Nebuchadnezzar made an idol of gold, about 30 meters high, and set it up in the plain of Dura. Then he commanded that everyone should fall down and worship it when they heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music. Anyone who refused would be thrown into a fiery furnace.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-7
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. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, 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. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, 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. 4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 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.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-04-09 Source: Title: Commentary on the Old Testament Title (Original): BBC – Believer’s Bible Commentary – Old Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1184 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck Translation: Christiane Eichler, Hermann Grabe, Sven und Esther Passig, Melanie Reimer, Alois Wagner Cover design: OTTENDESIGN.de, Gummersbach |
In the height of the image, about thirty yards, probably is unequaled a pedestal, and most likely it was only covered with plates of gold, not a solid mass of that precious metal. Pride and bigotry cause men to require their subjects to follow their religion, whether right or wrong, and when worldly interest allures, and punishment overawes, few refuse. This is easy to the careless, the sensual, and the infidel, who are the greatest number; and most will go their ways. There is nothing so bad which the careless world will not be drawn to by a concert of music, or driven to by a fiery furnace. By such methods, false worship has been set up and maintained.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-7
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. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, 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. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, 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. 4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 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.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
Some see that Nebuchadnezzar wanted to remove the effect of the dream on his people and kingdom, for he felt that many had glorified the God of Israel. Therefore, he built this image to occupy the minds of the people. Was this image for Nebuchadnezzar himself, or for the god of his kingdom, or for a new god? Daniel did not mention that, but the majority thinks that he wanted to make himself a god. So if he humbled himself before Daniel, it was only for a moment, but soon he went back to his pride and vain glory.
Probably after he had his dream, the king was afraid that the Jews may stir the Gentiles not to worship the gods of the king. Therefore, he built this golden image, as a test for all the people which he had taken as captives. He set it up in the plain of Dura, or in the open city.
Because the image was so huge, some thought that this was not a historical story. But to refute this, we say that probably the whole image was not make from pure gold, but maybe it was only gold plated, and the dimension of the image contained the big base on which the image was built.
Probably after he had his dream, the king was afraid that the Jews may stir the Gentiles not to worship the gods of the king. Therefore, he built this golden image, as a test for all the people which he had taken as captives. He set it up in the plain of Dura, or in the open city.
Because the image was so huge, some thought that this was not a historical story. But to refute this, we say that probably the whole image was not make from pure gold, but maybe it was only gold plated, and the dimension of the image contained the big base on which the image was built.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2022-11-07 |
statue: The idol was probably Nabu. (Fr. Most)
 | Author: Jerome Rank: Priest AD: 420 |
Instead of "Dura" Theodotion has "Deira," and Symmachus has (D) "Durau," whereas the Septuagint renders it as the common noun peribolon, a word which we might render as "game-preserve" or "enclosure."
| Author: Jerome Rank: Priest AD: 420 |
How soon he forgot the truth, when he had just been worshipping a servant of God as if he had been God Himself, but now commanded a statue to be made for himself in order that he personally might be worshipped in the statuel Now if this statue was of gold (636) (C), and was of incalculable weight, it was intended to arouse amazement in the beholders and to be worshipped as God even though a mere inanimate object, whilst everyone would be consecrating his own avarice to it. On the other hand an opportunity of salvation was afforded to the barbarian nations through the opportune presence of the captive Jews (Col. iii), with the result that after they had first come to know the power of the one true God through Daniel's revelation of the dream, they might then learn from the brave example of the three youths to despise death [variant: might learn that death ought to be despised], and to eschew the worship of idols.
| Author: Jerome Rank: Priest AD: 420 |
In the eighteenth year, etc. (These words are wanting in the Vulgate, etc.) A considerable space of time having elapsed, therefore, and the eighteenth year being now in its course, the king, calling to mind his vision, made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits. For as the blessed Daniel, in interpreting the vision, had answered the king, saying, You are this head of gold in the image, the king, being puffed up with this address, and elated in heart, made a copy of this image, in order that he might be worshipped by all as God.
 | Author: Hippolytus of Rome Rank: Author AD: 235 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
