Daniel 3

Chapters that parallel:

2 and 7 Prophecy of the Gentile nations (Image/Beasts)
3 and 6 Jealousy, Religious commitment, Deliverance
4 and 5 God’s power to humble authority at its height of insolence

3:1 The Image: 60 cubits = 90 feet high and 6 cubits = 9 feet wide

6 is the number of humanity

Dura – a common name applicable to any place enclosed bya wall

Archeology: a mound 6 miles southeast of Babylon made of large square brick is a possible site for the pedestal of the image.

KJV

Modern Meaning

Actual duties

Princes

Satrap

administrators, guardians, chief rep. of the king

Governors

Prefect

Military chiefs

Captains

Governors

presidents, governors of civil government

Judges

Counselors

chief arbitartors

Treasurers

Treasurers

 

Counselors

law official , Judge

lawyers

Sheriffs

Magistrates

Judge in the strict sense: i.e. they passed sentences

 

3:5

Cornet

a horn instrument

Flute

probably made of reeds and sounded similar to a fife

Harp

stringed instrument of some sort

Sackbut

Triangular boards to which strings were attached

Psalter

a twenty stringed instrument

Dulcimer

wind instrument

 

 

 

3:8 "The Chaldeans" the original Babylonian race. They were probably jealous of the authority given to the 3 captains from Israel. Note they remind Neb. of S., H., and A.’s ancestry.

Where was Daniel?

  1. Not there
  2. Bowed not but was not accused because of his power
  3. He bowed looking at it as political and not religious

3:12 A challenge of the gods, is to challenge Nebuchadnezzar for it was believed that his gods favored him and therefore gave him the authority to rule.

14 Neb. distinguishes between serving gods and worshipping his image.

  1. Neb. in spite of his anger (vrs. 13) gives them a second chance. Their excellent service in office is probably responsible for his offer.
  2. We are not careful: blunt confidence

"Careful" could be translated as a technical word for "need" i.e. "We have no need to answer you" As to put up a defense for not worshipping the other Gods. e.g. the Berkly Bible says, "We would not make any defense in this matter."

  • "the fiery" article should be left out: reference not only to the furnace at hand but any furnace
  • "But it not" counters if you have the faith anything can turn out fine... i.e. they were saying that it might not
  • Neb. took refusal as personal disloyalty = anger

Anger -> distorted face -> distorted judgment

7x’s hotter would only kill faster... if it were cooled that amount, it would have been of more possible hurt

  • Bounded: note here and also in 21, 23, 24 it is mentioned 4 x’s
  • Bound in all their clothing... normally the criminal was stripped but in view of Neb’s anger and the heat of the situation the clothes were left on
  1. Neb. notices a fourth figure in the fire
  2. The 3 Jews were loose, not even trying to escape the furnace

Son of God most likely should be trans. "Son of the gods"

  • Most High God: reference to the power of their God rather than disavowing his own God
  • Many witnesses of the miracle

The trial had not harmed them but brought glory to God. Only the things that had bound them were burnt.

Three men type of Israel through the tribulation: Isaiah 43:1-2