Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 3
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Daniel 3
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Daniel 3
"Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon." — Daniel 3:1 (ASV)
An image. —If this image was made after the manner described (Isaiah 44:9–20), the body was formed of wood, and the whole, when properly shaped, was covered with thin plates of gold. As the height of the whole is disproportionate to the width, it is probable that the height of the pedestal on which the image stood is included under the sixty cubits.
Plain of Dura. —The older commentators identified this place with various sites, some north, some east of Babylon. Recent discoveries place it nearer to Babylon, in a place still called by a similar name.
"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up." — Daniel 3:2 (ASV)
Sent — that is, sent heralds, as appears from Daniel 3:4. (On the Babylonian officers, see Excursus A.)
"Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages," — Daniel 3:4 (ASV)
People, nations. — In biblical language, the latter word is used (Genesis 25:16) for the tribes of Ishmael, each of which had its own head, or for the Midianites (Numbers 25:15). The former is applied to Israel in Psalm 111:6, where the phrase people of Jehovah occurs. The word “languages” is applied (Genesis 10:5, Genesis 10:20, and others) to tribes as represented by their languages. Therefore, these three expressions denote all nations subject to the empire, whatever their language, government, or federation (Compare Daniel 3:29, Daniel 4:1, and Daniel 7:14).
"that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up;" — Daniel 3:5 (ASV)
The cornet. —On the musical instruments, see Excursus B.
"and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." — Daniel 3:6 (ASV)
Shall be cast ...—This punishment was not uncommon among the Babylonians. One instance of it is mentioned by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:22; see also Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, vol. ii., p. 361). The occasion being a national festival, any refusal to worship the national gods would be regarded as high treason. Any foreign subjects would be expected to take part in the ceremony, their gods being supposed to have been conquered, and being regarded as demons. (Compare to 2 Kings 19:12; 2 Chronicles 28:23.)
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