femoralibus", Pagninus; so Syr. Ar.; "cum braccis suis", V. L. or breeches are meant: their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments : their turbants on their heads, which were usually wore in those countries; and their stockings and shoes, and other under... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:22

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 times more than usual: the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ; which came out of the furnace, being so excessive hot, and the smoke along... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:23

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. In the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, follow sixty seven verses, containing the song of Azariah and his companions in the furnace, which are not in the Hebrew text. read more

John Gill

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

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