Daniel · WEB-C
Daniel
3
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. See also: Jeremiah 16:20Habakkuk 2:19Isaiah 46:6Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. See also: Daniel 3:271 Kings 12:32Numbers 25:2Then the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. See also: Revelation 17:17Revelation 17:13Revelation 13:13-16Then the herald cried aloud, “To you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages, See also: Daniel 6:25Daniel 4:1Micah 6:16that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. See also: Daniel 3:15Daniel 3:10Daniel 3:7Whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle of a burning fiery furnace the same hour.” See also: Matthew 13:42Matthew 13:50Jeremiah 29:22Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. See also: Revelation 19:20Jeremiah 51:7Revelation 12:9Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews. See also: Ezra 4:12-16Esther 3:8-9Daniel 6:12-13They answered Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O king, live for ever! See also: Daniel 5:10Daniel 6:6Daniel 2:4You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image; See also: Daniel 3:4-7Esther 3:12-14Daniel 6:12and whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not respected you. They don’t serve your gods, and don’t worship the golden image which you have set up.” See also: Daniel 6:13Daniel 2:49Acts 17:7Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then these men were brought before the king. See also: Daniel 3:19Daniel 2:12Esther 3:5-6Nebuchadnezzar answered them, “Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? See also: Jeremiah 50:2Daniel 3:1Isaiah 46:1Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, good; but if you don’t worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. Who is that god who will deliver you out of my hands?” See also: Acts 5:29Daniel 3:172 Chronicles 32:15-17Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. See also: Daniel 1:7Daniel 3:12If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. See also: Romans 8:31Luke 1:37Hebrews 7:25But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.” See also: Acts 5:29-32Matthew 10:39Revelation 2:10-11Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. See also: Daniel 3:13Leviticus 26:24Proverbs 21:24He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. See also: Daniel 3:15Acts 16:25Acts 16:23Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, their mantles, and their other clothes, and were cast into the middle of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. See also: Proverbs 21:18Proverbs 11:8Zechariah 12:2-3These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the middle of the burning fiery furnace. See also: Daniel 6:16-17Jeremiah 38:6Psalms 66:11-12They walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord. See also: Daniel 6:22Daniel 6:7Acts 5:23-25Then Azarias stood, and prayed like this. Opening his mouth in the midst of the fire he said, See also: Isaiah 43:2Acts 28:5Mark 16:18“Blessed are you, O Lord, you God of our fathers! Your name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore; See also: Daniel 3:17Daniel 4:2Isaiah 52:12for you are righteous in all the things that you have done. Yes, all your works are true. Your ways are right, and all your judgments are truth. See also: Isaiah 43:2Hebrews 11:34Isaiah 26:11In all the things that you have brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, Jerusalem, you have executed true judgments. For according to truth and justice you have brought all these things upon us because of our sins. See also: Romans 14:7-8Psalms 34:7-8Psalms 84:11-12For we have sinned and committed iniquity in departing from you. See also: Daniel 2:5Deuteronomy 32:31Daniel 6:26-27In all things we have trespassed, and not obeyed your commandments or kept them. We haven’t done as you have commanded us, that it might go well with us. See also: 1 Samuel 2:30Daniel 2:49Psalms 91:14Therefore all that you have brought upon us, and everything that you have done to us, you have done in true judgment. You delivered us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, and to an unjust king who is the most wicked in all the world. And now we can’t open our mouth. Shame and reproach have come on your servants and those who worship you. Don’t utterly deliver us up, for your name’s sake. Don’t annul your covenant. Don’t cause your mercy to depart from us, for the sake of Abraham who is loved by you, and for the sake of Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, to whom you promised that you would multiply their offspring as the stars of the sky, and as the sand that is on the sea shore. For we, O Lord, have become less than any nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins. There isn’t at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to offer before you, and to find mercy. Nevertheless in a contrite heart and a humble spirit let us be accepted, like the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like ten thousands of fat lambs. So let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, that we may wholly go after you, for they shall not be ashamed who put their trust in you. And now we follow you with all our heart. We fear you, and seek your face. Put us not to shame; but deal with us after your kindness, and according to the multitude of your mercy. Deliver us also according to your marvelous works, and give glory to your name, O Lord. Let all those who harm your servants be confounded. Let them be ashamed of all their power and might, and let their strength be broken. Let them know that you are the Lord, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.” The king’s servants who put them in didn’t stop making the furnace hot with naphtha, pitch, tinder, and small wood, so that the flame streamed out forty nine cubits above the furnace. It spread and burned those Chaldeans whom it found around the furnace. But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace together with Azarias and his fellows, and he struck the flame of the fire out of the furnace, and made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire didn’t touch them at all. It neither hurt nor troubled them. Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, saying, “Blessed are you, O Lord, you God of our fathers, to be praised and exalted above all forever! Blessed is your glorious and holy name, to be praised and exalted above all forever! Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, to be praised and glorified above all forever! Blessed are you who see the depths and sit upon the cherubim, to be praised and exalted above all forever. Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, to be praised and extolled above all forever! Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, to be praised and glorified forever! O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you heavens, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all for ever! O you angels of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O all you waters that are above the sky, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O all you powers of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you sun and moon, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you stars of heaven, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O every shower and dew, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O all you winds, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you fire and heat, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you dews and storms of snow, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you nights and days, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you light and darkness, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you cold and heat, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you frost and snow, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O let the earth bless the Lord! Let it praise and exalt him above all forever! O you mountains and hills, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O all you things that grow on the earth, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O sea and rivers, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you springs, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you whales and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O all you birds of the air, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O all you beasts and cattle, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you children of men, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O let Israel bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever. O you priests of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you servants of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you spirits and souls of the righteous, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O you who are holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever! O Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever; for he has rescued us from Hades, and saved us from the hand of death! He has delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame. He has delivered us out of the midst of the fire. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy is forever. O all you who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks; for his mercy is forever!” Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, “Didn’t we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace. He spoke and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the middle of the fire. The local governors, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies. The hair of their head wasn’t singed. Their pants weren’t changed. The smell of fire wasn’t even on them. Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, who speak anything evil 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 who is able to deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)35 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Daniel 3:1
Ver. 1. Statue. It was the figure of a man, (C.) the dimensions 90 feet high and 9
broad (W.) being disproportionate; though a man might be represented on the pillar. Some take it for Nabolpolassar, (C.) or for the king himself. S. Jer. W. ---
But he never complains of the injury shewn to his own person, and therefore it probably was meant for Bel, the chief god. C. iv. 5. and xiv. 1. This nation adored statues. Bar. vi. 3. The Persians worshipped only the elements. C. ---
Ochus first set up the statue of the goddess Tanais or Anais. Clem. Protr. ---
Dura. Sept.
"enclosed." S. Jer. --- This happened towards the end of the king's reign, (v. 98,
&c.) of course the three young men might be about fifty years old. C.
↑ 1Daniel 3:2
Ver. 2. Nobles. Lit. "satraps," or, "the king's domestics." Sept. in 1 Esd. viii. 36.
--- Judges, or
"governors of provinces." ib. Theodotion, &c. --- Captains of the soothsayers.
--- Rulers;
"tyrants," here denoting treasurers. C. --- Governors. Lit. "the grandees who were in power;" (H.) counsellors. The original adds, (C.) Thopthia, (H.)
"lawyers" and orators. The head of the Turkish religion is called muphti, from the root, (C.) peti, "to teach." H.
↑ 2Daniel 3:5
This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.
Ver. 5. Symphony. This and several other terms seem taken from the Greek, though the scythara and sambuca came originally from Chaldea. C. --- Down.
This and offering incense were sometimes considered as marks of idolatry; so being present at the sermons and churches of Protestants was a sign of joining in their communion, being required for that purpose. W.
↑ 5Daniel 3:8
Ver. 8. Jews: the three children whom they viewed with a jealous eye. Daniel was too much exalted, or was absent with other Jews.
↑ 8Daniel 3:15
Ver. 15. Hand? Proof of this king's inconstancy, as he had witnessed the power of God!
↑ 15Daniel 3:18
Ver. 18. He. Chal. "not" C. --- By this modest yet resolute answer, they testified their faith in God's power, and their determination rather to suffer death (W.) than to go against their conscience. H. --- They were ignorant whether God would preserve them from the flames or not, (W.) as he is said to have rescued Abraham from a similar danger. 2 Esd. ix. 7.
↑ 18Daniel 3:20
Ver. 20. Strongest. Chal. "mighty in strength;" (H.) his own guards, the usual executioners.
↑ 20Daniel 3:21
Ver. 21. Coats, or various coloured bandages for the thighs, used by men and women. Aquila and Th. retain the original term, Sarabarois. Chal. saraballa. C.
--- Caps: "tiaras." H. --- The king alone wore them upright.
↑ 21Daniel 3:22
Ver. 22. Slew. They were working still at the furnace, when it burst out and destroyed them, (C.) while the three Jews were praising God below. H. v. 46, 48.
↑ 22Daniel 3:24
Ver. 24. And, &c. "What follows I have not found in the Heb. volumes." S. Jer.
H. --- Here S.
Jerom takes notice, that from this verse to v. 91 was not in the Heb. in his time.
But as it was in all the Greek Bibles, (which were originally translated from the Hebrew) it is more than probable that it had been formerly in the Hebrew; or rather in the Chaldaic, in which the Book of Daniel was written. But this is certain: that it is and has been of old, received by the Church, and read as canonical Scripture in her liturgy and divine offices. Ch. --- See the pref. W.
↑ 24Daniel 3:27
Ver. 27. True; not fickle, and liable to change. C. --- Opera mutas non mutas consilium. S. Aug.
Conf. i. 4. --- Cappel. argues from this confession, that the piece is not divine, as they would rather have burst out into expressions of admiration, as they do in the canticle below. But they had done so already, (v. 26) and make this confession, (H.) as Daniel does, C. ix.; reflecting, that if the nation had not transgressed, they would not thus have been exposed to the fury of the king.
Houbigant. v. 40. H.
↑ 27Daniel 3:33
Ver. 33. Thee. Pagans take occasion to vilify our religion.
↑ 33Daniel 3:34
Ver. 34. Sake. This disinterested motive is often urged. Jos. vii. 9. and 2 Mac.
viii. 15. C.
↑ 34Daniel 3:35
Ver. 35. One. Moses used the like terms, and pacified God. Ex. xxxii. W.
↑ 35Daniel 3:38
Ver. 38. Thee, in Jerusalem, (H.) or Judea. There were chiefs and judges, (C.
xiii.) as well as prophets, (Ezech. &c.) among the captives. Yet the republic was in disorder. C. --- Sedecias was dead, Joakim in prison, so that no Jewish king ruled over the people; nor was there any prophet in the promised land, Jeremias being either dead or in Egypt. W. --- Prophets were at least very rare.
M.
↑ 38Daniel 3:40
Ver. 40. Sacrifice of ourselves. H. --- They knew not yet whether they would escape. When they beheld the angel they had greater confidence, and broke forth into a hymn of praise. Houbig. ---
They now offer all they can, a humble heart!
↑ 40Daniel 3:43
Ver. 43. Name, by rescuing us, that all may confess thy power. C.
↑ 43Daniel 3:46
Ver. 46. Brimstone. Lit. naphtha, (H.) or bitumen, which was very inflammable.
--- Tow, besmeared with pitch. C. --- Dry (malleolis) "bundles" of sticks, or ropes, covered with pitch. H.
--- Manipuli spartœi pice contecti. Nonius.
↑ 46Daniel 3:48
Ver. 48. Furnace. These might be other victims, (H.) or he recapitulates what had been said v.
22, (C.) which is by no means unusual, though Cappel. would hence reject the piece. Houbigant.
↑ 48Daniel 3:49
Ver. 49. Furnace: so that it destroyed the Chaldeans, while it had no power to hurt God's servants. The operation of the laws nature was thus only restrained. H.
↑ 49Daniel 3:53
Ver. 53. Temple; heaven, styled the throne, v. 54. The temple was now in ruins.
↑ 53Daniel 3:55
Ver. 55. Depths, from whom nothing is hidden. --- Cherubims, as on thy chariot.
↑ 55Daniel 3:65
Ver. 65. Spirits: winds. Angels and men are mentioned elsewhere. C. --- They rejoice that the angels always praise God, and wish that all would strive to imitate them. W.
↑ 65Daniel 3:67
Ver. 67. Heat. Winter and summer. Some copies have, æstas. C.
↑ 67Daniel 3:72
Ver. 72. Darkness. The privation of light has its use, and invites men to praise.
S. Aug. de nat.
Boni. 16. W.
↑ 72Daniel 3:86
Ver. 86. Souls, in a separate state. Angels are invited before. C.
↑ 86Daniel 3:88
Ver. 88. Ananias, &c. They retain their Hebrew names, despising those imposed by the Chaldeans, with their impious manners. C. i. 7. The inanimate creation is invited to praise God in its way, (Ps. cxlviii.) as well as those endued with reason. The former never refuse obedience.
H. --- Hell: the grave. C.
↑ 88Daniel 3:90
Ver. 90. And ever. "Hitherto does not occur in Heb.; and what we have written, is translated from the edition of Theodotion." S. Jer. v. 24.
↑ 90Daniel 3:91
Ver. 91. Then hearing these praises, and seeing people walking in the fire.
Grabe's edit. after v.
24, has only, "And Nabuchodonosor heard them singing hymns, and was, " &c.
↑ 91Daniel 3:92
Ver. 92. The son, or rather (H.) "a son;" nio. Lowth's Gram. --- He supposed this was some angel or petty god, like Hercules. Carthus. --- It was the same angel who descended (W.) with them v. 49. Some have taken him for Jesus Christ.
But S. Aug. observes, that most of these apparitions were made by angels, (Trin. iii. 11.) who are often styled "sons of God." Job i. 6. T.
C.
↑ 92Daniel 3:94
Ver. 94. Smell, such as is felt when people, (H.) or their garments, come too near the fire. Pagans have sometimes walked through fire; but they first anointed their feet with certain preservatives, as Servius (in Æn. xi.) remarks from Varro. C. --- Here the fire burnt only the bands, (v. 23, 92.
H.) God making his creatures afford comfort to his servants, as was the case when the Goths attempted to burn S. Benedict. S. Greg. Dial. iii. 18. W.
↑ 94Daniel 3:95
Ver. 95. Changed, refusing to comply against their better knowledge. The force of reason extorts this concession from the wicked king. H.
↑ 95Daniel 3:96
Ver. 96. Destroyed. Chal. "torn limb from limb, (C.) and their houses be made a dunghill." C. ii.
5. H. --- Manner. One would suppose that he was really converted; but his heart was not changed. C. iv. C.
↑ 96Daniel 3:97
Ver. 97. Promoted. He granted them greater power: (W.) or Chal. "re-established" them in their former dignities. Rom. Gr. "He elevated them in honour, and judged them worthy to rule over all the Jews in his kingdom."
Theod.
↑ 97Daniel 3:98
Ver. 98. Nabuchodonosor, &c. These three last verses are a kind of preface to the following chapter, which is written in the style of an epistle from the king.
Ch. --- It was probably published in consequence of this miracle. Here the chap. might properly commence, (C.) as it does in Heb. and Prot. Bibles. H.
↑ 98License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses