Daniel 3:20

20 And he commanded to the strongest men of his host that they should bind the feet of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and send them into the furnace of fire burning. (And he commanded to the strongest men of his army that they should bind together the feet of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and then send them into the furnace of burning fire.)

Daniel 3:20 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 3:20

And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army,
&c.] The most famous for courage of mind, and strength of body, that were in all his army: to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
either their hands or their feet, or both; unless it can be thought that they were all three bound together in one bundle, and so cast into the furnace; which is not improbable, as Gejerus observes; seeing the king afterwards wondered to see them walk separately in the furnace: there was no need to bind them, for they would not have resisted; and if he ordered this to secure them from the power of their God, it was vain and foolish: and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace:
if they were all three bound together, it required some able bodied men to take them up and cast them in, especially if the furnace was above them; though it is more probable that it was a more depressed place, or below them, and so the cast was more easy.

Daniel 3:20 In-Context

18 That if he do not, be it known to thee, thou king, that we honour not thy gods, and we worship not the golden image which thou hast raised. (But even if he shall not do that, be it known to thee, O king, that we shall not honour thy gods, and we shall not worship the gold figure which thou hast raised up.)
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with strong vengeance, and the beholding of his face was changed on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And he commanded that the furnace should be made hotter sevenfold than that it was wont to be made hot. (Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the look on his face was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And he commanded that the furnace should be made seven times hotter than that it was wont to be made.)
20 And he commanded to the strongest men of his host that they should bind the feet of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and send them into the furnace of fire burning. (And he commanded to the strongest men of his army that they should bind together the feet of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and then send them into the furnace of burning fire.)
21 And anon those men were bound, with breeches, and caps, and shoes, and clothes, and were sent into the midst of the furnace of fire burning; (And at once those men were bound, still wearing their breeches, or pants, and caps, and shoes, and other clothes, and they were sent into the midst of the furnace of burning fire.)
22 for why the commandment of the king constrained. Forsooth the furnace was made full hot; certainly the flame of the fire killed those men, that had sent Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace (And because the king's order was unyielding, and the furnace was made so very hot, the flame of the fire killed those men, who sent Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.