Daniel 3:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

NIV: He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.

NASB: Nebuchadnezzar the king also sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the chief treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

CSB: King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

NLT: Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up.

KJV: Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, 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.

NKJV: And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Nebuchadnezzar arranged for officials from his entire empire to gather for the dedication of his golden image (Daniel 3:1). This object may have been inspired by the king's pride at being the golden head of his own dream, as interpreted by Daniel (Daniel 2:36–38). As with many state-ordered gatherings, this was to emphasize the ruler's power and authority. In the same way, the golden image was probably created to symbolize the supremacy of Babylon and its king. Bowing before the image (Daniel 3:5) would symbolize total submission to the nation of Babylon, its gods, and its ruler.

The same titles for Babylonian officials are repeated multiple times in this passage. This repetition, itself, serves a literary purpose. The king's edict (Daniel 3:4–7) will be all-encompassing and detailed. By repeating detailed lists over and over, Daniel evokes the exhausting bureaucracy of Nebuchadnezzar's dictatorship. The same technique is used with the instruments being played (Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, 15) and more than a dozen times with the names of three Hebrew men (Daniel 3:12–14, 16, 19–20, 22–23, 26, 28–30).

In addition, the described positions seem to overlap. Rather than this being a detailed list of the groups invited, it may be a statement that Nebuchadnezzar summoned all high officials from the entire country to attend the event. Zedekiah, King of Judah, may have been summoned to Babylon for the dedication of the golden image (Jeremiah 51:59).

"Satraps" were Nebuchadnezzar's chief representatives over a given region, something like supreme governors. "Prefects" commanded military units. "Governors" may have been leaders of civil government, or lower-powered versions of satraps. The counselors were lawyers or guardians of the law. Treasurers were responsible for the public finances. The justices administered the law. Magistrates pronounced sentences on violators of the law. The officials served under the chief governors of the provinces and included all who served Nebuchadnezzar in an official capacity.

A notable name missing from this list is Daniel (Daniel 2:46–49). It may be that he was exempt, due to his other duties. Or, that he was out of the country at the time on some political mission. Another possibility is that Daniel was there and reacted in the same way as his Hebrew friends (Daniel 3:12), yet his enemies were afraid to challenge him at that time, after his miraculous interpretation of the king's dream.

Daniel 3:1–7 follows the incident where Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's frightening dream. It's possible that the king took pride in being depicted as a head of gold (Daniel 2:37–38), and so he makes a golden image of himself to be revered. The people of Babylon are commanded to worship this idol under threat of death: being burned alive. Repetition in the passage highlights the overbearing, controlling nature of the king's edict. This passage continues a segment of the Bible recorded in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4—7:28).

Nebuchadnezzar builds a golden idol, possibly inspired by the explanation of his own dream (Daniel 2:36–38). He commands all people to worship it, at a given musical signal, on pain of death. Three Hebrew men openly defy this command and are thrown into a superheated furnace. To his shock, the king sees a supernatural figure with the still-living Israelites. Not only do they survive, but their clothes aren't singed nor even smelling like smoke. The king praises their faith, and their God, commanding that no one speak ill of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The first chapter of Daniel explained how four captive Israelite boys became respected advisors to a Babylonian king. Chapter 2 showed these men praying for divine wisdom to untangle that same king's dream. These events set the stage for this chapter and the famous trio of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The men refuse to bow to an idol and are rescued from fiery death by God. This is the last mention of these men in Scripture, as focus shifts back to Babylon's kings and the prophet Daniel.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.