Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 3

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.

This daring sin of Nebuchadnezzar was aggravated many wayes, by the greatness of the Kingdom, and Majesty God had given him, by the late discovery made to him when Daniel interpreted his dream, by his conviction and confession upon it of that great God, and his Sovereign power, this is the height of ingratitude, arguing his carriage before to be only a fit of astonishment, without the least change upon his heart.

The vast proportion of the Statue or Idol, was to shew his greatness, by the height and bulk of it, and his pride and magnificence in the richness of it, seeing it was of Gold, and to be a Monument to Posterity of his famous exploits. Some give this reason, that he might seem hereby to avert the [illegible: 1 letter]ate of his Empire, foretold by Daniel, and declare himself sole Monarch of the World, or head of Gold, because he made it of Gold, whether massy, or plated, or guilded, matters not. Likewise that he might seem no wayes to be inclined to the Iews, or their Religion, whereof the Chaldeans might be jealous, seeing he had owned their god to be greatest, and had preferred Daniel and his Friends to great honours. Nebuchadnezzar assured his wise men and Nobles, that he would still maintain the old Established Religion, without innovation or mixture: so Mald. Menochius, Geierus, that they had a spight against the Iewes is clear, verse 8.12.

2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governours, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the Provinces , to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

This great Statue whether Nebuchadnezzars own, or Bel, or any other of his gods, see verse 14. must be solemnly dedicated, and therefore all the Peers of the Realm are called to it, but whether these ranks of Men and Officers are truly rendred from the Chaldee words, is hard to determine, and not worth disputing: Etymologists differ in it, this only is material, that the heads of all that vast Empire were summoned, of several Nations and Languages, to testifie their conformity to the Emperors will, and thereby give assurance of obliging the people under them to the same obedience, i. e. to the same Idolatrous Worship.

It was the manner of the Heathen to Consecrate their Idol before they worshipped it, and herein as in many other, Satan imitated the Iewes, and their Temple dedication, Iohn 10.22. they held a feast: The Popish Church do the like, when they dedicated material Temples to particular Saints, with solemnity and jollity, from whence cometh the feasts of wakes and revels to this day.

3 Then the princes, the governours, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellours, 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 .

i. e. In the plains of D[illegible: 1 letter]ra, where great multitudes might easily be gathered, and behold it lifted up on high, conspicuous to all, they beheld it with admiration, ready to adore it, in obedience to the Kings will and pleasure, for whatsoever pleased him, pleased them, walking willingly after the Command[illegible: 2 letters]r[illegible: 1 letter] ▪ as Ieroboam by his Calves made Israel to sin. Heathenish and profane men are unstable as water, and blown any way by every wind of Doctrine, suitable to their Princes, and to their own lusts. If the King had commanded Idols to be broken, and burnt, and the worship of the true God to be set up, this people would not have been so forward in their conformity, because men are generally more inclined to false Worship then true.

4 Then an herauld cryed aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations and languages .

It is likely there were many Heraulds at the head of that great concourse, else they could not all hear.

Proclamation was made therefore in several Languages, to some of several Nations assembled there, and to the representatives of all.

Marginal references: Chald. with might.; Chald. they command.

5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sack-but, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick , ye fall down and worship the golden image, that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up .

i. e. Wind, and stringed instruments of various sorts and fashions, for we have here Syrian and Greek ones, as appears by the words, though in Chaldee letters, for this mighty Monarch was Lord over them all.

Mark, all that is required of them is only a gesture of Worship, without oral profession. The pomp and equipage, the solemn sound of the Musick, and the strict command, was enough to induce them to stoop and fall down to it: This is one of Satans great engines, to draw the World from Gods pure Worship, and the simplicity that is in Christ, dazzleing mens eyes, and bewitching them with a gawdy, whorish dress of Idolatrous service, as ye see in this example, and Rev. 17.4, 5. all which ariseth meerly from hence, because men do not or will not see, that Gods Worship is wholly Spiritual, and most Beautiful and Glorious as such; 2 Cor. 3.6. to the end, by this it excells all Pagan, Iewish and Antichristian Worship, all which is humane, bodily, uncommanded of God, therefore displeasing and provoking, unprofitable, ensnaring and destructive: Now Idolatrous gestures are sinful, because forbidden of God; Exod. 20.5. because this satisfies and hardens Idolaters in their way also, because by this snare and critical mark their Proselytes are known and distinguished, as here, they that stood up, when others fell down; thus Antichrist and New Babylon hath her mark in the forehead, and hands of her followers, Rev. 13.15, 16, 17. Primitive Christians would not offer a grain of Frankincense to a Pagan Idol[illegible: 1 letter] for fear or favour, nor true Protestants kneel to the Host, which the Popish Priest holds up to insnare them.

Marginal references: Or, singing.; Heb. symphony.

6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace .

This was a punishment usual among the Chaldeans, to scorch, rost and burn offenders with fire, Ier. 29.22. see 2 Maccah. 7.3. And this the King of Moab imitated, 2 Kings 3.27. Amos 2.1. This shewes 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 10 persecutions, and in the fires which Antichrist hath kindled in all his Reign, against the witnesses of Iesus; witness the book of Acts and Monuments; whom they cannot allure with their gawdery, they fright with their fires and massacres, as ye see the effects of both in the verse following

7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sack-but, 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.

The same methods hath New Babylon followed, in the long slavery of their false Catholick Church, for the whole world wondred after the beast, and none could make war with him, Rev. 13.4, 7, 8.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego: these men, O king, have not regarded thee, they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up .

Now the Devils cloven foot appears, now ye have the bottom of the plot; one of these two is clear, these Chaldeans finding the Iewes made Courtiers, and preferred to places of Trust and Honour, they either put the King upon this work, or else made use of it, both to satisfie their ambition, and wreak their malice against those three Worthies; as they dealt with Daniel, chap. 6.4, 5. they accused the Iewes, which word signifies to calumniate, and also to eat up, and devour, which is the design of envy and malice; see how they go to work; 1. They strike while the iron is hot, they take the King in his huff. 2. They read a Law Established. 3 Then they say the Iewes do not observe the Kings Lawes, a people already obnoxious. 4. Yea, several of them despise the Kings Lawes and Authority. 5. They abuse the Kings great favour and indulgence to them. 6. They should give good example being in places of trust and dignity. 7. Yet behold, they declare their contumacy and rebellion in not conforming to the Kings Lawes. This set the King all in a flame of rage and fury, and commanded to bring these 3 men before him.

Marginal references: Chald. have set no regard upon thee.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego ; then they brought these men before the king.

Why not Daniel too, because he was chief of all in honour? Answ. Because the King had a greater favour for him, and he was popular, and beloved for his great wisdom, and unblameable carriage; they would not meddle with him now, least by his knowledge and interest in the King, he might chance to spoil their plot.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, It is true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up .

Now when these men were brought before the King though in rage, yet he doth not presently throw them into the fire, but makes inquiry by interrogatories, that he might see first if they were guilty, by hearing them speak for themselves, and telling them he expected obedience and conformity to his Lawes from them, and it was in vain to look for any indulgence from him, he would bate them nothing, they should be burned: What do ye make a jest of my gods, and my Religion, and my Commands; so the word [illegible: 1 letter]seda in the Syriac doth signifie to scoff or deride, as if he had said, it is true indeed, that ye refuse to worship my gods; what do ye do it in earnest, or in jest, it seems by your carriage, if it be true what I hear of you, that ye slight my gods and make a mock of my Authority, but ye shall know there is no jesting with these edge-tools.

Marginal references: Or of purpose, as Exo. 21.13.

15 Now if ye be ready, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands ?

Prodigious pride and blasphemy, for he doth not only insult over all gods in general, but particularly against the only true God, whom he lately confessed chap. 2.47. to be a God of gods, and a Lord of Kings; so the King of Assyria, 2 Kings 18.30, 33. Thus all the Tyrants of the East, Turk, Mogul; Cham, whose very Titles are blasphemy; Its a wonder why these men Worship any God, seeing they set up themselves above all. Reason of State makes them set up somewhat to keep the people in awe, they themselves are exempt, and care for none. The root of Nebuchadnezzars arrogance lay chiefly here, he had burnt the Temple of the Iewes god, and made slaves of his people, and he did not deliver either, and therefore thought he could not; and so presumes the same now; but God will make him quickly of another mind.

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter .

Heb. We care not, we may not, there is no need of any answer in this case, for it is in vain for us to deliberate and debate the matter; the King is resolved to have his will of us, and we are resolved on the contrary. For to obey him in this horrid thing, will be disobedience against our God, to the highest.

Marginal references: Or, need not, so Gr.; Mat. 10.19.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [illegible: 1 letter]s out of thine hand, O king.

They were indued with a strong Faith in their God, not only as to his power which was omnipotent, and unlimited but also as to his will, which readily inclined him to succour, his servants in their distress, for his name, according to his promise, and the Saints experience in the like cases of extremity.

18 But if not , be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up .

They add this, but if not, to shew they did not presume to tye God to this deliverance absolutely, for God is arbitrary, and knows how to deliver, and sometimes, to suffer his Saints to glorifie him by suffering.

It was therefore all a case to them, which way of the two God would honour himself, they were resolved to venture suffering rather then sinning, and leave the cause to God.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; therefore he spake and commanded, that they should heat the furnace one seven times hotter than it was wont to be heat .

Which appeared in his face, and in his words, taking this answer for the highest affront and provocation, which as the case stood he could not bear, the pride of his heart made his indignation boil over, and therefore he made the Furnace [illegible: 2 letters] ven times hotter.

Tyrants would burn the people of God in Hell if they could.

Marginal references: Chald [illegible: 1 span]

20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

What did he think these three men would have resisted? or that their God would defend them from this power, or that if he had, that the King and his mighty men could have prevailed, none of all this was in the case, for God purposed to shew his power, when the King did his worst, and to quench the violence of the fire, both of the Furnace, and of the Kings fury at once; and in the thing wherein he dealt proudly, to be above him.

Marginal references: Chald. [illegible: 1 word] of [illegible: 1 word].

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments , and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

This is observable and wonderful, that the fire should not catch their Garments, being the most obnoxious to it.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 span]; Or, [illegible: 1 span]

22 Therefore because the kings commandment was urgent , and the furnace exceeding ing hot, the flame of the fire slew these men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

Which made them the more hasty, and precipitate in their execution, and took less care for themselves, against the violence of the flame.

A signal hand of God upon such as execute wicked commands, who though mighty men, had no might to escape the flame at the mouth of the Furnace, when the other escaped in the midst of it.

Marginal references: Chald. [illegible: 1 span]; Or, [illegible: 1 span]

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

All this exprest with emphasis, to make the power of God more Glorious in their preservation; for that flame that slew the Executioners, might much more easily have suffocated the three Children before they fell down.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste , and spake and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king .

This fear, perturbation and amazement, as the word signifies, surprized the King, being surprized with the strangeness of it, beholding something supernatural in it, together with the disappointment of his design and cruel commands.

The Lord extorted this confession from them, though enemies.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 span]

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the son of God .

The fire gave light to see them, though it had no power of heat to burn them.

A Divine, most Beautiful and Glorious Countenance; either of a meer Angel, or rather, of Iesus Christ the Angel of the Covenant, who did sometimes appear in the Old Testament before his incarnation, Gen. 12.7. and 18.10, 13, 17, 20. &c, Exod. 23.23. and 33.2. Josh. 5.13, 14, 15. Prov. 8.31. in all which places it is Jehovah, Gen. 19.24. Exod. 3.2. Act. 7.30, 32, 33, 38.

Marginal references: Chald. there hurt in

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth and come hither. Then shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth of the midst of the Fire .

As near as he durst come within hearing.

With a milder tone then before, God having abated the fire of his fury. Now he could at once confess and acknowledge the true God to be the most high above all gods, and the three Worthies to be his faithful servants.

They went out upon the Kings call, without which they would not have stirred.

Marginal references: Chald. door.

27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the kings counsellors being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

With great admiration, for the satisfaction of all by their sight of them, and by their smell. All the works of God are perfect, and there was nothing here wanting to make this wonderful deliverance compleat. Here was a pure act of Gods Omnipotence, to divide between the fire and its most intense heat, and to master any Creature in the World in its height, by working against and above Nature, whose utmost sphear of activity is limited by God.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his Servants that trusted in him, and have changed the kings word, and yielded their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God .

Thus out of the mouthes of Blasphemers and Contemners of God, can the Lord ordain praise; yet all this did not draw off this King from his Idolatry, for he saith the God of Shadrach, &c. not his God. Wonders will not work Conversion, till God work upon the heart, Deut. 29.2, 3, 4.

He blesseth God for four things. 1. For sending his Angel to deliver his servants that trusted in him. 2. That they changed the Kings Commandment, i. e. frustrated it, and made it void, and convinced the King, and brought him to a better mind. 3. Therefore yielded their Bodies to the fire, and to his fury, by passive obedience, rather then not obey God actively, by Worshipping any false god. 4. But only the true, whom they chose to be their own God. Observe also here the power of Faith, it quencheth the violence of fire, Heb. 11.34. and the presence of God with his people, even in the fire, and in fiery Tryals, Isa. 43.2. 1 Pet. 1.7. and 4.12.

29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill, because there is no other god that can deliver after this sort.

Observe here, that though he doth not resolve to worship the true God, nor command others to do it, yet he would not allow the God of the Jewes to be evil spoken of, this was all that he came up to. He was resolved to hold fast to the Religion Established, his own Idols, nay the great golden Idol, which had been slur[illegible: 1 letter]'d and slighted by these three Worthies, he would not take down and relinquish; this was the best quarter the true God could get among them, not to be spoken amiss of under great penalty; though he confessed, no god else could deliver after that strange sort. Bel could not preserve his men out of the Furnace, God preserves his servants in the Furnace. All was one for that, Bel should be his God still.

Marginal references: Chald. a de [illegible: 1 letter]is made by; Chald. error.; [illegible: 2 letters]ap. 2.5.; [illegible: 1 letter]hald. made [illegible: 1 word].

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon .

They that honour God, them will God honour, to suffer, and suffer shame and pains for God, is to honour God▪ John 21.19. 1 Pet. 4.14. It is probable that the Chaldeans used to reproach the God of the Jewes, and more upon this account, because for his sake, these his servants refused conformity to Babyloni[illegible: 1 letter]h Idolatry; and their common quarrel with the people of God was upon the account of their Religion; thus here in this instance, and thus in Daniels case, Dan. 6.4, 5. thus Haman, Esther 3.8. Also for that very thing they make them disloyal, and breakers of the Kings Lawes: Now God would vindicate his people herein, and made this great King to do it too, knowing it was a grief of heart for these men, Shadrach, &c. to hear the name of God abused by Idolaters, and profane wretches, and doubtless they complained to the King of it, who did them right by this severe decree, as long as it lasted, seeing the King moreover thought fit to promote them to honour, i. e. he did restore them to their places, as the word signifies, and made an addition to their former dignities.

Marginal references: [illegible: 3 letters]ld. made [illegible: 1 word].