Daniel Chapter 3

Daniel

chapter 3: Bow or Burn

We see that there was immediate compliance by the huge group assembled before this huge statue. There is no doubt that they were expected to worship in synchronized fashion, their heads touching the ground simultaneously. A vast sea of people bowing in unison. It would have been an impressive sight.

Yet among this mass of compliance were three men who did not bow down. They refused to follow the pattern dictated by the world around them and stood their ground. Scripture doesn't tell us where Daniel was, but it is often thought that he was on the dais with the king and was thus not required to bow himself.

Daniel 3:8

At that time certain Chaldeans came forward, and accused the Jews.

Some Bibles use Chaldeans, which is both a term of nationality and title. Many Bibles use other terms, the most popular being "astrologers." The description refers to wise men in charge of studying and recording the position of the stars, a highly sophisticated process in that culture. It does not refer to astrologers as we think of them today. They were more akin to astronomers, actually. These were wise men like Daniel, but they did engage in a sort of divination practice by trying to interpret heavenly things as signs from the gods.

It is most likely that these men came forward on the evening of the same day of the official dedication. As chief officials, the three men accused would have been present at the dedication ceremony.

Daniel 3:9-12

They said to king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever.

You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden image,

and that whoever does not fall down and worship is to be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego -- these men, O king, pay no attention to you. They neither serve your gods nor worship the golden image you set up."

The phrase "live forever" is just an early version of our modern-day "long live the king."

Why repeat the proclamation? The whole thing looks like a legal proceeding designed to give the king no room to maneuver. They wanted to make sure these guys were punished as the decree called for.

Notice the accusation against the Jews. There is a clear tone of anti-Semitism.

There are three accusations made here. First, that they pay no attention to Nebuchadnezzar's commands (this one specifically but the Aramaic covers a broader sense). This is, of course, patently false and he would know it. The second is proof of the first: that they don't serve the gods of Babylon (notice that they call them the king's gods). The third is that they don't worship the image (note again how it is referred to as the king's project). The last two accusations are true.

Daniel 3:13-15

Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They brought these men before the king.

Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

Now if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I have made when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, horn, pipe and all kinds of music; well and good. But if you do not, you will be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Then what God shall deliver you out of my hands?"

Although Nebuchadnezzar is burning with rage, it may be directed partly to those who put him up to this ridiculous situation. He may realize that they planned this and used him as a pawn in their game. From what we've already seen of his ego, this would not sit well with him. If his fury were directed only to the three men, he would probably not have called them in for a second chance, though it is possible.

Nebuchadnezzar asks if these accusations are true. Notice that he ignores the first one made, because he knows it was ridiculously false. He deals only with the last two of the three claims.

The proclamation did not give room for a second-chance interview with the king. This is a very unusual move designed to give them a chance to put this whole incident behind them. They can comply now, (most likely in the presence of the accusers), or he has no choice but to fulfil the punishment described.

Getting Chewed Out

In describing the slanderous accusations brought forward about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the Aramaic uses an interesting phrase that closely resembles our modern-day reference to being "chewed out" by someone. It literally says they accused the Jews by chewing them to bits and pieces.

This phrase was part of the common vernacular in those days.

Even then there were slang expressions, but isn't it interesting that this kind of phrase has made it into our modern language as well with nearly identical meaning?