What does Daniel 3:10 mean?
The accusing Chaldeans (Daniel 3:8–9) remind King Nebuchadnezzar of his recent command: that at a certain musical signal, everyone was to worship the golden image he had constructed (Daniel 3:1–7). Their target will be three of the captive Hebrews (Daniel 1:6–7; 3:12) who were recently honored by the king (Daniel 2:48–49). The way their attack is described indicates pure malice; it's even possible they simply invented the accusation. And yet, it turns out to be true: the Hebrew men did not, and would not, bow to worship an idol (Daniel 3:16–18).Scripture isn't clear if these accusers were among the same men who failed to discern Nebuchadnezzar's frightening dream (Daniel 2:8–11). If they were the same men, they had been under a death sentence until Daniel saved them and all the other wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2:12, 17–19). They should have been grateful to the Jewish people, but instead they seem jealous. These men may have proven themselves frauds when they could not solve the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, but here they are very crafty. No doubt their reminder to the king was intended to prod him to take swift action to carry out his own threat.
This verse is one of several (Daniel 3:5, 7, 15) which repeats the same list of musical instruments. This duplication subtly mocks the bureaucratic, heavy-handed nature of Nebuchadnezzar's rule.