Daniel 3

Daniel 3:1

image. This could not have been an image of a human being. The height and breadth are out of all proportion for this; the former being one to ten instead of one to six. A figure drawn on this scale, will at once be seen to be impossible. Having determined that it is a human figure, tradition then assumes it to have been a proportional figure “on a pedestal”, or simply “a bust on a pillar”. But there is nothing in the text to suggest this. It would exactly suit an Asherah (App-42). The Hebrew tzelem denotes something shaped by cutting or carving. Ezekiel 16:17, and Daniel 23:14, practically make this certain. See the verb in Ezekiel 7:20; and compare what is said in Numbers 33:52.

height . . . breadth. See above note.

threescore . . . six. The numbers of man (App-10). Note the six instruments (compare Daniel 5:7, Daniel 5:10, Daniel 5:15). See note on 1 Samuel 17:4.

Daniel 3:2

the king sent. This great Durbar would hardly have taken place till after the campaign referred to in note on “came” (Daniel 1:1). It was therefore probably held about 475 B. C, in Daniel’s thirty-eighth year, twenty years after Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of himself, the “head of gold” (Daniel 2).

to gather together, &c. Note the eight technical terms. Well known to Daniel, but difficult for a Jew in Jeremiah 300 years later to enumerate so minutely and so accurately.

princes = satraps.

governors. See note on Daniel 2:48.

captains = pashas (as in Nehemiah 5:14, Nehemiah 5:18. Haggai 1:14), the first three being governmental.

judges = viziers, or chief judges.

treasurers: these two being courtiers.

counsellors = counsellors of State, judges. The same word as in Daniel 3:3. Not the same word as in verses: Daniel 3:24, Daniel 3:27.

sheriffs = lawyers; these two being legal.

rulers, &c. = superintendents, being functional and general.

Daniel 3:4

herald. Chaldee. karoza’. Not from the Greek kerux, but an old Persian word khresic’, a crier, from which comes the Chaldee verb kevar, to make a proclamation, as in Daniel 5:29.

people = peoples, or nations.

nations = races, or tribes.

languages = tongues. Figure of speech Catabasis. App-6.

Daniel 3:5

cornet, &c. These names are supposed to be Greek, or from the Greek; but Athenaeus, a Greek grammarian (about A.D. 200-300), says the sambuke (“sack-but”) was a Syriac invention. Strabo, in his geography (54 B.C. A.D. 24), ascribes Greek music to Asia, and says: “the Athenians always showed their admiration of foreign customs”.

harp. Chaldee. kithros; Greek. kithara. Terpander, a Greek musician (seventh century B. C), the father of Greek music, invented the kithara with seven strings (Strabo says) instead of four, and one is sculptured on a monument of Assurbanipal (Lenormant, La Divination chez les Chaldiens, pp 190, 191).

sackbut. See note on “cornet”, above.

hour = moment. Chaldee sha’ah, as in verses: Daniel 3:3, Daniel 3:6, Daniel 3:15; Daniel 4:33; Daniel 5:5.

Daniel 3:8

certain = men: probably our grandees. Plural of Chaldee. gebar. App-14.

Chaldeans. See note on Daniel 1:4.

Daniel 3:10

man. Chaldee ’anash. App-14.

Daniel 3:12

Shadrach, &c. See note on Daniel 1:7.

men = strong men, or grandees. Plural of Chaldee. gebar. App-14.

gods. Chaldee ’elah. App-4.

Daniel 3:14

true = of set purpose.

Daniel 3:15

well. Note the Figure of speech Aposiopesis (App-6). Or, supply [well and good].

God. Chaldee ’elah. App-4.

Daniel 3:16

answered and said. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41.

are not careful = do not account it needful.

Daniel 3:17-19

full of= filled with, form = appearance.

visage = countenance.

Daniel 3:20

most mighty men. Chaldee = mighty [ones] of strength.

to bind. Chaldee. kephath. Occurs only here and verses: Daniel 3:21, Daniel 3:23, Daniel 3:24.

Daniel 3:21

coats = cloaks, or mantles.

hosen = tunics.

hats = turbans, mantles, or cloaks.

Daniel 3:22

commandments word.

those men = those very men.

Daniel 3:24

counsellors: or, ministers [standing near] to him; either to his throne or near at the time. Chaldee. haddabrin. Not the same word as in verses: Daniel 3:2, Daniel 3:3.

Daniel 3:25

the son of God = a son of God (no Art.): i.e. a superhuman being, or an angel. Compare Daniel 3:28, and see App-23. Nebuchadnezzar could know nothing of N.T. revelation.

Daniel 3:26

mouth = door.

Daniel 3:27

saw = kept gazing upon.

changed: or, discolored.

Daniel 3:29

speak, &c. = charge any fault or error.

amiss: or, rash. Compare 2 Samuel 6:7, as Nebuchadnezzar himself had done.

cut in pieces, &c See note on Daniel 2:5.

deliver = rescue.