DANIEL SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 3.2
Gleanings
from the Book of Daniel:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
DANIEL
Chapter
Three
The
Golden Image of Nebuchadnezzar
Introduction
In the prior segment, Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon had commissioned a 90-foot tall by 9 feet wide statue to be
erected atop a pedestal on the plain of Dura. The golden image is not directly
identified in the text, but through the ages, there have been two possibilities
as to its identity:
1. Some postulate it resembled the
national god Bel-Marduk
a. This premise is based on verse 28
b. This theory seems unlikely since pagan
deities were usually enshrined in a temple
2. Others suppose it was a representation
of Nebuchadnezzar’s image depicted in his dream
a. This appears more plausible as the
context Chapters 2 and 3 suggest
b. This appears to be in alignment with
other verses in Chapter 3 (Vv. 12, 14, 18) since no other gods are mentioned to
be revered
So, one can only imagine standing in
the city of Babylon and viewing this intimidating awesome figure of King
Nebuchadnezzar with the sun glaring off its golden form.
Also, interestingly and prophetically,
the image is a pretext for Antichrist who will one day require the world to
worship him (cf. Revelation 13:11-15).
1. The Description of the Image (v. 1)
2. The Dedication of the Image (V. 2-3)
(Verse 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.
Perhaps one of the
greatest days in Babylonian history, the King ordered an elaborate dedication
ceremony for the golden statue to be observed. Wanting to deify himself, Nebuchadnezzar
then summoned all the important dignitaries of his empire to attend.
The Great Assembly
The guest list included eight principal
officials* of the Empire. They are
identified as follows:
1. The Princes
Princes (ăchashdarpan, H324) were provincial governors or representatives of the king, called satraps in the ancient Persian Empire.
2. The Governors
Governors (çᵉgan, H5460):
Also, in certain countries, they acted as
prefects, i.e., appointed military commanders.
3. The Captains
Captains (pechâ, H6347)
refer to presidents or civil governors of the
provinces.
4. The Judges
Judges (ădargâzêr, H148)
consisted of arbitrators in administering the law. In some cases, they would be
held as chief diviners or astrologers in a consolatory position.
5. The Treasurers
Treasurers (gᵉdâbâr,
H1411)
of the provinces ministered the funds for the Kingdom.
6. The Counselors
Counselors (dethubar,
H1884) were legal officials and served as lawyers or guardians of
the law.
7. The Sheriffs
Sheriffs (tiphtay, H8614)
acted as magistrates. They served as law enforcers who executed judgments and
issued sentences under the law.
8. The Rulers of the Provinces
Rulers
(shilṭôwn, H7984)
were powerful officials or potentates subordinate to the chief governor of a
province.
*Note: Due to the Aramaic text, some translations may vary. Additionally,
a few words unable to be translated into Aramaic are borrowed from early
Macedonia. The same is said for the instruments in Verse 7. However, in this
study, the old King James Version and
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance are adopted
as resources.
Also noteworthy, the list of delegates
does not include Daniel or any other captive Jews. However, since Daniel sat
at the gate of the King, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in attendance because
they served as satraps over the provincial affairs of Babylon. They acted in
their official authoritative duties.
(Verse 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.
The same group in
Verse 2, now gathered together, stood before the image at the dedication
ceremony. Furthermore, parts of this delegation will also appear in Verse 27,
and also in Daniel 6:7.
3. The Demand to Worship the Image (Vv. 4-7)
(Verse 4)
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is
commanded, O people, nations, and languages.
The Announcer
As the top officials of the
Babylonian Empire were standing before the colossal image Nebuchadnezzar had
set up on the plain of Dura, a herald cried out the official mandate from the
King to all peoples, nations, and tongues in attendance.
Heralds were employed by a king to perform
certain duties, For instance:
1. They announced the coming of a king
2. They announced decrees from the king
3. They announced the opening of games
4. They announced on festive occasions
(Verse 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.
The Sound of Music
One of the
Babylonians’ prominent features was their love for beautiful and exotic music.
Two examples are noted:
Psalm 137:3 – For there they that carried us
away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
Isaiah 4:11 – Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy
viols (harps, psaltery, or stringed
instruments): the worm is spread under thee, and the
worms cover thee.
Besides, music was an integral part and
spiritual aid to any worship service (cf. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16),
namely because it stirred up emotions. And, it is a huge part of genuine
revival. Recall, Lucifer (Satan) was once the head of worship in Heaven (see
Ezekiel 28:13).
The Celebration
Meanwhile, behind the
scenes, Nebuchadnezzar had commissioned the Chaldean version of a Philharmonic
Orchestra’s participation in this momentous ceremony. Included were the finest
musicians throughout his Empire.
The Instruments of Antiquity
Seven types of musical instruments
provided the sounds for this festive event:
1. The Cornet
Cornets were taken from animal or
beast horns and made into an instrument. They were forerunners of the
modern-day shofars made from the ram’s horn (qeren, H7162).
2. The Flute
Another name for the
flute was the whistle pipe. Some were
probably made with reeds and produced a sound like a whistle (mashrôwqîy, H4953).
3. The Harp
Most likely the harp,
a stringed instrument, was a version of the lyre or zither (qîythârôç, H7030).
4. The Sackbut
The sackbut was a
four-stringed instrument with a triangular board, similar to the lyre (çabbᵉkâʼ, H5443).
5. The Psaltery
Psalteries were
triangular stringed instruments, also considered harps or lyres (pᵉçanṭêrîyn, H 6460).
6. The Dulcimer
Some believe it was a tympanum
(i.e., a drum) with strings, played with a stick. Others conclude they were dulcimers,
a double-piped wind instrument, such as crude bagpipes, or perhaps panpipes (a
group of pipes together in a row), borrowed from Macedonia (çûwmᵉpôwnᵉyâh, H5481).
7. The Other Categories of
Instruments
There were many instruments, not
known or mentioned in the Babylonian ensemble.
At what time ye hear the sound of... musick, ye
fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up
The golden image seems
to not only have political implications but religious ones as well.
Nebuchadnezzar is thus building an authoritative rule for himself in two ways:
1. It will serve as a
unified government
2. It will serve as a
unified religion
Therefore, all who prostrate
themselves before the image are doubly recognizing Nebuchadnezzar’s absolute
political and religious authority.
(Verse 6)
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth
shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
The Announcement
A herald proclaimed
the King’s edict. When the music began, everyone was ordered to fall down and
worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar had fashioned. It was mandatory, and no
one was exempt from this proclamation. Notice, the word worship appears 11 times in Chapter 3.
Polytheism abounded in
Babylon since Babylon (Babel) was the birthplace of all false religions (cf.
Genesis 10:8-10; 11:1-4). Even though every man paid homage to his or her god,
they were regraded to bow down and worship the image of Nebuchadnezzar. This
action solidified not only his authority but made him more powerful than their
other gods. Consequently, this motion was in direct opposition to the sovereign
God of Daniel and Israel.
And whoso falleth not down…shall the same hour
be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace
Worship was
obligatory. Those who obeyed were recognizing both the King’s supreme
authority. Refusal to do so would indicate one’s opposition to the King and his
Kingdom. Hence the slogans:
1. Comply or die
2. Bow or burn
3. Fall or fry
Most likely, mirrored
by the Persians, the Babylonians had a terrible penalty for insubordination –
Death. Some ethical forms of execution in ancient times included:
1. The Babylonians –
Execution by fire
2. The Jews – Execution
by stoning
3. The Romans – Execution
by crucifixion
The announcer goes on
to say, any attendee who does not publically conform to bow down and worship
the image, will meet the death penalty, i.e., be burnt alive at the same hour, meaning immediately, There
were no exemptions.
The Fiery Furnace
No doubt, the furnace
was not too far from the statue. It encompassed a perpendicular smokestack
shaft with openings at the bottom, one for entry and removal of ashes, and the
other for ventilation. The oven was made
of clay or brick and select types of stone. Since the punishment would be at the same hour implies the furnace was
already burning.
(Verse 7)
Therefore at that time, when all the people
heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of
musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
When the concert
began, the massive crowd observed Nebuchadnezzar’s wishes, thus, setting the
precedent for Roman Caesars, and the prophetic Antichrist.
Following, jealousy
ensued amongst some Chaldean emissaries leading to palace intrigue. This issue
will be discussed in the next lesson.
QUESTIONS:
1. Most likely, who did the golden statue
resemble?
2. Generally, who was represented at the
statue's dedication?
3. What were they told to do when the
ceremony began?
4. When was the audience told to conform?
5. What was the punishment if they refused
to do so?
6. Who was not in attendance at the
dedication?
7. What did the meaning of their actions
acknowledge?
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