Daniel 3:1-6

Daniel 3:1

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.

 

When Daniel had interpreted the dream for Nebuchadnezzar, he exclaimed that God was the God of gods.  The fact that he named God as the chief god did not take away from the fact that he was still a pagan who worshipped multiple gods.  It did not take long for Nebuchadnezzar to take his dream, misinterpret the meaning, and then proceed to bolster his own glory.  Here he made an image of gold which was probably patterned after the description that Daniel gave him from his dream.  We do not know if it was solid gold or if it was gold plated.  If it was solid gold, then the image would have weighed several tons.  The height was 60 cubits.  A cubit was approximately 18 inches (46 cm) making the height of the statue 90 feet high (27.4 Meters).  The breadth of the statue was 6 cubits or 9 feet (2.74 meters).  He set this image up in the plain of Dura which was within the main province of Babylon, where Daniel ruled.  The location of the plain of Dura is unknown although there has been much speculation as to its whereabouts.  It is thought to have been near Baghdad.

 

Daniel 3:2

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

 

Then the king decided to send for all the rulers in the many provinces of Babylon to attend the dedication of the image.  It seems that only high officials were invited to the event since the king could not leave the provinces without any leadership because that could have invited rebellion.  It was no doubt an opportunity for all the lesser leaders to declare their allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar and for him to see who was loyal to him.  A dedication to a pagan statue would not have been out of the ordinary for those who believe in false gods and perhaps this was looked upon as just one of those occasions.  The dedication would probably have been linked to a great feast afterward.  Among these would have been Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  Daniel must have been away at this time, perhaps on the King’s business, because he would have also been required to attend.  Since he was ruler over the province of Babylon, that would have been considered a political office and we read that all the invited guests held political office.

 

Daniel 3:3

Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 

Once all the invited guests had arrived they were to make their way to the image.  It may have been some time before the gathering was complete since some had to travel from distant parts of Babylon.  Then once all the provinces were represented by dignitaries they stood before the image and waited until they were told what to do.  Once the word came down, they were to worship that image.

 

Daniel 3:4

Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

 

The herald appointed by the king began to speak.  The herald was one who made public proclamation in public places like town squares or before large crowds to read some type of royal edict.  The call for worshippers must have gone out to the lands which Babylon conquered because we read that the proclamation went to those in attendance of different nations and languages.

 

Daniel 3:5

That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

 

There must have been almost a full orchestra in attendance to commence the worship service.  The different instruments are described as follows:

 

Cornet – A type of trumpet or horn akin to the French horn

Flute – It was pipes together each having its own mouthpiece

Harp – A stringed instrument which David had used

Sackbut – A triangular stringed instrument of high pitch

Psaltery – It is a stringed instrument struck with a plectrum.  It was shaped like a large triangle.

Dulcimer – A bagpipe which contained two pipes placed through a leather bag

 

Once all these and other instruments sounded simultaneously, then all those in attendance were required to prostrate themselves in front of the image and worship.

 

Daniel 3:6

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

 

Then there was given the command of consequence.  Anyone who does not bow down and worship the image shall be taken immediately to be executed.  The method which the king chose for this was for the dissenters to be burned in a fiery furnace.  The burning of people in a furnace was an ancient mode of punishment by the Chaldeans.  The type of furnace used is not given because it could have been one that was used for smelting or even one that was built intentionally for the purpose of capital punishment.  Whatever type it was, it would have had to be a type where the fire would be enclosed to allow it to increase in ferocity and temperature with a door that would seal the entrance when the victims were thrown in.

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