Latest Commentaries

Nebuchadnezzar recounts his dream.

Nebuchadnezzar recounts his efforts to have his dreams interpreted.

Nebuchadnezzar begins his letter by proclaiming God’s power.

Nebuchadnezzar confesses that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed—nego rescued them from his hand. He makes a strict law that forbids offensive speech toward the Most High God. Nebuchadnezzar makes sure that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed—nego live prosperous lives in Babylon.

King Nebuchadnezzar witnesses a miracle. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed—nego are not killed by the fire. They are joined by an angel, and walk among the flames unburnt. The king calls the three out of the fire. Everyone gathered there sees the fire has not touched them.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed—nego are thrown into the fiery furnace, clothed and bound. The soldiers who escort them are killed by the intense heat of the flames.

Nebuchadnezzar is full of rage that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed—nego will not worship his idol. He orders their execution in the fire. In an expression of his rage, he orders the furnace to be extra fiery and for his best soldiers to take the prisoners to their death.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed—nego give a prompt answer to the king: they will never worship his idols. They worship their God alone, who is able to save them from the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar is furious that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed—nego refused to worship his golden statue. He gives them one more chance to bow to the image, and if not, they will be thrown into the fiery furnace.

Political rivals of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed—nego inform the king that the three Jewish subjects have not worshipped the golden statue. Nor have these three men ever worshipped any of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods.

Nebuchadnezzar unveils his statue of gold to his sub-rulers. When music plays, everyone is commanded to bow and worship the statue. Anyone who breaks this law will be burned alive in a furnace.

King Nebuchadnezzar builds a golden statue and summons his sub-rulers to come see it.

One of the central themes of the book of Daniel is God’s continued sovereignty for his people who trust and obey Him. Because Daniel and his friends trusted God and only ate the foods He allowed, they were blessed with more strength and wisdom than any of their Babylonian peers. 

God allowed Daniel to be one of the chief’s favorite men so that the chief would let Daniel eat what his God commanded. Because of Daniel’s faithfulness, God bless him and his friends.

Instead of eating the food of the Babylonians, which would be in violation of God’s law, Daniel trusts God and eats what He commanded. Because of this faith, Daniel and his friends are blessed by God.

To completely conquer Judah, and to bring additional leadership to his court, Nebuchadnezzar took the best and the brightest of the Jewish people and forced them to learn Babylonian customs and to work for the Babylonian empire.

Because of their lack of obedience, God allows Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Judah. Nebuchadnezzar takes all of the items from the Temple and puts them with the items of his gods.

Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and establishes his reign over the kingdom.

Moses encourages the Israelites to study their redemptive testimony well in order to share it with boldness with their descendants in the future.

Moses commands Israel to trust and obey the LORD, and not put Him to the test.