Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 11:1 (Spring 1968)
Article: An Interpretation Of Daniel 3:16-18
Author: C. Donald Cox

CenQ 11:1 (Spring 1968) p. 20

An Interpretation Of Daniel 3:16-18

C. Donald Cox

General Context

The book of Daniel was written during the time of the Babylonian Captivity of Judah, which began in 605 B.C. under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Daniel and the three young men of chapter three, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, were taken captive in 605 B.C. and deported from Judah to Babylon. Chapter one says that the four were given special training in the learning and customs of the Chaldean people when they reached Babylon in order that they might serve the king in his court. Under the guidance of God, they became the best trained men of all those receiving the training (1:19).

A rather unusual event took place two or three years after they arrived in Babylon, as recorded in chapter two, which began to acquaint Nebuchadnezzar with the God these four young men served. Nebuchadnezzar had seen a dream-vision which he did not understand nor remember. When requested by the king to reveal the contents of the dream, all the king’s wise men were unable to be of any assistance to the king, except Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were able both to produce the contents of the vision and interpret it by supernatural revelation from God. The vision concerned the Times of the Gentiles and revealed that four world kingdoms would become great and have great dominion. The first kingdom was identified as Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar (2:37–38). The chapter furnishes revelation concerning the future, and the experience should have caused Nebuchadnezzar to recognize the power of God. As a result of this experience, all four men received important advancements in the kingdom (2:48–49).

Immediate Context

God continued to reveal Himself to Nebuchadnezzar in chapter three. Very possibly Nebuchadnezar was enamored with the fact that he was the head of gold in the vision of chapter two (2:37–38), for in chapter three he has a great golden image set up in the plain of Dura (3:1) which is to be worshipped by everyone in the kingdom without exception (3:4–5). Anyone who would not worship as commanded would be cast into a fiery furnace.

CenQ 11:1 (Spring 1968) p. 21

As might be expected from 1:8–15 where Daniel and these three refused even to be defiled by the king’s meat, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not take part in the worship of the image at the appointed time, nor did they have any intention of doin...