Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 3:7
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
7. sackbut ] trigon.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
All the people, the nations, and the languages fell down … – All excepting the Jews. An express exception is made in regard to them in the following verses, and it does not appear that any of them were present on this occasion. It would seem that only the officers had been summoned to be present, and it is not improbable that all the rest of the Jewish nation absented themselves.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The same methods hath new Babylon followed, in the long slavery of their false catholic church, for the whole world wondered after the beast, and none could make war with him, Rev 13:3,4,7,8.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. None of the Jews seem to havebeen present, except the officers, summoned specially.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore at that time,…. Such a severe edict being published, threatening with so terrible a punishment:
when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music; not only at Babylon, and that lived near the plain of Dura, but in all places where it was played:
all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; what through love of music, the fear of the furnace, regard to superstition and idolatry, and to the king’s command, men of all nations and languages gave it homage and worship.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It follows again, — As soon as the burst of the trumpets was heard and the sound of so many instruments, all nations, peoples, and tongues fell down and adored the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up Here I may repeat what I said before — all men were very obedient to the injunctions of their monarchs; whatever they ordered was obeyed, so long as it did not cause complete ruin; and they often bore the heaviest burdens with the view of perfect conformity. But we must remark how our propensities have always a vicious tendency. If King Nebuchadnezzar had commanded the God of Israel to be worshipped, and all temples to be overthrown, and all altars throughout his empire to be thrown down, very great tumults would doubtless have arisen; for the devil so fascinates men’s minds that they remain pertinaciously fixed in the errors which they have imbibed. Hence the Chaldeans, Assyrians, and others would never have been induced to obey without the greatest difficulty. But now, on the appearance of the signal, they directly fall down and adore the golden statue. Hence we may learn to reflect upon our own character, as in a mirror, with the view of submitting ourselves to God’s Word, and of being immovable in the right faith, and of standing unconquered in our consistency, whatever kings may command. Although a hundred deaths may threaten us, they must not weaken our faith, for unless God restrain us by his Curb, we should instantly start aside to every species of vanity; and especially if a king introduces corruption’s among us, we are immediately carried away by them, and, as we said, are far too prone to vicious and perverse modes of worship. The Prophet repeats again the king’s name to shew us how little the multitude thought of pleasing God; never considering whether the worship was sacred and sound, but simply content; with the king’s nod. The Prophet deservedly condemns this easy indifference.
We should learn also from this passage, not to be induced, by the will of any man to embrace any kind of religion, but diligently to inquire what worship God approves, and so to use our judgment as not rashly to involve ourselves in any superstitions. Respecting the use of musical instruments, I confess it to be customary in the Church even by God’s command; but the intention of the Jews and of the Chaldeans was different. For when the Jews used trumpets and harps and other instruments in celebrating God’s praises, they ought not to have obtruded this custom on God as if it was the proof of piety; but it ought to have another object, since God wished to use all means of stirring men up from their sluggishness, for we know how cold we grow in the pursuits of piety, unless we are aroused. God, therefore, used these stimulants to cause the Jews to worship him with greater fervor. But the Chaldeans thought to satisfy their god by heaping together many musical instruments. For, like other persons, they supposed God like themselves, for whatever delights us, we think must also please the Deity. Hence the immense heap of ceremonies in the Papacy, since our eyes delight in such splendors; hence we think this to be required of us by God, as if he delighted in what pleases us. This is, indeed, a gross error. There is no doubt that the harp, trumpet, and other musical instruments with which Nebuchadnezzar worshipped his idol, formed a part of his errors, and so also did the gold. God, indeed, wished his sanctuary to manifest some splendor; not that gold, silver, and precious stones please him by themselves, but he wished to commend his glory to his people, since under this figure they might understand why everything precious should be offered to God, as it is sacred to him. The Jews, indeed, had many ceremonies, and much of what is called magnificent splendor in the worship of God, and still the principle of spiritual worship yet remained among them. The profane, while they invented gross deities which they reverenced according to their pleasure, thought it a proof of perfect sanctity, if they sang beautifully, if they used plenty of gold and silver, and if they employed showy utensils in these sacrifices. I must leave the rest for tomorrow.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
7. At that time A number of commentators suppose that this burst of music took place at sunrise, when the summit of the statue first caught the blaze of the rising sun; that being from time immemorial the principal hour of prayer in the East.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations and the languages fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.’
The repetition beloved of ancient writers is found here again. It emphasises the situation, and the hearers of the narrative would delight in being able to repeat it as it was read. But it also stressed that the king’s command was exactly fulfilled. At the sound of the music all who were gathered fell on their face before the great image and worshipped it. Or so at first it seemed.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 3:7 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.
Ver. 7. All the people, nations, and languages fell down. ] They that come of the yielding willow, and not of the sturdy oak, will yield with the time, and ever be of the king’s religion. In Queen Mary’s days here, and so in the Palatinate lately, scarce one in five hundred stood out, but fell to Popery as fast as leaves fall in autumn. See on Dan 3:5 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 3:7
Dan 3:7 ThereforeH3606 H6903 H1836 at that time,H2166 whenH1768 allH3606 the peopleH5972 heardH8086 the soundH7032 of the cornet,H7162 flute,H4953 harp,H7030 sackbut,H5443 psaltery,H6460 and allH3606 kindsH2178 of musick,H2170 allH3606 the people,H5972 the nations,H524 and the languages,H3961 fell downH5308 and worshippedH5457 the goldenH1722 imageH6755 thatH1768 NebuchadnezzarH5020 the kingH4430 had set up.H6966
Dan 3:7
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.
God considered idolatry by his people to be on a level with adultery as illustrated in Eze 23:37 in reference to the Israelites, “That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.” Those who are not his people who engaged in idolatry were said to be committing fornication (Rev 17:1-2). In either event, God viewed idolatry as a very personal and serious transgression against him personally comparing it to the infidelity of a spouse. One can easily respect how God views idolatry by considering oneself’s own reaction to an unfaithful spouse. Both Daniel and Revelation teach that God would prefer his children go to their physical deaths than practice idolatry. There are no circumstances under which idolatry is acceptable to God and to engage in it is the equivalence of infidelity to Him. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah knew this and so refused to bow down to the image of Nebuchadnezzar.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
when: Dan 3:10
all the people: Jer 51:7, Act 14:16, 1Jo 5:19, Rev 12:9, Rev 13:3, Rev 13:8, Rev 13:14, Rev 17:8, Rev 19:20
Reciprocal: 2Sa 6:5 – David 2Ki 16:11 – built an altar Ecc 2:8 – musical instruments Hab 2:19 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 3:7. In obedience to the decree, when the people heard the sound of this music, they prostrated themselves in respect for the image which the king had set up. There is no evidence that either the people or the king were aware that any objection would be made by anyone to the kind of action called for, since there would be no outward feature of it that would prevent any man from believing in some other god.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Dan 3:7. All the people, &c., fell down and worshipped And what wonder, considering that all the charms of music were made use of to allure them to a compliance on the one hand, and the terrors of the fiery furnace to frighten them into it on the other? Thus beset with the double temptation of allurement and terror, they all yielded to the will of the idolatrous king. Observe, reader, there is nothing so unreasonable, or sinful, which the careless world will not be drawn to by pleasure, or driven to by pain, and fear of torture and death. By such methods as these, false worship has been set up and maintained in different ages.