DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 3.1.Introduction

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Three

                            The Golden Image of Nebuchadnezzar        

 

 

Introduction

Approximately 20 years had elapsed since Daniel and his three companions were given high positions in the kingdom of Babylon. Their promotions came because God, working through Daniel, revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s perplexing dream of a colossal image in human form.

 

King Nebuchadnezzar was told he and his kingdom represented the head of gold (2:38). And, the statue’s breast and arms of silver, belly, and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet, part of iron and part of clay typified succeeding kingdoms. 

 

Having his dream impressed upon his mind, instead of humbling himself before the God of gods he previously acknowledged (2:47), Nebuchadnezzar sought to advance his ambition. Most likely he rationalized, rather than having other kingdoms follow his own, he determined to build an entire image covered with gold, thus setting the stage for Chapter 3.  

 

 

Outline

1. The Description of the Image (v. 1)

2.  The Dedication of the Image (Vv. 2-3)

3. The Demand to Worship the Image (Vv. 4-7)

4. The Denouncement of the Jews (Vv. 8-15)

5. The Decision of the Jews (Vv. 16-18)

6. The Discipline of the Jews (Vv. 19-23)

7. The Declaration of Nebuchadnezzar (Vv. 24-30)

 

 

1. The Description of the Image

(Verse 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.

 

Nebuchadnezzar’s image was a statue of a human form. No doubt, utilizing his position of power, King Nebuchadnezzar implemented a golden figure of himself to be constructed thinking his kingdom would be perpetual.

 

The king made an image of gold

The Material of the Image

Gold is a precious commodity. Because of his conquests, Nebuchadnezzar had amassed an overabundance of gold, thus Babylon was characterized as the City of Gold (cf. Isaiah 14:4).

Being a rare metal, gold is frequently mentioned in the Bible. For instance:

 

Old Testament Examples

Gold is first mentioned in the land of Havilah which bordered the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 2:11-12a – The name of the first [river] is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good.

 

In an act of idolatry, the impatient Israelites worshipped a representation of Egyptian deities:

Exodus 32:4 – And he (Aaron) received [the gold from] them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

 

For Persian and Oriental kings, it was customary to hold out a golden scepter before one could approach the throne:

Esther 8:4 – Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

 

New Testament Examples

Gold was included in the gifts of the Magi at the birth of Christ:

Matthew 2:11 – And when they [The Magi] were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

 

Many golden articles were confiscated by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple in Jerusalem:

Ezra 5:14b - And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the Temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon.

 

Prophetically, the streets are depicted as pure transparent gold in the New Jerusalem:

Revelation 21:21 – And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the City was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

      

Observation: Most likely the image was overlaid with gold rather than pure gold. Since the gravity of gold is 19.32 (for reference if silver is 10.49), then the statue would be 5, 467 cubic feet of gold (approximately 56 tons), more than had been mined since. Being overlaid with gold seems more likely (cf. Exodus 37:25-26)

 

An image...whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits

The Measurements of the Image

Inspired by the statue of Daniel’s interpretations of his dream, Nebuchadnezzar requisitioned an image of himself to be constructed to unusual large-scale dimensions. They are listed as follows:

A. The height was threescore or 60 cubits

B. The breadth was 6 cubits

 

Biblical Numerology

Concerning biblical numerology, the numbers 3 and 7 indicate God’s perfection or completeness. The number of man, humanity, and incompleteness is expressed by a 6. At a future time, Antichrist is defined by the number 666 (cf. Revelation 13:18).

 

Nebuchadnezzar's image would therefore be 60 cubits high by 6 cubits wide. The conversion chart indicates that 1 cubit is equivalent to 1 ½ feet, or 18 inches. Therefore, modern-day measurements would render the figure to be 90 feet tall by 9 feet wide. Questionably, the statue would appear more like an obelisk or a column, mainly because it would seem to be too tall and thin for a normal figure. However, what is documented by Daniel is the final consensus.

 

Reference: Later, the Greeks erected one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes. It stood atop a 49-foot white marble pedestal in its harbor. The image was approximately 70 cubits (107 feet) high. The figure typified the Greek sun god Helios. 

 

Biblical Examples

1. Man was created by God on day 6 (cf. Genesis 1:26-28)

2. Man was appointed to labor 6 days (cf. Exodus 20:11)

3. Man climbed six steps to Solomon’s throne (1 Kings 10:19)

 

Biblical Comparisons

Both Chapters 2 and 3 references a statue. Below, comparisons are designated between each chapter:

Chapter 2 – The image was of divine origin (2:19)

Chapter 3 – The image was of man’s wisdom (3:1)

 

Chapter 2 – The image predicted Babylon’s fall (2:39)

Chapter 3 – The image perpetuated Babylon’s existence (3:1)

 

Chapter 2 – The image was a national symbol (2: 31)

Chapter 3 – The image was a religious symbol (3:5)

 

Chapter 2 – The image incorporated five metals (2:32-33)

Chapter 3 – The image demanded one metal (3:1)

 

Other Statues of Antiquity

The Greek historian Herodotus records:

1. A Babylonian national Bel’s statue (Marduk) overlaid with gold

2. A second statue of Bel positioned next to a 40-foot-long table, both weighing over 50,000 pounds

3. A human figure in one of the Babylonian temples standing 18 feet tall and made of pure gold

4.  A description of 2 golden lions situated at the entranceway of the city walls

 

He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon

The Location of the Image

The Plain of Dura

The word Dura is a Chaldean word defined as a circled, walled dwelling place. Its site is uncertain, however, it is believed to be an open plain surrounded by mountains southeast of Babylon. Strikingly, archaeologists have excavated a nearby mound and uncovered a huge pedestal on which the gigantic statue may have rested.

 

Nebuchadnezzar calculatingly had the image strategically placed so all his subjects were able to worship (v. 5) the brilliant figure from anywhere in the city of Babylon. Its visibility was phenomenal.

 

The Provinces of Babylon

Due to the extensive conquests of Nebuchadnezzar and his father Nabopolassar, Babylonia consisted of a conglomerate of numerous provinces subordinate to the capital city of Babylon (cf. Daniel 46:2)

 

The Purpose of the Statue

Several potential reasons are believed to be the basis for Nebuchadnezzar's motivation to construct a replication of his dream:

1. It showed rebellion against the true God who had given him world dominion

 

2. It vaunted his pride in self-identification, a model for the Roman Caesars to later follow

 

3. It was a ruse to have his name memorialized

 

4. It consolidated his diverse conquered peoples into the solidarity of a one-man rule, namely totalitarianism

 

5. It was an attempt to set up a perpetual kingdom, not giving way to another

 

6. It was another attempt to bring about a one-world religion, a repetition of Nimrod’s Tower of Babel (cf. Genesis 8-12; 11:1-9)

 

7. It lends to serving as a prophetic precedent for Antichrist to emulate amidst the Great Tribulation (cf. Revelation 13:10 - 18)

 

Discussed in the next study, Nebuchadnezzar summons diplomats, dignitaries, and distinguished members of his administration and of all the provinces for a lavish unveiling and dedication ceremony of his newly established iconic figure.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. Why did Nebuchadnezzar have a statue erected?

2. What did the King’s statue represent?

3. What material(s) were used for its structure?

4. What were the measurements of the statue?

5. Where was the statue located?

6. Why did Nebuchadnezzar choose such a location?

7. What was one purpose of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue?

 

 

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