Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 3 · Argument method – Diverse readings
1. The Methode and Argument.
IN this Chapter is set forth the singular example of the pietie and constancie of the three Fellowes and companions of Daniel, and it con…isteth of three parts: 1. the occasion of their triall, to v. 13. 2. their probation it selfe, to v. 22. 3. the euents that followed from thence, to the end of the chapter.
1. The occasion is double. 1. the fact of Nabuchadnezzer, in setting vp a golden image, with his decree adioyned thereunto, v. 8. 2. the accusation of certaine Chaldees.
1. In the first accusation is set forth, 1. Nabuchadnezzers act, in erecting an image, which is described by the matter, preparation, and place, v. 1. 2. Then followeth a double decree, 1. to summon and call all the Nobles together, which accordingly was done, v. 2. 3. 2. to command all to fall downe, as soone as they heard the sound of the instruments, vponupon paine to be cast into the furnace, v. 4. 5. which accordingly is performed by the people, v. 7.
2. The other occasion is the accusation of the Chaldees, which containeth, 1. their salutation, and insinuation to the king, v. 9. 2. a narration of his decree, v. 11, 12. 3. then followeth the accusation it selfe: they are charged with vnthankfulnes, and disobedience, v. 12.
2. Their probation is seene, 1. in the kings examination. 2. in their suffering. 1. in the examination, there is 1. the kings speach, which containeth both a friendly perswasion, and a seuere threatning and commination, v. 14, 15. 2. their answer is disi…nctiue, of two parts: 1. that God it able to deliuer them. 2. though it please him not at this time to doe it, yet they are resolued not to worship his image, v. 17, 18.
2. The second part is their suffering. 1. there is the kings charge, that they should heat the furnace seuen times more, and cast them bound into it, v. 19. 2. the execution followeth, v. 20.
3. The euents are three. 1. their accusers are destroied of the flames, v. 21. 2. the three seruants of God are deliuered from the fire: which is set forth in 3. degrees. 1. they are described walking in the furnace without hurt, and a fourth with them, which is set forth dialogue-wise betweene Nabuchadnezzer and his Nobles, v. 24, 25. 2. they are bid to come forth, v. 26. 3. the manner of the miracle is declared, neither their bodies, haire, or garments had so much as any smell of fire.
3. Then followeth the third euent, the conuersion of the king with the fruits and effects thereof: the seuerall particulars see afterward, quest. 37.
The diuers readings.
1. Ver. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height thereof was threescore cubites, and the breadth thereof sixe cubites: he set it vp in the plaine of Dura, in the prouince of Babel.
2. Then king Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather together, the nobles, the princes, and the dukes, the iudges, the treasures, the counsellers, the officers, and all the gouernours of the Prouinces (see the difference of these officers, quest. 8) that they should come to the dedication of the image, which Nebuchadnezzar had set vp.
3. So the nobles, princes, dukes, the iudges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the officers, and all the gouernours of the Prouinces, were assembled vntounto the dedicating of the image, which Nebuchadnezzar had set vp: and they stood before the image, which Nebuchadnezzar had set vp.
4. Then an herald cryed aloud (with strength C.) to you be it spoken. I. L. V. (saying or speaking. C. not be it knowne. G. be it commanded. B.) O people, nations, and languages.
5. At what time yee heare the sound of the cornet, pipe, (trumpet. G. B.) harpe, sacke but, (or shawme. B.) psalteries, dulcimer, (or symphonie. I.) and all instruments of musicke: yee shall fall downe, and bowe vntounto the image, A. (worship the image. caeter.) but then the preposition (vntounto) is omitted) of gold, which Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set vp.
6. And whosoeuer falleth not downe, and boweth, A. (worshippeth not) shall in the same houre be cast into the middes of an hoat fierie fornace, C. a furnace of burning fire.
7. Therefore assoone as (at that time, when. C.) all the people heard the sound of the cornet, pipe, harpe, sackebut, psalterie, and all instruments of musicke, all the people, nations, and languages, fell downe and bowed themselues to the image of gold, which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set vp.
8. Hereupon at the same time came men of the Chaldeans, and grieuously accused the Iewes. G. I. (cried out accusations of the Iewes. C.)
9. And they spake and said vntounto Nebuchadnezzar the king, O King, liue for euer.
10. Thou O king hast set forth I. (made. G. B.) a decree, that eueryevery man that shall heare the sound (voice. C.) of the cornet, pipe, harpe, sackebut, psalterie, and dulcimer, and all instruments of musicke, shall fall downe, and bowe himselfe vntounto the golden image.
11. And whosoeuer falleth not downe, and boweth himselfe, shall be cast into the mids of the hoat fierie fornace.
12. There are certaine Iewes, whom thou hast set ouer the busines of the prouince of Babel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: these men O King, hauehave not regarded thy decree. G. B. (put or set their heart, vponupon thy decree. C. hauehave had no respect vntounto thee. I. but the word teghem, is before ver. 10. taken for a decree) neither wil they worship thy gods, nor bowe vntounto the golden image, which thou hast set vp.
13. Then Nebubhadnezzar in his anger and wrath commanded, that they should bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: then these men were brought before the king: (were hastily brought. L. but that word is added.)
14. And Nebuchadnezzar spake (answered. C.) and said vntounto them, of set purpose. I. P. (better then, what disorder. G. or desolation. A. or is it true. L. V. B. S. the word tzedah (as R. Dauid, signifieth to lie in wait to mooue a question) will not you worship my gods, nor bow. A. P. (worship caeter.) vntounto the image of gold, which I hauehave set vp?
15. Now, if ye be readie, I. L. V. (be readie. B. are ye readie. G. behold ye are readie. A. but cheen here must signifie (if) as appeareth by the other clause of the verse, if ye worship not, &c.) that when ye heare the sound of cornet, pipe, harpe, sackbut, psalterie, and dulcimer (or symphonie) ye fall downe and bow vntounto the image, which I hauehave made, it is well: (this must be added to make the sense full) But if ye will not bow downe, in the same houre shall ye be cast into the middes of an hoat fierie furnace: for who is that God, that can deliuer you out of my hands?
16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered, and said vntounto the king, O Nebuchadnezzer, we are not carefull, I. V. A. (it behooueth not vsus. L. P. the word cashach, signifieth both, but it is here most proper in the first sense, as R. Dauid, and R. Shelemoh here take it) to answer thee in this matter.
17. Either it will be, our God whome we worship, beeing able to deliuer vsus out of the hoat fierie furnace, and out of thine hand, O King, wil deliuer vsus: (better, then, behold our God &c. is able to deliuer vsus out of the fornace, and to deliuer us out of thine hand, L. for the latter word is in the future tense (will deliuer) or then, he will deliuer vsus, G. B. for they were not assured of present deliuerance, as appeareth in the next verse, (but if not) or, whether God be able to deliuer vsus, V. or not, V. for this had beene to doubt of Gods power: if it will be (Polan. that is, that we be cast into the fornace: but this must be referred to their deliuerance, as the other opposite part is, (but if not) we resolue then vponupon the first interpretation: the word is, is deuided by the distinction (rebia,) from the sentence following, and so cannot be ioyned with (God.)
18. Either it will not: yet be it knowne vntounto thee, O King, that we will not worship thy gods, nor bow vntounto the golden image, which thou hast set vp.
19. Then was Nebuchadnezzer filled with rage, and the forme of his visage, G. (the image of his face, C. I. the countenance of his face. B.) was changed vponupon, B. L. (or against. V. G. I.) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: and he answering gaue charge, C. I. (charged and commanded, G. B. commanded, L.) that they should heate the fornace at once seauen times more, then it was wont (seemed good, C.) to be heate.
20. And to the most valiant men of strength, which were in his armie, he gaue charge to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to cast them into the hoat fierie fornace.
21. So these men were bound in their coates (breaches. L.) their bonets. L. (their hosen. V. I. G. B.) and their cloakes. G. I. (their shooes. L. bonets. V. B.) with their other garments, and cast into the middest of the hoat fierie furnace: (see the diuerse readings. quest. 25. following.)
22. Therefore because the kings word was straite (or vrgent. C.) that the fornace should be exceeding hoate, the flame (sparkes. I. A.) of the fire slew those men, which had put in. B. thrust in. I. or sent in. L. not brought forth. G. V. the word properly signifieth to cause to ascend: they had brought them vp to cast them downe into the fornace. Pel.) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23. And these three men Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego, fell downe into the middes of the hoat fierie fornace, bound.
24. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose vp in hast (with a troubled mind, or beeing perplexed. I. the word (behal) signifieth both hast and perplexitie, but the first rather, both because his perplexitie is expressed in the former word, and the preposition (…eth) more properly signifieth (in) then (with) and spake and said vntounto his counsellers (or gouernours. I. or nobles. I. V.) Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire: who answered and said to the king, True O king. (truely O King. L. V.)
25. He answered, and said, Lo I see foure men loose, walking in the middes of the fire, and they hauehave no hurt (no corruption. C.) and the forme of the fourth is like the Sonne of God. L. I. B. G. (of the gods. C. V.)
26. Then the king Nebuchadnezzar came neere to the mouth. G. B. (the doore. C. cum caeter.) of the hoat fierie fornace, and spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the seruants of the high God, goe forth and come hither: then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the middes of the fire.
27. Then the nobles, princes, and dukes, and the kings counsellers (mightie ones. L. gouernours. I.) came together to see these men, because the fire had no power ouer their bodies: for not an haire of their head was burnt, neither were their coates changed, not any smell of fire came (passed. C.) vponupon them:
28. Wherefore Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his Angel, and deliuered, his seruants, that put their trust in him, and hauehave altered the kings commandement, and yeelded their bodies, that they should not serue, nor bowe vntounto any god, saue their owne God.
29. Therefore I set forth a decree, that eueryevery people, nation, and language, which shall speake any blasphemie (error. C.) against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be drawne in peices (shall perish. L.) and his house be made a iakes (be vasted. L.) because there is not any other God (there is no God. B. G. but here the word (other) is omitted) which can deliuer after this sort.
30. Then the king aduanced (caused to prosper. C.) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the Prouince of Babel.