Daniel and the Revelation. Uriah Smith

ut included the pedestal also. Nor is it probable that any more than the image
proper, if even that, was of solid gold. It could have been overlaid with thin plates, nicely
joined, at a much less expense, without detracting at all from its external appearance.
"VERSE 2. 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. 3. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the
treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered
together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and
they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4. Then an herald cried
aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5. That at what time ye
hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of
music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set
up; 6. And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the
midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the
sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people,
the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that
Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up."
The dedication of this image was made a great occasion. The chief men of all the
kingdom were gathered together; so much pains and expense will men undergo in
sustaining idolatrous and heathen systems of worship. So it is and ever has been. Alas,
that those who have the true religion should be so far outdone in these respects by the
upholders of the false and counterfeit! The worship was accompanied with music; and
whoso should fail to participate therein was threatened with a fiery furnace. Such are ever
the strongest motives to impel men in any direction, - pleasure on the one hand, pain on
the other.
Verse 6 contains the first mention to be found in the Bible of the division of time
into hours. It was probably the invention of the Chaldeans.
"VERSE 8. Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the
Jews. 9. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. 10.
Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet,
flute, harp, sackbut,
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psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the
golden image; 11. And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth, that he should be cast
into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set
over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these
men, O king, have not regarded thee; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden
image which thou hast set up."
These Chaldeans who accused the Jews were probably the sect of philosophers
who went by that name, and who were still smarting under the chagrin of their
ignominious failure in respect to their interpretation of the king's dream of chapter 2.
They were eager to seize upon any pretext to accuse the Jews before the king and either
disgrace or destroy them. They worked upon the king's prejudice by strong insinuations of
their ingratitude: Thou hast set them over the affairs of Babylon, and yet they have
disregarded thee. Where Daniel was upon this occasion, is not known. He was probably
absent on some business of the empire, the importance of which demanded his presence.
But why should Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, since they knew they could not
worship the image, be present on the occasion? Was it not because they were willing to
comply with the king's requirements as far as they could without compromising their
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