Daniele 3:5

5 che nell’ora, che voi udirete il suon del corno, del flauto, della cetera, dell’arpicordo, del salterio, della sampogna, e d’ogni specie di strumenti di musica, vi gettiate in terra, e adoriate la statua d’oro, che il re Nebucadnesar ha rizzata.

Daniele 3:5 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 3:5

That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet
So called of the horn of which it was made; a sort of trumpet; so the Jews had trumpets of rams' horns: flute;
or pipe, or whistle, so called for its hissing noise; it is used of the shepherd's pipe or whistle; see ( Zechariah 10:8 ) , harp;
an instrument of music used by David, and much in use among the Jews, and other nations; sackbut;
or "sambuca"; which, according to Athenaeus ^F7, was a four stringed instrument, an invention of the Syrians; and Strabo ^F8, a Greek writer, speaks of it as a barbarous name, as the eastern ones were reckoned by the Grecians: psaltery;
this seems to be a Greek word, as does the next that follows, rendered "dulcimer"; but in the original text is "symphonia"; which does not signify symphony, or a concert or consort of music, but a particular instrument of music. Maimonides ^F9 makes mention of it as a musical instrument, among others; Servius ^F11 calls it an oblique pipe; and Isidore ^F12 describes it a hollow piece of wood, with leather stretched upon it, and beat upon with rods or sticks, something like our drum: the king of Babylon might have Grecian musicians, or, however, Grecian instruments of music, in his court, as the Grecians had from the eastern nations: and all kinds of music;
that could be had or thought of; and this was done in honour to this idol, and to allure carnal sensual persons to the worship of it, according to the order given: ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king
hath set up;
when they heard the music sound, immediately they were to repair to the plain where the image stood, and pay their adoration to it; or to fall down prostrate in their own houses in honour of it; and perhaps persons were appointed in all cities and towns throughout the empire to play this music; at hearing which, all people, nations, and tongues, were to bow down, in token of their religious regard unto it.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F7 Deipnosoph. I. 4.
F8 Geograph. l. 10. p. 324.
F9 Hilchot Celim, c. 10. sect. 14.
F11 In Virgil. Aeneid. I. 11.
F12 Originum, l. 3. c. 21.

Daniele 3:5 In-Context

3 Allora furono radunati i satrapi, i magistrati, e i duchi, i giudici, i tesorieri, i senatori, i presidenti, e tutti i rettori delle provincie, alla dedicazione della statua, che il re Nebucadnesar avea rizzata. Ed essi erano in piè dinanzi alla statua, che Nebucadnesar avea rizzata.

4 E un banditore gridò di forza, dicendo: O popoli, nazioni, e lingue, a voi si dice,

5 che nell’ora, che voi udirete il suon del corno, del flauto, della cetera, dell’arpicordo, del salterio, della sampogna, e d’ogni specie di strumenti di musica, vi gettiate in terra, e adoriate la statua d’oro, che il re Nebucadnesar ha rizzata.

6 E chiunque non si getterà in terra, e non l’adorerà, in quella stessa ora sarà gettato nel mezzo d’una fornace di fuoco ardente.

7 Per la qual cosa, tutti i popoli, nazioni, e lingue, in quello stante ch’ebbero udito il suon del corno, del flauto, della cetera, dell’arpicordo, del salterio, e d’ogni specie di strumenti di musica, si gettarono in terra, e adorarono la statua d’oro, che il re Nebucadnesar avea rizzata.