Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 3:6
And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
6. the same hour ] Cf. Dan 3:15, Dan 4:33, Dan 5:5 (also ‘hour’ alone, Dan 4:16). The expression is common in Syriac, as in the Pesh. of Mat 8:3; Mat 27:48; Mar 1:42; Act 11:11; Act 11:16; comp. (in the Greek) Mat 8:3; Mat 10:19; Mat 18:1, Luk 2:38; Luk 7:21; Luk 10:21, and elsewhere. ‘Hour’ ( sh‘h) does not occur in Biblical Hebrew; but it is common in Aramaic (Targums and Syriac) and later Hebrew. Originally it denoted any small interval of time, and was only gradually fixed definitely to what we call an ‘hour.’
shall be cast, &c.] Cruel punishments were in vogue among both the Assyrians and the Babylonians. In Jer 29:12 allusion is made to two Jews, Zedekiah and Ahab, whom (for some reason not stated) ‘the king of Babylon roasted in the fire.’ (The statement, sometimes made, that Asshurbanipal’s rebel brother, Shamash-shum-ukin, was punished in this manner, appears to rest on a misconception: see KB [226] ii. 191 [Annals iv. 50 f.], and Maspero, Passing of the Empires, p. 422.)
[226] B. Eb. Schrader, Keilinschriftliche Bibliothek (transliterations and translations of Assyrian and Babylonian inscriptions), 1889 1900.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth – The order in this verse seems to be tyrannical, and it is contrary to all our notions of freedom of religious opinion and worship. But it was much in the spirit of that age, and indeed of almost every age. It was an act to enforce uniformity in religion by the authority of the civil magistrate, and to secure it by threatened penalties. It should be observed, however, that the command at that time would not be regarded as harsh and oppressive by pagan worshippers, and might be complied with consistently with their views, without infringing on their notions of religious liberty. The homage rendered to one god did not, according to their views, conflict with any honor that was due to another, and though they were required to worship this divinity, that would not be a prohibition against worshipping any other. It was also in accordance with all the views of paganism that all proper honor should be rendered to the particular god or gods which any people adored.
The nations assembled here would regard it as no dishonor shown to the particular deity whom they worshipped to render homage to the god worshipped by Nebuchadnezzar, as this command implied no prohibition against worshipping any other god. It was only in respect to those who held that there is but one God, and that all homage rendered to any other is morally wrong, that this command would be oppressive. Accordingly, the contemplated vengeance fell only on the Jews – all, of every other nation, who were assembled, complying with the command without hesitation. It violated no principle which they held to render the homage which was claimed, for though they had their own tutelary gods whom they worshipped, they supposed the same was true of every other people, and that their gods were equally entitled to respect; but it violated every principle on which the Jew acted – for he believed that there was but one God ruling over all nations, and that homage rendered to any other was morally wrong. Compare Hengstenberg, Authentie des Daniel, pp. 83, 84.
Shall the same hour – This accords with the general character of an Oriental despot accustomed to enjoin implicit obedience by the most summary process, and it is entirely conformable to the whole character of Nebuchadnezzar. It would seem from this, that there was an apprehension that some among the multitudes assembled would refuse to obey the command. Whether there was any design to make this bear hard on the Jews, it is impossible now to determine. The word which is here rendered hour ( shaeta) is probably from shaah – to look; and properly denotes a look, a glance of the eye, and then the time of such a glance – a moment, an instant. It does not refer to an hour, as understood by us, but means instantly, immediately – as quick as the glance of an eye. The word is not found in Hebrew, and occurs in Chaldee only in Dan 3:6, Dan 3:15; Dan 4:19, Dan 4:33 (Dan 4:16, Dan 4:30); Dan 5:5, in each case rendered hour. Nothing can be inferred from it, however, in regard to the division of time among the Chaldeans into hours – though Herodotus says that the Greeks received the division of the day into twelve parts from them. – Lib. ii., c. 109.
Be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace – The word here rendered furnace ( ‘attun) is derived from ( tenan), to smoke; and may be applied to any species of furnace, or large oven. It does not denote the use to which the furnace was commonly applied, or the form of its construction. Any furnace for burning lime – if lime was then burned – or for burning bricks, if they were burned, or for smelting ore, would correspond with the meaning of the word. Nor is it said whether the furnace referred to would be one that would be constructed for the occasion, or one in common use for some other purpose. The editor of Calmet (Taylor) supposes that the furnace here referred to was rather a fire kindled in the open court of a temple, like a place set apart for burning martyrs, than a closed furnace of brick. See Cal. Dict. vol. iv. p. 330, following. The more obvious representation, however, is, that it was a closed place, in which the intensity of the fire could be greatly increased. Such a mode of punishment is not uncommon in the East. Chardin (vi. p. 118), after speaking of the common modes of inflicting the punishment of death in Persia, remarks that there are other modes of inflicting the punishment of death on those who have violated the police laws, especially those who have contributed to produce scarcity of food, or who have used false weights, or who have disregarded the laws respecting taxes. The cooks, says he, were fixed on spits, and roasted over a gentle fire (compare Jer 29:22), and the bakers were cast into a burning oven. In the year 1668, when the famine was raging, I saw in the royal residence in Ispahan one of these ovens burning to terrify the bakers, and to prevent their taking advantage of the scarcity to increase their gains. See Rosenmuller, Alte u. neue Morgenland, in loc.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. Shall the same hour] This is the first place in the Old Testament where we find the division of time into hours. The Greeks say that Anaximander was the inventor. He had it probably from the Chaldeans, among whom this division was in use long before Anaximander was born.
Be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.] This was an ancient mode of punishment among the Chaldeans, if we may credit the tradition that Abram was cast into such a fire by this idolatrous people because he would not worship their idols.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This was a punishment usual among the Chaldeans, to scorch, roast, and burn offenders with fire, Jer 29:22; see 1Ma 7:3. And this the king of Moab imitated, 2Ki 3:27; Amo 2:1. This shows the hellish malice and cruelty of wicked men, especially against those that cross their pride and superstition, which was visible in the tortures Christians were put to in the ten persecutions, and in the fires which antichrist hath kindled in all his reign against the witnesses of Jesus; witness the book of “Acts and Monuments” whom they cannot allure with their gaudery, they fright with their fires and massacres, as ye see the effects of both in the verse following.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. No other nation but the Jewswould feel this edict oppressive; for it did not prevent themworshipping their own gods besides. It was evidently aimed atthe Jews by those jealous of their high position in the king’s court,who therefore induced the king to pass an edict as to all recusants,representing such refusal of homage as an act of treason toNebuchadnezzar as civil and religious “head” of the empire.So the edict under Darius (Da6:7-9) was aimed against the Jews by those jealous of Daniel’sinfluence. The literal image of Nebuchadnezzar is a typical prophecyof “the image of the beast,” connected with mysticalBabylon, in Re 13:14. Thesecond mystical beast there causeth the earth, and them that dwelltherein, to worship the first beast, and that as many as would not,should be killed (Rev 13:12;Rev 13:15).
furnacea common modeof punishment in Babylon (Jer29:22). It is not necessary to suppose that the furnace was madefor the occasion. Compare “brick-kiln,” 2Sa12:31. Any furnace for common purposes in the vicinity of Durawould serve. CHARDIN, inhis travels (A.D.1671-1677), mentions that in Persia, to terrify those who tookadvantage of scarcity to sell provisions at exorbitant prices, thecooks were roasted over a slow fire, and the bakers cast into aburning oven.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth,…. Who refuses to worship it, or wilfully neglects it; which would be interpreted a contempt of it, and of the king’s command:
shall in the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; such as were used to burn stones in for lime, as Jarchi observes: the music was to draw, the furnace was to drive, men to this idolatrous worship; the one was to please and sooth the minds of men, and so allure them to such stupid service; the other to frighten them into obedience. This is the first time that mention is made of “hours” in the sacred Scriptures; it was very probably the invention of the Chaldeans or Babylonians; for Herodotus m says the Greeks received the twelve parts of the day from the Babylonians.
m Euterpe, sive l. 2. c. 109.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Respecting the required adoration, nothing but outward observance was needed. King Nebuchadnezzar did not exact a verbal profession of belief in this deity, that is, in the divinity of the statue which he commanded to be worshipped; it was quite sufficient to offer to it merely outward worship. We here see how idolatry is deservedly condemned in those who pretend to worship idols, even if they mentally refrain and only act through fear and the compulsion of regal authority; that excuse is altogether frivolous. We see, then, how this king or tyrant, though he fabricated this image by the cunning of the devil, exacted nothing else than the bending the knees of all the people and nations before the statue. And truly he had in this way alienated the Jews from the worship of the one true God, if this had been extorted from them. For God wishes first of all for inward worship, and afterwards for outward profession. The principal altar for the worship of God ought to be situated in our minds, for God is worshipped spiritually by faith, prayer, and other acts of piety. (Joh 4:24.) It is also necessary to add outward profession, not only that we may exercise ourselves in God’s worship, but offer ourselves wholly to him, and bend before him both bodily and mentally, and devote ourselves entirely to him, as Paul teaches. (1Co 7:34; 1Th 5:23.) Thus far, then, concerning both the adoration and the penalty.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) Shall be cast . . .This punishment was not uncommon among the Babylonians. One instance of it is mentioned by Jeremiah (Jer. 29:22; see also Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archology, vol. ii., p. 361). The occasion being a national festival, any refusal to worship the national gods would be regarded as high treason. Any foreign subjects would be expected to take part in the ceremony, their gods being supposed to have been conquered, and being regarded as demons. (Comp. 2Ki. 19:12; 2Ch. 28:23.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. If this image were indeed that of the chief Babylonian deity there need be no surprise that the penalty of death should fall upon those who would refuse to worship it. Knabenbauer (p. 7) gives an instance in comparatively modern times, on somewhat doubtful authority however, where, on severe penalties, the emperor of Japan suspended all the religious worship of the empire excepting to one particular idol. Those who refused allegiance to the gods of the country were considered as traitors to the government. (See Pusey, 444, etc.) Of course the worship of Bel would not, from the heathen standpoint, have excluded the worship also of Jehovah; but from the Jewish standpoint he who worshiped the One God could worship no other without apostasy. The punishment by fire was according to the Babylonian and Persian custom (Jer 29:22). Bertin and Budge were wrong in formerly supposing that these fiery furnaces were crematories, as it is now known that the practice of burning the dead among the Babylonians was “practically unknown” (Jastrow); but a number of texts speak of the burning alive of the king’s enemies. This custom continued clear down to Maccabean times ( 2Ma 7:5 ). Assurbanipal (668-626 B.C.) says of a prince who had uttered curses against his favorite gods, “Over a furnace they placed him and consumed him” ( Records of the Past, 1:76-79; 9:56). As the fire god ( Nusku) was the “messenger” and “firstborn” of Bel, if the Hebrews had refused to worship this chief deity of Babylon the punishment of death by fire would be peculiarly appropriate.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dan 3:6. The same hour This is the first place in the Old Testament, where we meet with the division of time into hours. The Greeks ascribe the invention of them to Anaximander, who perhaps received it from the Chaldees. The mode of punishment here mentioned was common among this people. Compare Jer 29:22. It has been said that Abraham was exposed to this punishment before his departure from Chaldea. See Calmet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Ver. 6. And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, &c. ] Fire and sword are idolaters’ best arguments. But conscience is the fountain and spring of duty; and if that be not directed and awed by the Word of God, in vain are Acts of Parliament and proclamations, though backed with menaces; as if the spring of a clock be broken, in vain are all the wheels kept clean and put in order.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
falleth: Dan 3:11, Dan 3:15, Exo 20:5, Isa 44:17, Mat 4:9, Rev 13:15-17
the same: Dan 2:5, Dan 2:12, Dan 2:13, Mar 6:27
a burning: Gen 19:28, Jer 29:22, Eze 22:18-22, Mat 13:42, Mat 13:50, Rev 9:2, Rev 14:11
Reciprocal: 2Ch 21:11 – compelled Dan 5:19 – whom he would he slew Dan 6:7 – he shall Eph 6:9 – forbearing
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 3:6. It is a principle that is recognized universally that a law that has no penalty is useless. Hence the decree of Nebuchadnezzar gave the penalty of being cast Into a fiery furnace. Jer 29:22 tells of two men whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, so we see this was not to be something new for the Hebrews to be cast therein. Also, verse 19 of our chapter show’s the furnace was wont to be used.