Daniel 3
3
The King’s Golden Image
1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, 5that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” 7Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Worship of the Image Refused
8For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews. 9They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “O king, live forever! 10You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to fall down and worship the golden image. 11But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”
13Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”
16Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel’s Friends Protected
19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. 23But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” 26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire. 27The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
28Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. 29Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
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Daniel 3: NASB1995
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Daniel 3
3
Nebuchadnezzar’s Statue
1King Nebuchadnezzar # 3:1 Two Greek versions add: “in the eighteenth year [of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign].” The Septuagint further adds “having subdued towns and provinces and all the inhabitants of the world from India to Ethiopia.” had a golden statue made that was sixty cubits high and six cubits # 3:1 It is difficult to be precise regarding the length of a cubit. Generally, a standard cubit is believed to be about 17.5 inches or 0.44 meters. A long cubit was a cubit plus a handbreadth (3.5 inches or 90 millimeters); in total about 21 inches or 0.53 meters. Unless otherwise noted, conversions from cubits to modern units in this translation will be calculated using the long cubit measurement. This massive statue was nearly 105 feet (32 meters) high and 11 feet (3 meters) wide. wide. He erected the statue on the plain of Dura # 3:1 Or “walled plain.” See Edward M. Cook, “ ‘In the Plain of the Wall’ (Daniel 3:1),” Journal of Biblical Literature 108, no. 1 (1989): 115–16. Possibly Tura Dula, a river that flows into the Euphrates about six miles (ten kilometers) south of Babylon. in the province of Babylon. 2He then ordered an assembly of his princes, # 3:2 Or “satraps,” a Persian loanword that means “overseer [protector] of the province.” They were appointed by the king for a lifetime appointment. They usually were princes or were related to the royal family. They had authority to tax the people of their province and to have a provincial army. Apparently, not all the people of Babylon were assembled at this dedication; it was only the nation’s elite. See v. 27; 6:1. magistrates, and governors, as well as the counselors, treasurers, judges, sheriffs, and all the other provincial authorities, that they should be present at the dedication of the statue he had erected. 3So all these officials # 3:3 Or “princes, magistrates, and governors, as well as the counselors, treasurers, judges, sheriffs, and all the other provincial authorities.” This repetition of attendees is condensed for the sake of English narrative. gathered in front of the golden statue that the king had made.
4Then a herald made the loud proclamation: “Attention everyone! Listen to what the king commands of you—you of every nation and language. 5When you hear the ram’s horn, and the music of the flute, # 3:5 Or “pipe.” The Hebrew is literally “hiss,” the onomatopoeic sound of a shepherd’s pipe (see Judg. 5:16). the lyre, # 3:5 Or possibly “zither.” the ten-stringed harp, the triangular harp, the drums, # 3:5 Or “pipes”; some scholars believe it may have been the dulcimer. The Aramaic word is sumponyah and is related to the Greek symphonia. For this reason, some translators render this as “accompanying sound.” (For more precise information regarding these instruments, see Charles H. Dyer, “The Musical Instruments in Daniel 3,” Bibliotheca Sacra 147 [1990]: 426–36.) and all the other instruments, you will bow down to the ground and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has made. 6Whoever does not bow down to worship it will immediately be thrown into a white-hot fiery furnace.”
7Therefore, at the set time, as soon as they heard the musical instruments, # 3:7 Or “the ram’s horn, and the music of the flute, the lyre, the ten-stringed harp, the triangular harp, the drums, and all the other instruments.” This repetition of instruments is condensed for the sake of the English narrative. those present from all nations and languages bowed down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. # 3:7 In a sense, Nebuchadnezzar was setting up a counterfeit, open-air temple complex, complete with worshipers (musicians, see 2 Chron. 29:25–28). Instead of a brazen altar, it was a fiery furnace. Instead of a golden ark of glory, it was an idolatrous golden statue. The king was going to sacrifice the three Jews in the fire as his offering to his false god (statue).
The Condemnation of the Young Jewish Men
8At that point, certain Babylonian astrologers # 3:8 Or “Chaldeans,” which may have its derived meaning of “fortune tellers [astrologers].” approached the king and maliciously denounced # 3:8 Or literally “ate [or chewed up] the pieces of.” This idiomatic expression seems to carry the idea of spiteful slander as well as accusation. the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar: “O king, live forever! 10You issued a royal decree, O king, that when everyone hears the ram’s horn and the music # 3:10 Or “the music of the flute, the lyre, the ten-stringed harp, the triangular harp, the drums, and all the other instruments.” See v. 5. begins they must bow down to the ground and worship the golden image. 11And whoever does not bow down and worship it will be thrown inside a white-hot fiery furnace. 12Yet, the prominent Jews, whom you have appointed administrators of the province of Babylon, have greatly disrespected you, Your Majesty. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They do not serve your gods # 3:12 Or “your god” (i.e., the statue he erected). According to the traditional reading of the synagogue, as marked in the margin of the text, the reader was instructed to read a singular “your god” at this point. This would then be a direct reference to the god represented by the golden statue. See v. 14. nor worship the golden image you have set up.”
13Upon hearing this, King Nebuchadnezzar flew into a furious rage and ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought before him. When these men came before the king, 14he asked them, “Is it true, # 3:14 Or “Is it deliberate?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue that I erected? 15I now give you one more chance. # 3:15 The Aramaic sentence is an incomplete conditional phrase, “If now . . . you will fall down.” When you hear the ram’s horn and the music of the flute, # 3:15 Or “pipe.” See the first footnote on v. 5. the lyre, # 3:15 Or possibly “zither.” the ten-stringed harp, the triangular harp, the drums, # 3:15 Or “pipes.” See the third footnote on v. 5. and all the other instruments, you will bow down to the ground and worship the golden statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a white-hot fiery furnace. So now, who is the god that can save you from my power?” # 3:15 Or “from my hands.”
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar: “We have no need to offer you a defense in this matter. 17If the God we serve truly exists, then he will save us from death at your hand, O king. # 3:17 These three Jewish young men knew the truth of Deut. 4:20 and Isa. 43:2. God had once delivered his people from the iron furnace of Egyptian bondage, and they were confident that he would do it again. So, if you throw us into the fiery furnace, our God is able to save us. 18But even if he does not save us, you can be sure, O king, that we would not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have erected.”
Daniel’s Three Friends Are Sentenced to Death
19Upon hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger, and his face was distorted with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered his men to heat the fiery furnace seven times hotter than it usually was. # 3:19 The number seven could be seen more figuratively than literally since there was no thermometer to measure the heat accurately. 20He also commanded some of his mighty men to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the white-hot furnace. 21Immediately, they tied up the three men while they still had on all their clothes—their trousers, shirts, and turbans—and then threw them into the white-hot furnace. 22But because the king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so overheated, the raging flames burned up the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire. # 3:22 The Greek versions state that the flames jumped out from the furnace “forty-nine cubits,” which is over eighty-six feet (twenty-six meters)! Additionally, according to b. Sanhedrin 92b–93a, Nebuchadnezzar himself was half-burned. (See Louis Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews [The Jewish Publication Society], 4.329, 6.416.) 23And the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, tied and bound, fell inside the blazing, white-hot furnace. # 3:23 Following the end of v. 23, the Greek (Theodotion and LXX) and Syriac versions of Daniel include sixty-six verses not found in the Aramaic. These verses include the passages commonly referred to as “The Song [Prayer] of Azariah” and “The Song of the Three Young Men,” which are considered inspired Scripture by the Roman Catholic tradition. The first three verses of the sixty-eight verses of “The Song [Prayer] of Azariah” read: “They [the three young Hebrews] walked around in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. Then Azariah stood still in the fire and prayed aloud: ‘Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors, and worthy of praise; and glorious is your name forever’ ” (Dan. 3:24–26, NRSVCE).
24Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his officials, # 3:24 Or “companions.” “Didn’t we throw three men, bound in fetters, into the fire?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty,” they answered him.
25“But look,” he shouted, “I see four men walking about freely in the fire. They’re all unharmed! And the fourth man has the appearance of a son of the gods!” # 3:25 Or “like a son of god” or “like a divine being.” In Jewish writings the expression “sons of God” refers to members of the divine council around the Lord (see 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6; Ps. 148:2). Most Christian expositors see the fourth man in the fire as a Christophany, an appearance of our Lord in the midst of the fiery flames.
26Then Nebuchadnezzar cautiously approached the opening of the white-hot blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Great God, # 3:26 Or “the Most High God.” come out here now!” So out of the midst of the fire walked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego completely unharmed. 27When all the kings’ officials had assembled, along with the princes, # 3:27 Or “satraps.” See the footnote on v. 2. magistrates, and governors, they discovered that the fire had not harmed these three men. Their hair was not singed, their clothes were not scorched, and they didn’t even smell like smoke.
28King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! For he sent his divine messenger # 3:28 Or “his angel.” to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed my orders and laid their lives on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own. 29So I hereby make this decree: Any person from any nation or language who says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb, and his house will be destroyed, because there is no other god who is able to rescue so miraculously!” 30Then the king promoted # 3:30 Or “caused to prosper.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
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