daniel-3:1-3,-daniel-3:16-18

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 3:1-7

1. The worship of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue 3:1-7 read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 3:2

Nebuchadnezzar summoned his officials to the image for what he probably intended to be a demonstration of loyalty to him."The fairly recent date of the establishment of the Babylonian Empire as the successor to Assyria (at least in its southern half) made it appropriate for Nebuchadnezzar to assemble all the local and provincial leaders from every part of his domain and, in essence, exact from them a solemn oath of loyalty . . ." [Note: Archer, "Daniel," p. 51.] The religious connotations of... read more

Thomas Constable

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

Some of the titles of the officials named in the text are Persian and some are Babylonian. Daniel may have updated some of these Babylonian titles with modern Persian equivalents when he wrote the book in its final form. Or perhaps they were already common when the events of this chapter happened.The "satraps" were the highest political officials in each province. The "prefects" (princes) were military chiefs. The "governors" (captains) were heads of sections of the provinces. The "counselors"... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 3:1-30

The Golden Image and the Fiery FurnaceNebuchadnezzar sets up a colossal golden image, and summons to its dedication all the officials of his empire, who are commanded to fall down and worship the image at a given musical signal, on pain of being cast into a furnace (Daniel 3:1-6). They all do so, with the exception of Daniel’s three friends, whose refusal is reported to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:7-12). They are summoned before the king, and persist in their refusal (Daniel 3:13-18).... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Daniel 3:1

(1) 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... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Daniel 3:2

(2) Sent—i.e., sent heralds, as appears from Daniel 3:4. (On the Babylonian officers, see Exc. A.) read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Daniel 3:1-30

Daniel 3:1 Bentley's first year at Trinity is marked by at least one event altogether fortunate his marriage. At Bishop Stillingfleet's he had met Miss Joanna Bernard, daughter of Sir John Bernard, of Brampton, Huntingdonshire. 'Being now raised to a station of dignity and consequence, he succeeded in obtaining the object of his affections,' says Dr. Monk who refuses to believe a story that the engagement was nearly broken off owing to a doubt expressed by Bentley with regard to the authority... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:1-30

THE IDOL OF GOLD, AND THE FAITHFUL THREEREGARDED as an instance of the use of historic fiction to inculcate the noblest truths, the third chapter of Daniel is not only superb in its imaginative grandeur, but still more in the manner in which it sets forth the piety of ultimate faithfulness, and of that"Death-defying utterance of truth" which is the essence of the most heroic and inspiring forms of martyrdom. So far from slighting it, because it does not come before us with adequate evidence to... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Daniel 3:1-30

CHAPTER 3 The Image of Gold 1. The image of gold (Daniel 3:1-7 ) 2. The faithful three (Daniel 3:8-18 ) 3. The miraculous deliverance (Daniel 3:19-25 ) 4. The worshipping king (Daniel 3:26-30 ) Daniel 3:1-7 . He had an immense statue of gold made, the image of a man, no doubt, and he set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. It was idolatry and the deification of man. Idolatry and the deification of man are then the first moral characteristics mentioned which are to... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Daniel 3:1

3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made {a} 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.(a) Under pretence of religion, and holiness in making an image to his idol Bel, he sought his own ambition and vain glory: and this declares that he was not touched with the true fear of God before, but that he confessed him on a sudden motion, as the wicked when they are overcome with the greatness of... read more