Commentary on Daniel 3:1 [2-7] 8-30

Week 2 (8/11/2024): Fiery Furnace

In this beloved account, Daniel’s three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) face a difficult choice: either obey Nebuchadnezzar’s command to worship a golden statue or resist the king and stay faithful to their ancestral religion. This dilemma likely resonated with many exilic Jews who were daily confronted with a society whose religious beliefs differed from their own. As a displaced minority, ancient Jews would have undoubtedly felt the push and pull of dynamics faced by many minority populations: assimilation, resistance, and hybridization.

The king in Daniel 3 is portrayed as a fickle, temperamental, and emotionally fragile tyrant, much like other rulers of antiquity. He and his bureaucracy are objects of ridicule throughout the entire episode. The author employs long lists of instruments and instructions to emphasize the absurdity of Nebuchadnezzar’s earthly kingdom. 

Despite the challenges faced by the three friends, God remains present and active in the story. In contrast to Daniel 2, where God’s power is manifest in the revealing of mysteries, here it is demonstrated through the preservation of faithful Jewish lives. A divine figure appears with the three youths in the flame and preserves them from harm. The king is astounded, rewards the three youths for their resistance, and ultimately praises the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.