Daniel 3.2-Nebuchadnezzar Summons Each And Every One Of The Dignitaries In The Various Provinces Of His Kingdom To The Dedication Of The Image Of Himself
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday May 29, 2012
Daniel: Daniel 3:2-Nebuchadnezzar Summons Each And Every One Of The Dignitaries In The Various Provinces Of His Kingdom To The Dedication Of The Image Of Himself
Lesson # 79
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 3:1.
Daniel 3:1 records Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon erecting a gold statue of himself, ninety feet tall, nine feet wide in the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king sculptured an image composed of gold, its height ninety feet, its width nine feet. He erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon. (Author’s translation)
This evening we will study Daniel 3:2, which records Nebuchadnezzar issuing an order to assemble each and every one of the dignitaries in the various provinces of his kingdom to attend the dedication of the gold statue he erected of himself on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
Daniel 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. (NASB95)
“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word” is composed of the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “then” which is followed by the masculine singular form of the proper name neḇû∙ḵǎḏ∙ně(ʾ)ṣ∙ṣǎr (נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר) (neb-oo-kad-nets-tsar), “Nebuchadnezzar” and then we have the masculine singular form of the noun mě∙lěḵ (מֶלֶךְ) (meh´-lek), “king” which is followed by the third person masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb šelǎḥ (שְׁלַח) (shel-akh´), “sent”
The conjunction wa is a marker of a sequence of closely related events meaning that it is introducing a statement that marks the next event that took place after Nebuchadnezzar sculptured an image of gold and erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
The verb šelǎḥ means “to send out or issue an order or command” and is used with Nebuchadnezzar as its subject and its thought is completed by the infinitive construct form of the verb kenǎš, “to assemble.”
Thus, the verb šelǎḥ denotes Nebuchadnezzar “issuing an order” to his officials throughout the various provinces of his kingdom to assemble for the dedication of the statue that he had erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
“To assemble” is composed of the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) “to” and its object is the peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active infinitive construct form of the verb kenǎš (כְּנַשׁ) (kaw-nash´), “assemble.”
The verb kenǎš means “to assemble” in the sense of causing others to come together at a particular location.
Here it denotes Nebuchadnezzar issuing an order for the purpose of “assembling” his officials from the various provinces of his kingdom for the dedication of the gold statue he erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
The preposition lĕ is prefixed to the infinitive construct form of the verb kenǎš indicating the purpose for Nebuchadnezzar issuing this order.
The purpose of the order was to assemble his officials from the various provinces of his kingdom for the dedication of the gold statue he erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
“Satraps” is the masculine plural noun ʾǎḥǎš∙dǎr∙pǎn (אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן) (akh-ash-dar-pan´), which is a Persian loan word which means “protector of the kingdom.”
In the Septuagint, the word in Daniel 3:2 is translated with the Greek noun σᾰτράπης which means “satrap.”
This group of officials was the chief representatives of Nebuchadnezzar as well as governors of certain types of provinces.
They were the highest officials in his kingdom, which is supported by the statement in Daniel 6:1, which records that Darius appointed 120 satraps over his kingdom who would be in charge of the entire kingdom.
“Prefects” is the masculine plural noun seḡǎn (סְגַן) (seg-an´), which means “prefect” and were the military commanders of the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
“Governors” is the masculine plural noun pě∙ḥā(h) (פֶּחָה) (peh-khaw´), which means “governor” and is used here of the civil administrators or governors of civil government in the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
“Counselors” is the masculine plural noun ʾǎḏǎr∙gā∙zǎr (אֲדַרְגָּזַר) (ad-ar´´-gaw-zare´), which means “minister of information” referring to those individuals who give counsel or advise those in governmental authority.
“Treasurers” is the masculine plural noun geḏā∙ḇǎr (גְּדָבַר) (ghed-aw-bawr´), which means “treasurer” referring to those individuals in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom who were in charge of the finances of the various provinces throughout the kingdom.
They administered the funds in the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
They were the superintendents of the treasuries in the various provinces throughout the empire.
“Judges” is the masculine plural noun deṯā∙ḇǎr (דְּתָבַר) (deth-aw-bawr´), which means “lawyer, guardian of the law” and were those individuals who were administrators of the law in the various provinces throughout Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
“Magistrates” is the masculine plural noun tip̄∙tāy (תִּפְתָּי) (tif-tah´ee), which means “magistrate, judge” referring to judges in the various provinces throughout the Babylonian kingdom who passed judgment in keeping with the law.
“And all the rulers of the provinces” is composed of the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “and” which is followed by the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כֹּל) (kole), “whole” which is modifying the masculine plural construct form of the noun šil∙ṭōn (שִׁלְטֹן) (shil-tone´), “the rulers of” and then we have the feminine singular form of the noun meḏî∙nā(h) (מְדִינָה) (med-ee-naw´), “the provinces.”
This time the conjunction wa is used in an explicative sense meaning that the word is introducing an expression, which clarifies the list of officials who were ordered by Nebuchadnezzar to assemble for the dedication of the gold statue which he erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
It is introducing an expression which defines in summary fashion the list of seven classes of officials who were ordered by Nebuchadnezzar to assemble for the dedication of the gold statue which he erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
This expression ḵōl šil·ṭō·nê meḏî·nā·ṯā(ʾ) (כֹ֖ל שִׁלְטֹנֵ֣י מְדִֽינָתָ֑א), “all the rulers of the provinces” is a summary title for the list of seven classes of officials mentioned by Daniel.
The noun šil∙ṭōn means “official, ruler, dignitary” referring to an official of high standing or provincial administrator.
It refers to an individual who possesses an exalted rank or position of dignity and honor in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
Thus it does not refer to lesser officials who were subordinate to the satraps or governors.
It is used to define the seven classes of officials previously listed by Daniel.
The noun describes in summary fashion that the satraps, military commanders, governors, advisers, treasurers, lawyers, judges were all officials of high standing or dignitaries in Nebuchadnezzar’s government.
Furthering supporting this interpretation is the noun kōl, “all,” which is modifying the noun šil∙ṭōn and speaking of these seven classes of officials in their entirety.
If the noun šil∙ṭōn referred to an eighth class of official in Nebuchadnezzar’s government, Daniel would not have employed the noun kōl, “all” since it is clear that the king wanted all the individuals belonging to each class of official to attend the dedication of the statue.
Thus, if the noun šil∙ṭōn referred to an eighth class of official, kōl, “all” would have been redundant.
The noun kōl denotes totality and is used in a distributive meaning “each and every” indicating that Nebuchadnezzar issued an order to assemble “each and every one” of the dignitaries for the dedication of the statue he erected in the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
The noun meḏî∙nā(h) means “province” referring to a governmental administrative district and here it refers to the province of the city of Babylon.
The word is a genitive of source meaning it denotes that these high governmental officials or dignitaries were “from” the various provinces of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
“To come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up” is composed of the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) “to” and its object is the peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active infinitive construct form of the verb ʾǎṯā(h) (אֲתָה) (aw-thaw´), “come” which is followed by the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh) “to” and its object is the feminine singular construct form of the noun ḥǎnǔk∙kā(h) (חֲנֻכָּה) (chan-ook-kaw´), “the dedication of” and then we have the masculine singular form of the noun ṣelēm (צְלֵם) (tseh´-lem), “an image” which is followed by the particle dî (דִּי) (dee), “that” and then we have the third person masculine singular hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil) active perfect form of the verb qûm (קוּם) (koom), “set up” which is followed masculine singular form of the proper name neḇû∙ḵǎḏ∙ně(ʾ)ṣ∙ṣǎr (נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר) (neb-oo-kad-nets-tsar), “Nebuchadnezzar” which is followed by the masculine singular form of the noun mě∙lěḵ (מֶלֶךְ) (meh´-lek), “king.”
The verb ʾǎṯā(h) means “to attend” and denotes each and every one of Nebuchadnezzar’s dignitaries from the various provinces in his kingdom “attending” the dedication of the statue he erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
The preposition lĕ is prefixed to the infinitive construct form of the verb ʾǎṯā(h) indicating the purpose for Nebuchadnezzar issuing this order for all his dignitaries to assemble.
The purpose of the order was to assemble them for the dedication of the gold statue he erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
The noun ḥǎnǔk∙kā(h) means “dedication” of the gold statue that Nebuchadnezzar erected on the plain of Dura in the province of the city of Babylon.
It refers to a ceremony, which is both political and religious.
It denotes a solemn ceremony in which Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue was consecrated as the symbol of world-wide worship and power of himself as a divine being.
Politically, this dedication was intended to symbolize the unity of the various provinces under Nebuchadnezzar’s authority.
Religiously, this dedication was an act of worshipping the gold statue, which represented Nebuchadnezzar.
That this dedication is religious is clearly indicated by verses 3-7.
Therefore, this dedication is an attempt by Nebuchadnezzar to join religion with politics, which has been attempted throughout history by various rulers.
It will be successfully attempted by the Antichrist during Daniel’s Seventieth Week who will demand worship from the inhabitants of the earth as symbolized by the abomination of desolation in the rebuilt Jewish temple in the midway point of Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
Daniel 3 records Nebuchadnezzar instituting the worship of himself which foreshadows Antichrist’s action during the tribulation period.
Revelation 13 and 17 teach that rise of the revived form of the Roman Empire under Antichrist during the first three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week will be accompanied by the formulation of a false religious system under the false prophet.
The demand of Nebuchadnezzar that he be worshipped foreshadows Antichrist’s actions during Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
Daniel 9:27 reveals that the Antichrist will break his treaty with Israel in the middle of the seventieth week.
Daniel 9:27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (NASB95)
“But in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate,” refers to the antichrist stopping the Levitical sacrifices that will be reestablished in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem in the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week.
In His Olivet Discourse, the Lord Jesus Christ referred to this event, warning the inhabitants of Israel at the time to flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.” (NASB95)
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-13, the apostle Paul makes a reference to Antichrist’s breaking of the treaty with Israel and also reveals that Antichrist will demand the worship that belongs to only God Himself.
After the Antichrist breaks his treaty with Israel and the destruction of the Russian led invasion of Israel by the Lord, the false prophet will cause the entire world to worship the image of Antichrist (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15; 2 Th. 2:4; Rev. 13:14-15).
This will be connected to his world-wide rulership.