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Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:1-30

Saved from the fiery furnace (3:1-30)Within Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom were people of many races, languages and religions. In a plan to create greater unity among these people, Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image as a national religious symbol, and demanded that all citizens, great and small, bow before it. He set up the image in open plain country where it could be seen from afar, then called all the leading officials from the country areas to a dedication ceremony (3:1-3). He gave instructions... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 3:1

image. This could not have been an image of a human being. The height and breadth are out of all proportion for this; the former being one to ten instead of one to six. A figure drawn on this scale, will at once be seen to be impossible. Having determined that it is a human figure, tradition then assumes it to have been a proportional figure "on a pedestal", or simply "a bust on a pillar". But there is nothing in the text to suggest this. It would exactly suit an Asherah ( App-42 ). The... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 3:2

the king sent . This great Durbar would hardly have taken place till after the campaign referred to in note on "came" (Daniel 1:1 ). It was therefore probably held about 475 B. C, in Daniel's thirty-eighth year, twenty years after Nebuchadnezzar's dream of himself, the "head of gold" (Daniel 2:0 ). to gather together, &c . Note the eight technical terms. Well known to Daniel, but difficult for a Jew in Jer 300 years later to enumerate so minutely and so accurately. princes = satraps. ... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Daniel 3:1

Daniel is a book of a number of astounding miracles; and these should be understood in light of the absolute necessity of God's prevention of the absorption of the Judaic remnant (the truly important part of Israel) into the gross paganism of their Babylonian captors. If Nebuchadnezzar, or any other king, had been permitted by God to compel the Jews to bow down before pagan images, it must be considered very doubtful that Israel could have survived a period of seventy years and at the same time... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Daniel 3:2

"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, 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 satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Daniel 3:1

Daniel 3:1. Nebuchadnezzar—made an image of gold— But what did this image or statue represent? Grotius insists that it was the statue of Nabopalassar, the father of Nebuchadnezzar, whom this prince chose to rank with the gods. Others think that Nebuchadnezzar erected his own statue, and intended to be adored under this form. But throughout the whole chapter, Nebuchadnezzar, in speaking to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, no where complains of injury done to his person, or statue; but only that... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 3:1

1. image—Nebuchadnezzar's confession of God did not prevent him being a worshipper of idols, besides. Ancient idolaters thought that each nation had its own gods, and that, in addition to these, foreign gods might be worshipped. The Jewish religion was the only exclusive one that claimed all homage for Jehovah as the only true God. Men will in times of trouble confess God, if they are allowed to retain their favorite heart-idols. The image was that of Bel, the Babylonian tutelary god; or... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 3:2

2. princes—"satraps" of provinces [GESENIUS]. captains—rulers, not exclusively military. sheriffs—men learned in the law, like the Arab mufti [GESENIUS]. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 3:3

3. stood before the image—in an attitude of devotion. Whatever the king approved of, they all approve of. There is no stability of principle in the ungodly. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 3:1

The whole image that the king built was gold. The head of the image that Nebuchadnezzar had seen in his dream was also gold."Daniel had told him that he was the head of gold (Daniel 2:38) but that he would be followed by ’another kingdom inferior to you’ (Daniel 2:39) made of silver (Daniel 2:32). Rejecting now the idea that any kingdom could follow his own, he may have determined to show the permanence of his golden kingdom by having the entire image covered with gold." [Note: Ibid.] This... read more

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