Daniel 3 Commentary

King Nebuchadnezzar builds a golden statue and summons his sub-rulers to come see it.

Nebuchadnezzar unveils his statue of gold to his sub-rulers. When music plays, everyone is commanded to bow and worship the statue. Anyone who breaks this law will be burned alive in a furnace.

Political rivals of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego inform the king that the three Jewish subjects have not worshipped the golden statue. Nor have these three men ever worshipped any of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods.

Nebuchadnezzar is furious that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to worship his golden statue. He gives them one more chance to bow to the image, and if not, they will be thrown into the fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego give a prompt answer to the king: they will never worship his idols. They worship their God alone, who is able to save them from the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar is full of rage that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego will not worship his idol. He orders their execution in the fire. In an expression of his rage, he orders the furnace to be extra fiery and for his best soldiers to take the prisoners to their death.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego are thrown into the fiery furnace, clothed and bound. The soldiers who escort them are killed by the intense heat of the flames.

King Nebuchadnezzar witnesses a miracle. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego are not killed by the fire. They are joined by an angel, and walk among the flames unburnt. The king calls the three out of the fire. Everyone gathered there sees the fire has not touched them.

Nebuchadnezzar confesses that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego rescued them from his hand. He makes a strict law that forbids offensive speech toward the Most High God. Nebuchadnezzar makes sure that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego live prosperous lives in Babylon.