VERSE 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold (bh;d>-yDI ~lec. db;[] aK'l.m; rC;n<d>k;Wbn> [proper noun Neb + noun m.s.w/art. melek + Peal perf.3.m.s. abad make + noun m.s.abs. tselem image + rel. di + noun m.s.abs. dehab gold], the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six cubits [tvi !yMia; HyEt'P. !yTivi !yMia; HmeWr [noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. rum height + noun f.p.abs. ammah cubit + adj.p.abs. shittin sixty + noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. peti breadth, width + noun f.p.abs. ammah cubit + adj.f.s.abs. shith six]; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon [lb,B' tn:ydIm.Bi ar'WD t[;q.biB. Hmeyqia] aphel perf.3.m.s.w/3.m.s.suff. qum stand; "set it up" + prep. b w/noun f.s.constr. biqe-ah plain + proper noun Dura + prep. b w/noun f.s.constr. medinah province + proper noun Babel]).

VERSE 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble (vn:k.mil. xl;v. aK'l.m; rC;n<d>k;Wbn>W [waw w/proper noun Neb + noun m.s.w/art. melek + Peal perf.3.m.s. shelach send + prep. l w/Peal infin.constr. kenash gather] the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces [at'n"ydIm. ynEjol.vi lkow> ayET'p.Ti aY"r;b.t'D> aY"r;b.d'g> aY"r;z>G"r>d;a] at'w"x]p;W aY"n:g>si aY"n:P.r>D;v.x;a]l; [prep. l w/noun m.p.w/art. ahashadrapenin satraps; Persian loan word also used in Ezra and Esther + noun m.p.w/art. segan perfect; Akkadian loan word found also in Heb + waw w/noun m.p.w/art. pechah governor; loan word from Akkadian + noun m.p.w/art. adargazar counselor; Persian word only in vv. 2,3 + noun m.p.w/art. gizbar treasurer; Persian word + noun m.p.w/art. detabar judge; Persian loan word + noun m.p.w/art. tiptaye magistrate; a provincial officer of unknown station + waw w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + noun m.p.constr. sholtan dominion; "rulers" + noun f.s.w/art. medinah province, district] to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up [aK'l.m; rC;n<d>k;Wbn> ~yqeh] yDI am'l.c; tK;nUx]l; atemel. [prep. l w/Peal infin.constr. atah come; this is the usual word for "come" in BA, which lacks the Heb "bo"; It appears in the NT in the phrase maran-tha, "Come, Lord!" + prep. l w/noun f.s.constr.w/art. hanukkah dedication; usage similar in Heb. The Jewish feast of Hanukkah is a post exilic celebration of the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabbe in 165 BC + noun m.s.w/art. tselem image + rel di + Hapael perf.3.m.s. qum stand; "had set up" + proper noun Neb + noun m.s.w/art. melek].

VERSE 3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled (at'n"ydIm. ynEjol.vi lkow> ayET'p.Ti aY"r;b.t'D> aY"r;b.d'g> aY"r;z>G"r>d;a] at'w"x]p;W aY"n:g>si aY"n:P.r>D;v.x;a] !yviN>K;t.mi !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. edayin then + Hithpaal part.m.p.abs. kenash gather; "were assembled" + noun m.p.w/art. ahashadrapenin satraps; Persian + noun m.p.w/art. segan prefect + waw wnoun m.p/w/art. pechah governor + noun m.p.w/art. adargazar counselor; Persian + noun m.p.w/art. gizbar treasurer; Persian + noun m.p.w/art. detabar judge + noun m.p.w/art. tiptaye magistrate; provincial officer; unk. + waw w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + noun m.p.constr. shilton ruler + noun f.s.w/art. medinah province] for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up [aK'l.m; rC;n<d>k;Wbn> ~yqeh] yDI am'l.c; tK;nUx]l; [prep. l w/noun f.s.constr. chanukkah dedication; "dedication" + noun m.s.w/art. tselem image + rel di + Haphel perf.3.m.s. qum stand; "set up" + proper noun Neb. + noun m.s.w/art. melek king]; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up [rC;n<d>k;Wbn> ~yqeh] yDI am'l.c; lbeq\l' Î!ymiy>q'w>Ð ¿!ymia]q'w>À [waw w/Peal part.m.p.abs. qum "they stood " + prep. l w/prep. qabel before, front; "before" + noun m.s.w/art. tselem image + rel di + Haphel perf.3.m.s. qum stand; "had set up" + proper noun Neb.]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-3

1. Despite the implicit warning through the dream that the Most High God would obliterate the idol-worshipping empires, Nebuchadnezzar ignored his new insights and proceeded to force on his subjects the worship of the patron god of the Chaldeans.
2. Nebs confession of the Daniel’s God as "God of gods and Lord of kings" (2:47) was superficial.
3. His desire to erect a colossus on "the plain of Dura" also points to his egotism tending toward megalomania.
4. Like many pagans he probably saw no conflict in embracing multiple loyalties or gods.
5. He issued a decree that all officials of state should assemble and bow before newly constructed image of the patron god of Babylon Nebu.
6. Failure to comply amounted to disloyalty and carried with it death by fire.
7. Neb had the statute made of gold platting.
8. The erection of a gold colossus undoubtedly came from the symbolism of the head of gold representing Babylonia from the interpretation given by Daniel in 2:38.
9. Here we have an example of gross misapplication based on a true teaching.
10. We have no evidence that statutes of Mesopotamian rulers were ever worshipped during the ruler’s lifetime.
11. The statue represented Nebuchadnezzar’s patron god, Nebo (or Nebu).
12. Prostration before Nebo would amount to a pledge of allegiance to the god’s viceroy, Nabu-kudurriusur, i.e., Nebuchadnezzar.
13. For the king’s perspective no reasonable man could refuse to give this token of loyalty to his sovereign and his government.
14. The fairly recent date of the establishment of the Babylonian Empire as the successor to Assyria 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, certified by a religious sanction by this ceremony of adoration of the state god of Babylon.
15. But if any official refused to comply, they were to be immediately executed in the heated furnace that stood blazing on the fair grounds.
16. The listing of the various officers of government suggests a well-organized bureaucracy.
17. "The satraps," from Old Persian khshatrapawan, "realm protector" was in charge of the largest satrapies.
18. The "prefects" were probably lieutenant governors of some sort.
19. "Governors" were leaders of smaller territories like the post-exilic province of Judea, which (cf. Mal.1:8) was administered by a pehah.
20. "The counselors" or "advisors," is derived from the Persian andarzaghar.
21. "The treasurers" (gedaberayya, from ganzabara, inferrable from the Pahlevi ganzavar, "treasurer" or "treasure-bearer").
22. "Judges" (detaberayya, from Old Persian databara, lit. "law-bearer").
23. "Magistrates" (a conjectural rendering of tipaye, which may have been derived from the Old Persian adipati, lit., "over-chief").
24. And (#8) "provincial governors" (siltone, from selit, "to have dominion over"), a general term for a governmental executive.
25. Observe that five of these titles are apparently of Iranian origin, even though the scene for this episode is early in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.
26. We conclude then, that Daniel 3, in its final form at least, must have been composed after the rise of the Persian Empire (in 539); and the terms used must have replaced those that were actually employed in Aramaic around the turn of the century in question.
27. This agrees perfectly with the supposition that Daniel finished this book for publication around 532 BC, when the new Persian titles would have been current in the metropolis of Babylon.
28. It should be pointed out that by the 2^nd century BC (the Maccabaean period), some of these Persian loan words had become obsolete and could no longer be correctly translated at least by the Alexandrian Jews.
29. This can only mean that chapter 3 must have been composed long enough before the 2^nd century for these words to have been forgotten (cf. Wiseman, Problems in Daniel, p. 43).
30. The Colossus at Rhodes was commissioned by the Rhodian sculptor Chares of Lindos.
31. To build the statute, his workers cast the outer bronze skin part..
32. The base was made of white marble, and the feet and ankle were first fixed.
33. The structure was gradually erected as the bronze form fortified with an iron and stone framework.
34. To reach the higher parts, and earth ramp was built around the statue and was later removed.
35. When the colossus was finished, it stood 110 feet high.
36. And when it fell, "few people can make their arms meet around the thumb", wrote Pliny.
37. This ancient wonder inspired modern artists such as French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi best known by his famous work: "The Statute of Liberty."
38. Standing at the entrance to New York harbor is a 151-foot statue of a woman holding a book and a torch on-high.
39. Pheidias began working on his statute of Zeus around 440 BC.
40. Years earlier, he had developed a techinque to build enormous gold and ivory statutes.
41. This was done by erecting a wooden frame on which sheets of metal and ivory were placed to provide the outer covering.
42. Pheidias’ workshop in Olympia still exists, and is coincidentally identical in size and orientation to the temple of Zeus.
43. There, he sculpted and carved the different pieces of the statute before they were assembled in the temple.
44. The base of the statute was about 20 feet wide and 3 feet high.
45. The height of the statue itself was 40 feet.
46. Nebuchadnezzar’s colossus is here given as some 90 feet in height and 9 feet wide.
47. It presented quite an impressive sight for the dignitaries who gathered there on the day of dedication gleaming in the Sun.
48. But it was just a lifeless idol the couldn’t even lift a finger (see Isa.37:18-19; Jer.10:2-16)!

VERSE 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed (lyIx'b. areq' az"Ark'w> [waw w/noun m.s.w/art. karoz hearld; one of several Greek words found in Daniel + Peal part.m.s.abs. qera call + prep. b w/noun m.s.abs. chayil strength; "loudly"]: "To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language [aY"n:V'liw> aY"M;au aY"m;m.[; !yrIm.a' !Akl. [prep. l w/2.m.p.suff. + Peal part.m.p.abs. amra say, command; "the command is given" + noun m.p.w/art. am people + noun f.p.w/art. ummah nation + waw w/noun f.p.w/art. lishshan tongue, i.e., language]),

VERSE 5 that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music (ar'm'z> ynEz> lkow> hy"n>Pom.Ws !yrITen>s;P. ak'B.s; ÎsArt.q;Ð ¿sArt'yqiÀ at'yqiArv.m; an"r>q; lq' !W[m.v.ti-yDI an"D'[iB. [prep. b w/noun m.s.w/art. iddan time, span, era; here in a temporal clause; "at the moment" + rel. di "that" + Peal iimpf.2.m.p. shema hear + noun m.s.abs. qal voice; sound + noun m.s.w/art. qeren horn + noun f.s.w/art. mashroqi pipe; "flute" + noun m.s.abs. qitros lyre; loan word from Greek + noun f.s.abs. sabbeka a triangular instrument with four strings; "trigon" + noun m.s.abs. pesanterin harp; comes from the Greek psalterion; used in the LXX to translate the Hebrew nebel "harp"; "psaltery" + noun f.s.abs. sumponyah wind instrument; Greek loan word; cf. our Hawaiian "ukelele"; "bagpipe" + waw w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + noun m.p.constr. zan kind + noun m.s.w/art. zemar music], you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up [aK'l.m; rC;n<d>k;Wbn> ~yqeh] yDI ab'h]D; ~l,c,l. !WdG>s.tiw> !WlP.Ti ar'm'z> [Peal impf.2.m.p. nepal fall + waw w/Peal impf.2.m.p. segid worship; like Heb. sagad + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. tselem image + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + rel di + Haphel perf.3.m.s. qum stand; "has set" + proper noun Neb + noun m.s.w/art. melek king]).

VERSE 6 "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire (aT'd>qiy" ar'Wn !WTa;-aAgl. amer>t.yI at'[]v;-HB; dGUs.yIw> lPeyI al'-yDI-!m;W [waw w/interrog. who + rel. di + neg. la + Peal impf.3.m.s. nepal fall + waw w/Peal impf.3.m.s. segid worship + prep. b w/art. + noun f.s.w/art. sha-ah moment; "immediately" + Hithpeel impf.3.m.s. rema cast + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. gaw midst + noun m.s.abs. attun furnace; loan word from Akkadian + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Peal part.f.s.w/art. yeqad burn; "blazing"])."

VERSE 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music (ar'm'z> ynEz> lkow> hy"n>Pom.Ws !yrIjen>s;P. ak'B.f; ÎsArt.q;Ð ¿srot'yqiÀ at'yqiArv.m; an"r>q; lq' aY"m;m.[;-lK' !y[im.v' ydIK. an"m.zI-HBe hn"D> lbeq\-lK' [noun m.s.constr. kol all + prep. qabel before + adj. denah this + prep. b + noun m.s.w/art. qeman time + prep. k w/rel. di + Peal part.m.p.abs. shema hear + noun m.s.constr. kol + noun m.p.w/art. am people + noun m.s.abs. qal sound + noun m.s.w/art. qeren horn + noun f.s.w/art. mashroqi; "flute" + noun m.s.abs. qitros; "lyre" + noun f.s.abs sabbeka "trigon" + noun m.s.abs. pesanterin "psaltery" or "harp" + noun f.s.abs. sumponya "bagpipe" + waw w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + noun m.p.constr. zan kind + noun m.s.w/art. zemar music], all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up (aK'l.m; rC;n<d>k;Wbn> ~yqeh] yDI ab'h]D; ~l,c,l. !ydIg>s' aY"n:V'liw> aY"m;au aY"m;m.[;-lK' !ylip.n" [Peal part.m.p.abs. nepal fall + noun m.s.constr. kol + noun m.p.w/art. am people + noun f.p.w/art. ummah nation + waw w/noun f.p.w/art. lishshan tongue; language + Peal part.m.p.abs. segid worship + noun m.s.constr. tselem image + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + rel di "that" + Haphel perf.3.m.s. qum "had set up" + proper noun Neb + noun m.s.w/art. melek]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 4-7

1. The actual ceremony related to the dedication of the gold colossus to the Babylonian State deity Nebo was begun with an announcement to the assembled dignitaries from around the realm.
2. All were informed that compliance was not voluntary but compulsory.
3. The royal herald shouted, "You are commanded."
4. All persons present were to bow before the gilded idol at the moment of the musical queue from the royal orchestra.
5. The list of six instruments listed in v.5 did not exhaust the kinds of musical instruments present, as implied in the phrase "all kinds of music."
6. Probably there was a choir as well.
7. The first instrument listed was probably a silver trumpet.
8. The second is a stringed instrument the "flute" from a root meaning "to whistle."
9. The third is the "lyre" probably borrowed from the Greek kitharis an instrument probably available on the Near Eastern markets as early as the Assyrian period.
10. The fourth is the "trigon" or triangular lyre.
11. The fifth is the "harp" or "psaltery", apparently derived from psalterion, another stringed instrument, somewhat triangular in shape, with strings passing under the sounding board rather than over it (again an instrument introduced by Greek merchants).
12. The sixth is the "pipes," "bagpipe," or "Pan’s pipes" which was a wind instrument having at least two pipes with finger stops for note differentiation (derived from Gk. sumphonia [harmony], a distinctive type of instrument that would have retained its Greek name even after being introduced to the Near East and Mesopotamia.
13. The illustrious assemblage was told that they would bow down before the impressive image set up by Nebuchadnezzar or those not complying would be immediately cast into the blazing furnace that had been set up on the parade grounds.
14. Needless to say, there was almost universal compliance when the orchestra commenced playing (v.7)!
15. Everyone’s heads touched the ground, except for three men.
16. Those assembled were asked to commit and act of idolatry in violation of the 1^st and 2^nd commandments (cf. Ex.20:3-5).
17. Idolatry is a sin no matter what race engages in it.
18. It denies the all-sufficiency of who and what the one and only God is.
19. This occasion was used for political purposes to secure public commitment to the Babylonian regime.
20. The official leadership of every nation and district under Nebuchadnezzar’s rule was forced to join in this act of idolatrous worship on pain of immediate execution.

VERSE 8 For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews (ayEd'Why> yDI !Ahycer>q; Wlk;a]w: !yaiD'f.K; !yrIb.GU WbrIq. an"m.zI-HBe hn"D> lbeq\-lK' [noun m.s.constr. kol all; but in front of qobel = "for this reason" + prep. qabel front + adj.m.s.abs. dena this + prep. b w/noun m.s.w/art. zeman time + Peal perf.3.m.p. qereb approach + noun m.p.abs. gebar man = Heb. geber + noun abs. kasheda Chaldean + waw w/Peal perf.3.m.p. akal eat; with noun that follows = "denounce" + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. qerats piece; used with verb akal "to eat a piece" + idiom "denounce"; "brought charges" + rel di + noun abs. w/art. yehuda Jew]).

VERSE 9 They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: "O king, live forever (yyIx/ !ymil.['l. aK'l.m; aK'l.m; rC;n<d>k;Wbn>li !yrIm.a'w> An[] [Peal perf.3.m.p. anah answer + waw w/Peal part.m.p.abs. amar say; "and said" + prep. w/proper noun Neb + noun m.s.w/art. melek + noun m.s.w/art. melek "O king" + prep. l w/noun m.p.abs. alam perpetutiy + Peal imper.m.s. haya live])!

VERSE 10 "You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music (ar'm'z> ynEz> lkow> Îhy"n>PoWsw>Ð ¿hy"n>Poysiw>À !yrITen>s;p. ak'B.f; ÎsArt.q;Ð ¿srot'yqiÀ at'yqirov.m; an"r>q; lq' [m;v.yI-yDI vn"a/-lk' yDI ~[eJ. T'm.f' aK'l.m; ÎT.n>a;Ð ¿hT'n>a;À [pro.2.m.s anta you + noun m.s.w/art. melek + Peal perf.2.m.s. sum set; "have made" + noun m.s.abs. te-em "decree" based on a root "feed"; Heb = "taste"; meaning of the noun "command" is rare in Heb + rel di + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.s.abs. anash man + noun m.s. qal sound, voice + noun m.s. w/art. qeren horn + noun f.s.w/art. mashroqi "flute" + noun m.s.abs. qitros lyre; Greek + noun f.s.abs. sabbeka "harp" + noun m.s.abs. pesanterin "psaltery" used in LXX to translate from the Heb nebel "harp" + waw w/noun f.s. sumponyah pipe; "bagpipe" + waw w/noun m.s. kol all + noun m.p.const.r zan kind + noun m.s.w/art. zemar music], is to fall down and worship the golden image [ab'h]D; ~l,c,l. dGUs.yIw> lPeyI [Peal impf.3.m.s. nepal fall + waw w/Peal impf.3.m.s. segid worship + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. tselem image + noun m.s.w/art. debar gold]).

VERSE 11 "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire (aT'd>qiy" ar'Wn !WTa;-aAgl. amer>t.yI dGUs.yIw> lPeyI al'-yDI-!m;W [waw w/interrog. pro. mah + rel di = "but whoever" + neg. la + Peal impf.3.m.s. nepal fall + waw w/Peal impf.3.m.s. segid worship + Hithpeel impf.3.m.s. rema cast + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. gaw midst + noun m.s.abs. attun furnace + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Peal part.f.s.w/art. yeqad burn; "blazing"]).

VERSE 12 "There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v; lb,B' tn:ydIm. td;ybi[]-l[; !Aht.y" t'yNIm;-yDI !yIad'Why> !yrIb.GU yt;yai [part. itay there are + noun m.p.abs. bebar man + proper noun Yehuda Jew + rel di + Peal perf.2.m.s. menah number; appoint + sign of the accusative used only here in BA; yat + prep. al over + noun f.s.constr. abidah adminstration + noun f.s.constr. medinah province, district + proper noun Babel + proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego]). These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up (!ydIg>s' al' T'm.yqeh] yDI ab'h]D; ~l,c,l.W !yxil.p' al' Î%h'l'aleÐ ¿%yIh;l'aleÀ ~[ej. aK'l.m; Î%l'[]Ð ¿%yIl;[]À Wmf'-al' %Leai aY"r;b.GU [noun m.p.w/art. gebar man + adj.p.abs. illek these + neg la + Peal perf.3.m.p. sum set; w/neg = "have disregarded" + prep. al upon w/2.m.s.suff. "you" + noun m.s.w/art. melek king; "O king" + noun m.s.abs. te-em taste, command; goes with "have disregarded" + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. god, God; "gods" + neg la + Peal part.m.p.abs. pelah serve, worship + waw w/prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. tselem image + noun m.s.w/art. debar gold + rel di + Haphel perf.2.m.s. qum set, arise; "have set up" + neg. la + Peal part.m.p.abs. segid worship; "or worship"])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 8-12

1. After the group idolatry, some Chaldean spies were only too ready to inform the king of the non-compliance of the three Jewish men.
2. These informers are called "Chaldeans."
3. In chap. 2 the term was used of the ruling class of Babylonian brain trust.
4. Here the term is to be taken in its usual sense of the master race that founded the empire.
5. It implies Chaldean nobles rather than a class of occultists.
6. These men no doubt were resentful of the newly appointed Jewish officials and saw a safe way of getting rid of them.
7. The expression "certain Jews" is assumed to be contemptuous; a tone akin to the derogatory speech of Darius’ officials in 6:13.
8. In conclusion, the term kasday is used here ethnically rather than for a class of astrologer-priests.
9. With a show of loyalty for the king, the Chaldeans bring charges against the three and proceed to quote his edict word for word (vv. 10-12).
10. The verb "have disregarded" (v.12) points to their disloyalty to the king who had given them so much.

VERSE 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v;l. hy"t'y>h;l. rm;a] hm'x]w: zg:r>Bi rC;n<d>k;Wbn> !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. adayin then + proper noun Neb + prep. b w/noun m.s.abs. regaz rage + waw w/noun f.s.abs. chema fury + Peal perf.3.m.s. amar say; "gave orders" + prep. l w/Haphel infin.constr. atah come; in haphel "bring" + [prep. l w/proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego]; then these men were brought before the king [aK'l.m; ~d'q\ Wyt'yhe %Leai aY"r;b.GU !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. adayin then + noun m.p. w/art. gebar man + adj.p.abs. illek these + Haphel perf.3.m.p. ata come; bring + prep. qadam before + noun m.s.w/art. melek]).

VERSE 14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them (!Ahl. rm;a'w> rC;n<d>k;bun> hnE[' [Peal part.m.s.abs. anah answer + proper noun Neb + waw w/Peal part.m.s. amar say + prep. l w/3.m.p.suff.], "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego [def.art. w/noun m.s.abs. tseda purpose; used in Heb (sediya) of an evil purpose; "Is it true" + proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego], that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up [!ydIg>s' al' tm,yqeh] yDI ab'h]D; ~l,c,l.W !yxil.P' !Akyteyai al' yh;l'ale [prep. l w/noun m.p.constr.w/1c.s.suff. elah god, God + neg. la + adv. itay there are; "do not" + Peal part.m.s.p. pelah "serve" + waw w/prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. tselem image + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + rel pro di + Haphel perf.1c.s. qum rise; "set up" + neg la + Peal part.m.p.abs. segid worship])?

VERSE 15 "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well (tdeb.[;-ydI am'l.c;l. !WdG>s.tiw> !WlP.Ti ar'm'z> ynEz> lkow> hy"n>Pom.Wsw> !yrITen>s;P. ak'B.f; ÎsArt.q;Ð ¿srot'yqiÀ at'yqiArv.m; an"r>q; lq' !W[m.v.ti-yDI an"D'[ib. yDI !ydIyti[] !Akyteyai !he ![;K. [adv. ke-an now + part. chen if + adv. w/2.m.p.suff. itay there are; "you are" + adj.m.p.abs. atid ready + rel. di + prep. b w/noun m.s.w/art. iddan moment, time + rel di + Peal impf.2.m.s. shema hear + noun m.s.abs. qal sound + noun m.s. w/art. qeren horn + noun f.s.w/art. mashroqi flute + noun m.s.abs. qitros lyre + noun f.s.abs. sabbeka trigon + noun m.s.abs. pesanterin psaltery; "harp" + waw w/noun f.s.abs. sumponyah bagpipe + noun m.s.abs. kol all + noun m.p.constr. zan kind + noun m.s.w/art. zemar music + Peal impf.2.m.p. nepal fall + waw w/Peal impf.2.m.p. segid worship + prep. l w/noun m.s.w/art. tselem image + rel. di + Peal perf.1c.s. abad make; "I have made"]). But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands (yd'y>-!mi !Akn>biz>yvey> yDe Hl'a/ aWh-!m;W aT'd>qiy" ar'Wn !WTa;-aAgl. !Amr>t.ti ht'[]v;-HB; !WdG>s.ti al' !hew> [waw w/conj. hen if + neg. la + Peal impf.2.m.p. segid worship + prep. b w/3f.s.suff. + noun f.s.w/art. sha=ah brief time, moment + Hithpeel impf.2.m.p. rema cast + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. gaw midst + noun m.s.abs. attun furnace + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Peal part.f.s.w/art. qeqad burn + rel man who + pro.3.m.s. hu + noun m.s.abs. elah god + rel di + Shaphel impf.3.m.s.w/2.m.p.suff. sezib deliver + prep. min from + noun f.p.constr.w/1c.s.suff. yad hand])?"

ANALYSIS: VERSES 13-15

1. Nebuchadnezzar’s response was all the informers could have hoped for.
2. He became furious and ordered the culprits brought before him (v.13).
3. He could not understand how they could have defied him, after his many favors and in the face of such a dreadful punishment.
4. Incredulously he stared at them and asked whether they had in fact defied his decree (v.14).
5. Then, bringing his rage under control, he stopped the interrogation and magnanimously gave them another opportunity to save themselves.
6. He would in fact order the symphony to play the music of worship again so these three men might demonstrate their loyalty by worshipping the golden image in the presence of the assembly of dignitaries.
7. In other words, start the music up again and in the presence of all assemble the three were to bow down in the presence of these many witnesses.
8. In so doing, Nebuchadnezzar unwittingly throws down a challenge to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when he threatens with the words "what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
9. Nebuchadnezzar wanted 100% compliance, and he was a man who usually got what he demanded!
10. This second chance heightens the temptation that was before the three men.
11. Amazingly, they were granted something that the king would not have normally done.
12. But the spiritual life is about doing the right thing no matter the consequences.
13. It (CWL) is not about self-preservation at the expense of God’s righteous standards, one of which forbids idolatry and false worship (sin of commission).
14. It is not about what stimulates or makes one happy in the moment but what serves the interests and agenda of the kingdom of God.

VERSE 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king (aK'l.m;l. !yrIm.a'w> Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v; An[] [Peal perf.3.m.p. anah answer; "replied" + proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego + waw w/Peal part.m.p.abs. amar say + prep. l w/noun m.s.w/art. melek], "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter [%t'Wbt'h]l; ~g"t.Pi hn"D>-l[; hn"x.n:a] !yxiv.x;-al' rC;n<d>k;Wbn> [proper noun Neb + neg. la + Peal part.m.p.abs. chashah need + pro.1c.p. anahna we + prep. al + adj.m.s.abs. dena this + noun m.s.abs. pitegam matter, affair; loan word from Persian + prep. l w/Haphel infin.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. tub return; "to give"]).

VERSE 17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire (aT'd>qiy" ar'Wn !WTa;-!mi an"t;Wbz"yvel. lkiy" !yxil.p' an"x.n:a]-yDI an"h;l'a/ yt;yai !he [conj. hen if + adv. itay there is + noun m.s.constr.w/1c.p.suff. elah god, God; the sense is rather: "If there is a God..." + rel di + pro.1c.p. anahna we + Peal part.m.p.abs. pelah serve + Peal part.m.s.abs. yekil be able + prep. l w/Shaphel infin.constr.w/1c.p.suff. shezib deliver + prep. min from + noun m.s.abs. attun furnace + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Peal part.f.s.w/art. yeqad burn]; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king [bzIyvey> aK'l.m; %d'y>-!miW [waw w/prep. min + noun f.s.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. yad hand + noun m.s.w/art. melek + Shaphel impf.3.m.s. shezib delver]).

VERSE 18 "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up (dGUs.nI al' T'm.yqeh] yDI ab'h]D; ~l,c,l.W !yxil.p' Îan"t;yaiÐ ¿an"y>t;yaiÀ-al' %yIh'l'ale yDI aK'l.m; %l'-awEh/l, [;ydIy> al' !hew> [waw w/conj. hen if + neg. la + Peal pass.part.m.s.abs. yeda know + Peal impf.3.m.s. hawa come to pass + prep. l w/2.m.s.suff. "to you" + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + rel. di + prep. l w/noun m.p.constr.w/2.m.s.suff. elah god + neg. la + part. itay there is/are + Peal part.m.p.abs. pelah serve + waw w/prep. l noun m.s.constr. tselem image + noun m.s.w/art. dehab gold + rel. di + Haphel perf.2.m.s. qum stand + neg. la + Peal impf.1c.p. segid worship])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 16-18

1. These three heroes of the faith (see Heb.11:34; "quenched the power of fire") pretty much knew what would happen to them if they failed to comply and had no doubt got together and determined what they would do and say when the time came.
2. In other words, before the day they had made a pact to stay the course and not violate the 1^st and 2^nd commandments of the Mosaic Law.
3. They had learned to recite the Shema¾ "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is ONE. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deut.6:4-5).
4. Idolatry was the chief violation of fidelity to the covenant.
5. Their opening statement of respectful defiance of the edict is that they would not engage in any formal defense of their stand (v.16).
6. The ideas being that the lines are drawn and there is no need to plea for clemency.
7. They would not ask for exemption from "this matter" based on whatever.
8. In other words, "do what you are going to do but we remain stalwart in our convictions."
9. The next statement of faith of the three heroes should read: "If our God exists...is able (v.17).
10. The whole verse is as follows: "If our God exists, whom we worship, He is able to deliver us from the furnace of fire; and from your hand, O king, He shall deliver."
11. Nebuchadnezzar had made the unwitting choice to challenge the God of the Hebrews.
12. But the heroism and selfless devotion of the three men went even further as they declared in v.18, "But even if He does not [deliver us], we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your god, or worship the image of gold you have set up!"
13. Live or die they would not betray their God and the faith they had been taught to believe in.
14. They were ready to die a horrible and painful death rather than betray the One who was their all in all.
15. The words "but even if He does not" are heroic.
16. Concerning this confrontation between Nebuchadnezzar and the three Hebrews Ford (p. 107) says, "The courteous but determined refusal of the Hebrews should be carefully observed. They had obeyed "the powers that be" as far as conscience permitted. They journeyed to the Plain of Dura. And right at the point where conscience shouted, "No further!" they rejected the temptation to be arrogant in their non-conformity. As Daniel before them had been courteous in his request to follow his convictions, so these three verbally acknowledge Nebuchadnezzar as king, while committing their ultimate allegiance to the King of kings alone. (cf. Acts.5:29; Matt.22:21).
17. Before passing on we need to address the question of why Daniel is not a part of this episode.
18. Various speculations have been offered such as: (a) he was absent from Babylon (not likely); (b) he may have been engaged in other duties that permitted certain officials of state to be absent (possible); (c) he was too ill to attend (not likely); (d) he being the king’s vizier, it was assumed he was not required to make a public demonstration of his loyalty; after all there is some question as to whether Nebuchadnezzar himself bowed down to the image as he simply sat on the royal dias surveying the scene; (e) as ruler over the captial province of Babylon (2:48) his office was not listed in the seven categories of public officials (3:3) or, those members of the priesthood of which Daniel was over the college of clergy there loyalty was assumed (similar to d above); (f) or that his reputation as diviner was so formidable that even the jealous Chaldeans did not dare attack him before the king (probably).
19. If Daniel was present (likely) he was not reported as being in violation since it would have been extremely risky on the part of the Chaldeans.

VERSE 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v;-l[; ÎyNIT;v.a,Ð ¿WNT;v.a,À yhiAPn>a; ~lec.W am'x/ ylim.t.hi rC;n<d>k;Wbn> !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. edayin then + proper noun Neb + Hithpeel perf.3.m.s. mela fill + noun f.s.abs. chema rage + waw w/noun m.s.abs. tselem image; "expression" + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. anap face + Ithpaal perf.3.m.p. shanah change + prep. al "toward" + proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego]).

He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated (HyEz>mel. hzEx] yDI l[; h['b.vi-dx; an"WTa;l. azEmel. rm;a'w> hnE[' [Peal part.m.s.abs. anah answer + waw w/Peal part.m.s.abs. amar say + prep. l w/Peal infin.constr. aza make hot + prep. l w/noun m.s.w/art. attun furnace + adj.m.s.abs. chad one + adj.m.s.abs. seba seven + prep. al "more" + Peal pass.part.m.s.abs. chazah see; "was usually" + prep. l w/Peal infin.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. aza make hot, heat]).

VERSE 20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire (aT'd>qiy" ar'Wn !WTa;l. amer>mil. Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v;l. ht'P'k;l. rm;a] Hley>x;b. yDI lyIx;-yreB'GI !yrIb.gUl.W [waw w/prep. l w/noun m.p.abs. gebar man + noun m.s.abs. chayil strength + rel. di + prep. b w/noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. chayil strength; "army" + Peal perf.3.m.s. amar say; "commanded" + prep. l w/Pael infin.constr. kepat bind; cognates in Akkadian and Arabic + prep. l w/proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego + prep. l w/Peal infin.constr. rema cast + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Peal part.f.s.w/art. yeqad burn]).

VERSE 21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire (aT'd>qiy" ar'Wn !WTa;-aAgl. wymir>W !Ahyvebul.W !Aht.l'B.r>k;w> Î!AhyveJ.P;Ð ¿!AhyveyJiP;À !AhyleB'r>s;B. WtpiK. %Leai aY"r;b.GU !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. adayin then + noun m.p.w/art. gebar man + adj.p.abs. illek these + Peil perf.3.m.p. kepat bind + prep. b w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. sarbal outer cloak, mantel + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. petash garment; precise meaning unk. + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. karbela cap, turban; precise meaning uncertain + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. lebush garment; Heb. the same + waw w/Peil perf.3.m.p. rema cast + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. gaw midst + noun m.s.abs. attun furnace + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Peal part.f.s.w/art. yeqad burn]).

VERSE 22 For this reason, because the king's command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (ar'Wn yDI ab'ybiv. !AMhi lJiq; Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v;l. WqSih; yDI %Leai aY"r;b.GU ar'yTiy: hzEae an"WTa;w> hp'c.x.m; aK'l.m; tL;mi yDI-!mi hn"D> lbeq\-lK' [noun m.s.constr. kol all + prep. qabel front = "For this reason" + adj.m.s.abs. dena this + prep. min from + rel. di + noun f.s.constr. millah word; "command" + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + Aphel part.f.s.abs. chasap show insolence; "urgent" + waw w/noun m.s.w/art. attun furnace + Peal pass.part.m.s.abs. aza make hot + adj.f.s.abs yattir pre-eminent; "extremely" + noun m.p.w/art. gebar man + adj.p.abs. illek these + rel. di + Haphel perf.3.m.p. seleq come up; "carried up" + prep. l w/proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego + Pael perf.3.m.s. qetal kill; "slew" + pro.3.m.p. hinnon them + noun m.s.w/art. sebib flame + rel. di + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire]).

VERSE 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up (!ytiP.k;m. aT'd>qiy" ar'Wn-!WTa;-aAgl. Wlp;n> Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v; !AhTel'T. %Leai aY"r;b.gUw> [waw w/noun m.p.w/art. gebar man + adj.p.abs. illek these + adj.m.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. telat three + proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego + Peal perf.3.m.p. nepal fall + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. gaw midst + noun m.s. attun furnace + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Peal part.f.s.w/art. yeqad burn + Pael pass.part.m.p.abs. kepat bind]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 19-23

1. Having been publicly defied in the name of the God of the Hebrews, Nebuchadnezzar was left with no choice but to carry out the execution of the three men.
2. Nebuchadnezzar had a significant anger grid which got the better of him when he did not get his way.
3. Here his anger drives him to absurd lengths when he ordered the fire to be increased seven fold.
4. His anger was so great that it altered his facial appearance.
5. No mere mortal could have survived in that huge furnace as it was, but the king called for additional bellows to be inserted under the blazing coals and that it be heated to a glow.
6. This of course took some time as the captive audience looked on.
7. So intense was the heat from the mouth of the furnace that even to come close to the entrance proved fatal to "certain valiant warriors."
8. Nebuchadnezzar’s anger cost resulted in unnecessary loss of life.
9. Equally absurd was Nebuchadnezzar’s command for the three to be fully dressed with their hats on (v.21) to make sure that the fire would readily ignite them.
10. Finally, they "were tied up" or bound (v.23) so they could not move about.
11. Another absurd precaution to ensure their destruction.
12. All of this of course was the product of his anger and was clearly overkill.
13. Apparently there was no door or screen to hide the inside of the furnace from view.
14. Judging from bas-reliefs, it would seem that the Mesopotamian smelting furnaces tended to be like and old-fashioned glass milk-bottle in shape, with a large opening for the insertion of ore to be smelted and a smaller aperture at ground level for the admission of charcoal and wood to furnish the heat.
15. There must have been two or more smaller holes at this same level to permit the insertion of pipes connected with large bellows, when it was desired to raise the temperature beyond what the flue or chimney would produce.
16. Undoubtedly the furnace itself was fashioned of very thick adobe, resistant to intense heat.
17. The large upper door was probably raised above ground level of the fire bed so that the metal smelted from the ore would spill on the ground in case the crucibles were upset.
18. The text says (v.23) that the tree "fell down" into the fire.
19. Apart from the swirling flames and smoke, then, they were quite visible to an outside observer, though, like the king, he would have to stand at a distance.

VERSE 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste (hl'h'B.t.hiB. ~q'w> Hw:T. aK'l.m; rC;n<d>k;Wbn> !yId;a/ [adv. deayin then + proper noun Neb + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + Peal perf.3.m.s. tewah alarmed; "was astonished" + waw w/Peal perf.3.m.s. qum stand + prep. b w/Hithpeel infin.constr. behal haste]); he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire [!ytiP.k;m. ar'Wn-aAgl. an"ymer> at'l'T. !yrIb.gU al'h] yhiArb.D'h;l. rm;a'w> hnE[' [Peal part.m.s.abs. anah answer + waw w/Peal part.m.s.abs. amar say + prep. l w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. haddabar counselor; Persian + interrog.part. halo; "was it not" + noun m.p.abs. gebar man + adj.m.s.abs. telat three + Peal perf.1c.p. rema cast + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. gaw midst + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Pael pass.part.m.p.abs. kepat bind])?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king [aK'l.m; ab'yCiy: aK'l.m;l. !yrIm.a'w> !yIn:[' [Peal part.m.p.abs. anah answer + waw w/Peal part.m.p.abs. amar say + prep. l w/noun m.s.w/art. melek + adj.f.s.abs. yetstsab certain + noun m.s.w/art. melek])."

VERSE 25 He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods (!yhil'a/-rb;l. hmeD' Îha'['ybir>Ð ¿ay"['ybir>À yDI HwErew> !AhB. yt;yai-al' lb'x]w: ar'Wn-aAgB. !ykil.h.m; !yIr;v. h['B.r>a; !yrIb.GU hzEx' hn"a]-ah' rm;a'w> hnE[' [Peal part.m.s.ab.s anah answer + waw w/Peal part.m.s.abs. amar say + interj. ha behold; "Look!" + pro.1c.s. anah I + Peal part.m.s.abs. chazah see + noun m.p.abs. gebar man + adj.m.s.abs. arba four + Peal pass.part.m.p.abs shra lossen; "loosed" + Aphel part.m.p.abs. halak walk + prep. b w/noun m.s.constr. gaw midst + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + waw w/noun m.s.abs. chabal hurt + neg la = "without harm" + adv. itay there is + prep. b w/3.m.p.suff. "with them"; not translated+ noun m.s.abs. w/3.m.s.suff. rew appearance; only found with the suffix; Dan.2:31; 3:25; + rel. di + adj.f.s.abs. rebi-i the fourth + Peal part.m.s.abs. dema to be like + prep. b w/noun m.s.abs. bar son + noun m.p.abs. elah God, god])!"

VERSE 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said (rm;a'w> hnE[' aT'd>qiy" ar'Wn !WTa; [r;t.li rC;n<d>k;Wbn> breq. !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. edayin then + proper noun Neb + prep. l w/noun m.s.abs. tera door + noun m.s.abs. attun furnace + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + Peal part.f.s.w/art. yeqad burn + Peal part.m.s.ab.s anah answer + waw w/Peal part.m.s.abs. amar say], "Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here [Ata/w< WqPu Îha'L'[iÐ ¿ay"L'[iÀ ah'l'a/-yDI yhiAdb.[; Agn>-dbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v; proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. abed servant + rel di + noun m.s.w/art. Elah God + adj.m.s.w/art. illay the highest, the Most High + Peal imper.m.p. nepaq come out; not found in BH but widely used in Aramaic texts + waw w/Peal imper.m.p. atah come; word is used in BH but only 20x as compared to 2500 of bo])!"

Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire (ar'Wn aAG-!mi Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v; !yqip.n" !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. edayin then + Peal part.m.p.abs. nepaq come out + proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego + prep. min from + noun m.s.constr. gaw midst + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire]).

VERSE 27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king's high officials gathered around (aK'l.m; yreb.D'h;w> at'w"x]p;W aY"n:g>si aY"n:P.r>D;v.x;a] !yviN>K;t.miW [waw w/Hithpaal part.m.p.abs. kenash gather; cognate to Heb. kanas + noun m.p.w/art. ahashadarenin satraps; Persian + noun m.p.w/art. segan prefect; Akkadian + waw w/noun m.p.w/art. pechah governor; Akkadian + waw w/noun m.p.constr. haddabar counselor; Persian + noun m.s.w/art. melek king] and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them [!AhB. td'[] al' rWn x;yrew> Anv. al' !AhyleB'r>s'w> %r;x't.hi al' !Ahv.are r[;f.W !Ahm.v.g<B. ar'Wn jlev.-al' yDI %Leai aY"r;b.gUl. !yIz:x' [Peal part.m.p.abs. chazah see; "saw" + prep. lnoun m.p.w/art. gebar man + adj.p.abs. illek these + rel di + neg. la + Peal perf.3.m.s. shelet have power over; "had no effect" + noun m.s.w/art. nur fire + prep. b w/noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. geshem body; a noun from this root is used in Hebrew for a heavy shower; the meaning "body" is attested only in Arabic and Syriac + waw w/noun m.s.abs. se-ar hair (of head) + noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. resh head + neg. la + Hithpall perf.3.m.s. charak singe; only here + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. sarbal mantel; tunic; "trousers" suggests Scythian origin + neg. la "nor" + Peal perf.3.m.p. shanah change; "damaged" + waw w/noun m.s.abs ruach wind; "smell" + noun m.s.abs. nur fire + neg. la + Peal perf.3.f.s. adah pass over; "come upon" + prep. b w/3.m.p.suff.]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 24-27

1. Nebuchadnezzar was able to witness the Hebrew men walking upright in the flames without their restraints (v.24).
2. Equally astounding, he made out a fourth person walking with them (v.25).
3. Where had he come from?
4. After securing confirmation from his officials that only three men had been cast into the fiery furnace, he described the fourth one as resembling deity¾ i.e., "like a son of the gods" (uereweh di rebiaya dameh lebar-lahin, lit. "and the appearance of the fourth resembles a son of gods").
5. From Nebs pagan frame of reference he no doubt meant the plural absolute ending in as a indefinite plural rather than equivalent to the Hebrew elohim (which is often taken as a singular, when referring to the one true God).
6. All four individuals were walking around in the furnace freely (v.25).
7. The blazing fire had no effect upon them.
8. Nebuchadnezzar stood face to face with a sheer miracle.
9. Their divine companion was none other than the Angel of Yahweh or Christ manifest in theophany.
10. He had delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from all harm.
11. During their minutes together they no doubt chatted in a casual relaxed manner.
12. Nebuchadnezzar himself was dumbfounded.
13. With God nothing is impossible (cf. Lk.1:37).
14. His omnipotence shielded them from the heat and the flames.
15. Coming as near to the furnace opening as possible, Nebuchadnezzar shouted above the roar (v.26).
16. So the three climbed out (having been violently thrown in) but not the fourth who disappeared as suddenly as he appeared.
17. The three were then inspected by the king and his officials and to their utter amazement there was not a trace of their ordeal upon their bodies or clothing, only their bonds had vanished!
18. Every one that day was witness to the uniqueness and surpassing greatness of the God of the Hebrews.
19. They all were made all the more culpable.
20. The event was incontrovertible.
21. The proof and the logic of it all were left to volition.
22. There was no empire wide conversion to the Most High God (a title that by the way survived in pagan parlance) unlike the conversion of the Ninevah where no appreciable miracles were manifest.
23. Nebuchadnezzar’s grandiose "party" on the Plain of Dura was turned on its head to say the least.
24. The golden idol stood silent witness to the absurdity of idolatry in all its forms.
25. What a scene as everyone retired from the parade grounds to whatever festivities had been planned!
26. When God exposes the fallacies of men He does so in dramatic fashion.
27. The idol was no doubt soon pulled down and stripped of its considerable gold.
28. The pride and stubbornness of man ignores the logic of such lessons and goes on to judgment.
29. Nebuchadnezzar had to eat his boastful challenge as seen in the words, "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand (v.15)?"
30. As will all who remain unrepentant about their false beliefs when in the presence of truth to the contrary.

VERSE 28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v;-yDI !Ahh]l'a/ %yrIB. rm;a'w> rC;n<d>k;Wbn> hnE[' [Peal part.m.s.abs. anah answer + proper noun Neb + waw w/Peal part.m.s.abs. amar say + Peal part.m.s.abs. berak kneel, bless + noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. elah God; "their God" + rel di + proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego] , who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God [!Ahh]l'ale !hel' Hl'a/-lk'l. !WdG>s.yI-al'w> !Wxl.p.yI-al' yDI Î!Ahm.v.g<Ð ¿!Ahymev.g<À Wbh;ywI wyNIv; aK'l.m; tL;miW yhiAl[] Wcxir>t.hi yDI yhiAdb.[;l. bzIyvew> Hkea]l.m; xl;v.-yDI [rel di + Peal perf.3.m.s. send + noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. malak angel + waw w/Shapel perf.3.m.s. shezib deliver; probably an Akkadian loan word in the causative stem + prep. l w/noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. abad servant + rel di + Hithpeel perf.3.m.p. rehats trust; Akkadian + prep. w/3.m.s.suff. al upon; "in Him" + waw w/noun f.s.constr. millah word; "command" + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + Pael perf.3.m.p. shanah change; "violating" + waw w/Peal perf.3.m.p. hehab give; "yielded up" + noun m.p.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. geshem body + rel. di + neg. la + Peal impf.3.m.p. pelach worship; "serve" + waw w/neg. + Peal impf.3.m.p. segid worship + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.s.abs. elah god + conj. lahen therefore; "except" + prep. l w/noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. elah God]).

VERSE 29 "Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (aAgn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v;-yDI !Ahh]l'a/ l[; ÎWlv'Ð ¿hl'veÀ rm;ayE-yDI !V'liw> hM'au ~[;-lk' yDI ~[ej. ~yfi yNImiW [waw w/prep. min "and for this reason" + Peil perf.3.m.s. sum make + noun m.s.ab.s te-em taste; decree + rel. di + noun m.s.constr. kol any noun m.s.abs. am people + noun f.s.abs. ummah nation + waw w/noun m.s.abs. lishshan tongue; language + rel di + Peal impf.3.m.s. amar say + noun f.s.abs. shalu "offensive" + prep. al "against" + noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.p.suff. elah "their God" + rel. di + proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Meshach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego] shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap [hWET;v.yI yliw"n> Htey>b;W dbe[]t.yI !ymiD'h; [noun m.p.abs. haddam limb + Hithpeel impf.3.m.s. abad executed; "shall be torn" + waw w/noun m.s.constr.w/3.m.s.suff. bayith house + noun f.s.ab.s newalu refuse heap + Hithpaal impf.3.m.s. shewah become like; "reduced"], inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way [hn"d>Ki hl'C'h;l. lKuyI-yDI !r'x\a' hl'a/ yt;yai al' yDI lbeq\-lK' [noun m.s.constr. kol all + prep. qabel before = "inasmuch as" + rel. di + neg. la "no" + part. itay there is + noun m.s.ab.s elah god + adj.m.s.abs. ochoran another; "other" + rel di + Peal impf.3.m.s. yekil able + prep. l w/Haphel infin.constr. nesal rescue + prep. k like + adj.m.s.abs. denah this])."

VERSE 30 Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon (lb,B' tn:ydIm.Bi Agn>ƒdbe[]w: %v;yme %r;d>v;l. xl;c.h; aK'l.m; !yId;aBe [prep. b w/adv. edayin then + noun m.s.w/art. melek king + Haphel perf.3.m.s. selach prosper + prep. l w/proper noun Shadrach + proper noun Mechach + waw w/proper noun Abed-nego + prep. b w/noun f.s.constr. medinah province + proper noun Babel]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 28-30

1. Nebuchadnezzar was beaten.
2. He experienced the overruling will of God.
3. His public statement and proclamation was impromptu.
4. He began by glorifying the Most High God as seen in his proclamation in v.28.
5. He took responsibility and set the record straight.
6. This was no doubt recorded in the state records (clay tablet).
7. Even his description of the fourth man as "His angel" is accurate from the perspective of OT theology.
8. The "Angel of Yahweh" is identified as the Son of God in theophany.
9. He accredits their deliverance to this mysterious personage.
10. He speaks more than he understands.
11. He further confesses his admiration for the courage and fidelity of the three Hebrews (v.28) who had been willing to die a horrible death rather than deny their faith.
12. At this juncture Nebuchadnezzar should have ended the proceedings but he went on to issue a goofy decree spelling death and destruction upon any people within his empire that maligned the God of the Hebrews.
13. And "hate speech" was to be rewarded with extreme violence upon the guilty.
14. This of course is not in accordance with God’s plan in that it violates volition and in effect was largely for show.
15. The three men could have hardly been pleased with this aspect of their vindication.
16. Like the silly idol on the plain this decree was soon ignored.
17. It was one of those emotional silly spur of the moment things people do.
18. In the subsequent history of the Jews is that the sublime courage and faith of the three Hebrews greatly emboldened the Jewish patriots at the time of the Maccabean revolt against Greek oppression.
19. First Maccabees 2:59 informs how the dying Mattathaias of Modin recalled the heroism of David adn Elijah and said, "Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael believed and were saved out of the flame."
20. His words demonstrate the historicity of episode of Daniel 3.
21. In the NT Heb.11:34 alludes to this event in the phrase "[They] quenched the fury of the flames.
22. So these three men are accorded a place in the registry of the heroes of the faith, and event that took place in the 6^th century BC.
23. For Nebuchadnezzar this event in his life was a part of the grace odyssey that would eventuate in is conversion to the God of his faithful servants.
24. For the three men (and Daniel) this was a time to great exhilaration and vindication.