2 province of Babylon.* 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 3 image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 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, ready to per4 form the worship that he required. Then an herald, to denote the extent of the Babylonish empire, cried aloud, To you it is 5 commanded, O people, nations, and languages, [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music,† ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king 6 hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery 7 furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadmezzar the king had set up; the people readily complied; it being a common maxim among the heathen, that they must accommodate themselves to the worship of every country where they resided. 8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans, who were grieved that these foreigners should be promoted, came near, and accusged the Jews. They spake and said to the king Nebuchad10 nezzar, O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cor'net, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should 12 be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; who have been raised by thy favour, and are under the highest obligations to thee; these men, O king, have not regarded thee; This was the image of Bel, his god, (in honour of whom Daniel was called Belteshazzar ;) probably the height of the pedestal was included, or else it would have been disproportionate: as there were many worshippers, it was placed on high, that all might see it. Diodorus Siculus mentions an image found in the temple of Belus forty feet high, which some think was the same. + The names of these instruments in Chaldaic, are like the Greek; which some have urged as an argument that this book was not written till after the Greeks had conquered the east but these names in the Greek might be derived from the Chaldaic; the instru ment might be brought from Tyre, and to Tyre by the Greeks; Nebuchadnezzar having conquered that ciry, where, no doubt, instruments of music were in great perfection. Burning alive was a punishment common among the Chaldeans. This is the first time we read in scripture of dividing time by hours. they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded 1/4 to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, [Is it] true, or, is it on purpose to affront me, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 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 music, 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? forgetting the God he had before acknowledged, and impiously 16 putting himself on a level with the Almighty. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered, and said to the king, O Neb-uchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this mat ter; the case is so plain, that it admits of no dispute or deliber17 ation. If it be [so,] our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver 18 [us] out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor wor ship the golden image which thou hast set up, and will abide by the consequences.†' 19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against.Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated for other malefactors. He was highly provoked by their ingratitude and obstinacy, as he would call it, in so little a 20 thing. And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 21 [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, in their mantles, trowsers, and turbuns, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery 22 furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew, or suffocated, those men that took up Shadrach, Me23 shach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Me How far they had any immediate revelation to assure them of deliverance, we cannot say they might, under a powerful impression on their minds, utter the words, with ont understanding the full meaning of them themselves. + It is natural to inquire, Where was Daniel? No doubt he did not join in the idola. try; perhaps he was at a distance, or his enemies thought him too much in favour to make the first attempt upon him; or perhaps he had some inspired directions not to interpose for his friends, as the supremacy and power of Jehovah would be illustrated, and idolatry confounded, by their deliverance. There was something extraordinary in this; perhaps the fire was driven out as with a violent blast of wind on the descent of the ange 24 shach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied at the destruc tion of the guards, and the preservation of these three men, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? 25 They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 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 26 the fourth is like the son of God, or, an angel.* Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither :] he now remembered the God whom he had before acknowledged. Then. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire, which had burned noth27 ing but the cords with which they were bound. And the princes, governors and captains, and the king's counsellors, beinggathered 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 28 them. [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, that is, refused obedience to his decree, and rendered it of no effect, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except 29 their own God. Therefore I make a decree, that every peo⚫ple, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 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.. 30 1. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon; he restored them to their posts. This was a happy deliverance for the rest of the Jews; for had these men been consumed, it is probable that all the rest of the Jews would have been persecuted, and must either have turned idolaters, or have been destroyed. WE REFLECTIONS. E here see how soon impressions of religion may be lost. It is uncertain how long this event happened after the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream; but it is a There is an account of their prayers and praises, or some sublime strains of devotion, which they made use of on this occasion, in the Apocrypha: but as this is a much later composition, it is not greatly to be depended upon. proof that he had forgotten the God of the Jews, the God of gods, whom he then acknowledged: he therefore set up a new idol, and commanded the people to worship it. After this he confessed Jehovah to be the most high God; superior to all other gods; yet he neither broke his image, nor abolished the worship of it. Thus, many have awakenings of conscience, are convinced of the evil of sin, see their own practices to be wrong and dangerous; and yet continue in them. How careful then should we be to cherish serious impressions, till they issue in a sound and thorough conversion. 2. See how idolatry and false worship have been supported in the world: by the splendour of images, the pomp of worship, and the charms of music, to allure the senses; and by persecu tion, penalties, and death, to terrify the mind; and all with the same design, to confound the understanding, and silence the voice of reason. By these methods popish idolatry is still supported; but true religion, and christian worship, need none of these aids. 3. Here is a noble instance of heroic fortitude and resolution, which deserves to be considered and imitated by all, especially young persons. Much might have been said for the compliance of these young men : it was but for once, on a great occasion; all the grandees complied; as Nebuchadnezzar had conferred great honour and dignity upon them, it was ungrateful to refuse ; by compliance, they might have kept their posts, and served their countrymen, and the cause of God. But the express law of God forbade it. They reproached not the king, nor bantered his image and worship; but answered with all calmness and steadiness, We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. In so plain a case there was no need to deliberate; to do that, where the duty is plain, is very dangerous. They ar gued not about the matter, but answered peremptorily at once, We will not, let the consequence be what it may. Thus it be comes young people, and indeed all of us, to answer the tempta. tions which attack us; to quit ourselves like men, and be strong; remembering what a God we serve, and how able he is both to deliver and reward us. To attain this fortitude and resolution, we must deny ourselves in lesser instances. If these confessors had not long before refused to eat of the kings meat, and been content to live on pulse, to avoid sin, they would probably have complied. 4. We may reflect on the power of God, and his care of his servants. Angels are at his command: fire is under his control; nothing can be lost by fidelity to him. Who would not fear and serve that Being who has thus promised, and in this instance literally performed it, Isa. xliii. 2. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee, CHAP. IV. This chapter contains a wonderful story; it was written by Nebu chadnezzar, and in the form of a royal proclamation was sent abroad, and directed to all men. 1 2 NEBU languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me, 3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation. 4 8 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace; all my affairs were in a prosperous way, and 5 I thought myself very secure: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my. 6 head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might 7 make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. But at the last Daniel, (who probably had been employed about other business, and not consulted till they failed; or, being master of the wise men, he gave his judgment the last) came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods, or the holy God, in the singular, as the word often refers to Jehovah and before him I told the dream, [saying,] O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and 10 the interpretation thereof, for now I know the dream. Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof 11 [was] great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth, so that persons might see it at a great distance : 12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it; it was useful as well as great; all thought themselves safe and happy under its protec13 tion. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; • Kings are often represented by this simile; particularly the king of Assyria by Bachiel, ch. xxxi. 3. |