Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 3:24

"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king." — Daniel 3:24 (ASV)

Then, Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied - The word “astonied,” which occurs several times in our translation (Ezra 9:3; Job 17:8; Job 18:20; Ezekiel 4:17; Daniel 3:24; Daniel 4:19; Daniel 5:9), is simply another form for “astonished,” and expresses wonder or amazement.

The reasons for his wonder here were that the men who were bound when thrown into the furnace were seen alive and walking unbound; that a fourth person was added to them, walking with them; and that this fourth person had the appearance of a divine being.

It would seem from this that the furnace was constructed so that one could conveniently see into it, and also that the king remained near it to witness the outcome of his command.

And rose up in haste - He would naturally express his surprise to his counselors and ask for an explanation of the remarkable occurrence he witnessed. And spake, and said unto his counselors. Margin, “governors.” The word used here (הדברין haddâb^erı̂yn) occurs only here and in Daniel 3:27; Daniel 4:36; and Daniel 6:7. It is rendered “counselors” in each case. The Vulgate renders it “optimatibus;” the Septuagint, μεγιστᾶσιν megistasin — his nobles, or distinguished men. The word would seem to mean those who were authorized to “speak” (from דבר dâbar); that is, those authorized to give counsel: ministers of state, viziers, or cabinet counselors.

Did not we cast three men bound ... - The emphasis here is on the words “three” and “bound.” It was now a matter of astonishment that there were “four,” and that they were all “loose.” It should not be supposed that Nebuchadnezzar had any doubt on this subject, or that his memory had failed him so soon. Instead, this way of introducing the subject is adopted to draw attention strongly to the fact he was about to highlight, and which was to him so much a matter of surprise.