John Calvin Commentary Daniel 3:8-12

"Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews. They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." — Daniel 3:8-12 (ASV)

Although the intention of those who accused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is not expressed here, we still gather from this event that it was most likely done intentionally when the king set up the golden image. We see how they were observed, and, as we said yesterday, Nebuchadnezzar seems to have followed the common practice of kings.

For although they proudly despise God, they still arm themselves with religion to strengthen their power, and pretend to encourage the worship of God for the sole purpose of keeping the people obedient. Therefore, when the Jews were mixed with Chaldeans and Assyrians, the king expected to meet with many differences of opinion, and so he placed the statue in a celebrated place as a trial and experiment, to see whether the Jews would adopt the Babylonian rites.

Meanwhile, this passage teaches us how the king was likely instigated by his counselors. They were indignant that foreigners were made prefects of the province of Babylon while they themselves were slaves, for they had become exiles by the laws of war. Since the Chaldeans were indignant, they were driven by envy to suggest this advice to the king.

For how did they so suddenly discover that the Jews paid no reverence to the statue, and especially Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Truly, the matter speaks for itself. These men watched to see what the Jews would do. From this, we readily ascertain how they, from the beginning, laid the snare by advising the king to construct the statue.

And when they tumultuously accuse the Jews, we perceive how they were filled with envy and hatred. It may be said they were inflamed with jealousy, since superstitious people wish to impose the same law on everyone, and then their passion is increased by cruelty. But simple rivalry, as we can perceive, corrupted the Chaldeans and caused them to accuse the Jews clamorously.

It is uncertain whether they spoke of the whole nation generally, that is, of all the exiles, or pointed out only those three individuals. The accusation was probably restricted to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. If these three could be broken down, victory over the rest would be easy. But few could be found among all the people resilient enough to resist.

We may well believe these accusers wished to attack those whom they knew to be more spirited and consistent than all others, and also to degrade them from those honors they could not bear them to enjoy. It may be asked, then, why did they spare Daniel, since he would never consent to feign worship of the statue which the king commanded to be set up?

They must have left Daniel alone for the time, since they knew him to be in favor with the king; but they brought the charge against these three because they could be oppressed with far less trouble. I think they were induced by this cunning in not naming Daniel with the other three, so that his favor would not mitigate the king’s wrath.

The form of accusation is added: O king, live for ever! This was the common salutation.

You, O king!—this is emphatic, as if they had said, “You have uttered this edict from your royal authority: whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, or horn, harp, pipe, psaltery, and other musical instruments, shall fall down before the golden statue; whoever should refuse to do this shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace. But here are some Jews whom you have set over the administration of the province of Babylon.”

They add this out of hatred and to reprove the ingratitude of men admitted to such high honor who yet despise the king’s authority and induce others to follow the same example of disrespect.

We see then how this was said to magnify their crime. The king has set them over the province of Babylon, and yet these men do not adore the golden image nor worship the gods. Here is the crime. We see how the Chaldeans, throughout the whole speech, condemn Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of this single crime—a refusal to obey the king’s edict.

They enter into no dispute about their own religion, for it would not have suited their purpose to allow any question to be raised about the claim their own deities had to supreme adoration. Therefore, they omit everything they perceive would not suit them and seize upon this weapon: the king is treated with contempt because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not worship the image as the king’s edict ordered them to do.

Here, again, we see how the superstitious do not apply their minds to the real inquiry of how they should piously and properly worship God; instead, they neglect this duty and follow their own audacity and lust. Therefore, since the Holy Spirit sets such rashness before us as in a mirror, let us learn that God cannot approve of our worship unless it is offered up with truth.

Here human authority is utterly unavailing, because unless we are sure that our religion is pleasing to God, whatever humans can do for us will only add to our weakness.

While we observe those holy men charged with the crime of ingratitude and rebellion, we in these times ought not to be grieved by it.

Those who slander us reproach us with despising the edicts of kings who wish to bind us by their errors; but, as we shall see later, our defense is obvious and easy.

Meanwhile, we ought to undergo this infamy before the world, as if we were disobedient and unmanageable. With respect to ingratitude, even if a thousand wicked people should assail us with reproaches, we must bear their slanders patiently for the time, until the Lord shall shine upon us as the vindicator of our innocence.