sowing and reaping. In the case of the will be no such things.
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in the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and stand before them to minister to them. 12 But because they ministered for them in front of their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into wickedness, I have lifted up my hand with an oath against them, says the Lord God, and they will bear the consequences of their wickedness. 13 And they shall not come near me to serve me as priests, or to approach any of my holy things in the Most Holy Place, but they will bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed. 14 But I will have them keep charge of the temple, for all its service, and for everything done in it.
but shall take virgins of the descendants of the house of Israel, or widows of priests. 23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
24 "'And in a dispute they shall take their stand as judges, and judge it in accordance with my judgments. And they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my assemblies. And they shall keep my Sabbaths holy.
25 "'And they shall not approach any dead person, so defiling themselves; except that they may defile themselves for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for a sister who has had no husband. 26 And after he has been cleansed, they shall count off seven days for him. 27 And on the day that he goes into the sanctuary, to the inner court, to serve in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, says the Lord God.
15 "'But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, shall approach me to serve me, and shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God. 16 They shall enter my sanctuary, and approach my table to serve me, and they shall keep my charge.
28 "'And as for the inheritance they are to have, I am their inheritance. And you shall give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession. 29 They shall eat the grain offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs. 30 And the best of all the firstfruits of everything, and every offering of every kind from all of your offerings, shall belong to the priest. You shall also give to the priest the first part of your dough, so that he may cause the blessing to rest on your house. 31 The priests shall not eat anything that dies of itself, or has been torn by animals, whether it is bird or beast.
17 "'And it shall be like this : When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool is to come on them, while they minister at the gates of the inner court and inside. 18 They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and linen undergarments on their loins. They shall not dress themselves with anything that makes them sweat. 19 And when they go to the outer court, to the people in the outer court, they shall take off the garments in which they ministered, and put them in the holy rooms, and put on other garments, and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
"'Moreover, when you divide the land by lot for inheritance, you shall present a portion to the LORD, a holy district of the land. Its length shall be twenty-five thousands cubits, and its width ten thousand. This will be holy all around within its boundaries. 2 Of this, for the sanctuary there shall be a place five hundred cubits long and
20 "'Nor shall they shave their heads, or allow their hair to grow long. They shall keep the hair of their heads trimmed. 21 Nor shall any priest drink wine when they enter the inner court. 22 Nor shall they take a widow or a divorced woman as a wife,
"Bear" – let us never forget that sin will bring sad consequences – see 2 Sam 12:1014. We will not be able to avoid God's law of sowing and reaping. In the case of the Levites it will mean the shame of being in a lower place than they might have had. 44:15,16 Only the descendants of one man, Zadok, remained faithful. They would be rewarded. On Zadok see 2 Sam 8:17; 15:24-29; 20:25. As believers our service in this life will have eternal reward – or lack of it (1 Cor 3:12-14). 44:17-31 These instructions for the priests are similar to instructions in the law of Moses (Ex 39:27-29; Lev 6:10; 10:9; 15:31; 21:1-5,7; Deut 17:8,9; Leviticus chapter 23; 21:1-3; Num 18:20,23,24). Observe that the vision speaks of a time when there will still be a distinction between holy and common, clean and unclean (v 23), a time
when disputes and death will still be in the world (vs 24,25,31). It cannot, therefore, refer to the redeemed in eternity, when there will be no such things. 44:28 See Num 18:20,23,24; Deut 10:9; Josh 13:14,33; 18:7. 45:1 "Divide. . .by lot" – 47:13 - 48:29. Compare Num 34:1-15; Josh 14:1-5. Here we have a new allotment of the land of Israel, entirely different from the old one recorded in the book of Joshua.
"Holy district" – together with the 5,000 cubits width for the city (v 6) the whole area is a perfect square 25,000 cubits on each side (about 12.5 kilometers). If the long cubit is used (a cubit and a span) it would come to about 14 kilometers on each side. (The rod of 40:3,5 was equal to 6 long cubits.) 45:2 42:15-20.
EZEKIEL 45:3 1128
five hundred wide, completely square, with fifty cubits all around for its open space. 3 And in this area you shall measure a length of twenty-five thousand cubits, and a width of ten thousand. The sanctuary and the Most Holy Place will be in it. 4 It will be the holy portion of the land for the priests, the servants of the sanctuary, who approach to serve the LORD. It will be a place for their houses, and a holy place for the sanctuary. 5 And an area twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide will be for the Levites, the servants of the temple, for a possession of twenty rooms.
10 You shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. 11 The ephah and the bath shall be of the same measure, so that the bath contains the tenth part of a homer, and the ephah the tenth part of a homer; their measure shall be according to the homer. 12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels, shall be your mina.
13 "'This is the offering that you shall offer: a sixth of an ephah from a homer of wheat, and you shall give a sixth of an ephah from a homer of barley. 14 The rule concerning oil, a bath of oil: you shall offer a tenth of a bath from a cor, which is a homer of ten baths; for ten baths equal one homer. 15 And take one lamb out of a flock of two hundred, from the rich pastures of Israel, as a food offering and as a burnt offering and as peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, says the Lord God. 16 All the people of the land shall give this offering for the prince in Israel. 17 And it will be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, and at the new moon festivals, and on the sabbaths, at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offering, and the grain offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
6 "'And you shall appoint as the property of the city an area five thousand cubits wide and twentyfive thousand long, bordering the portion for the holy district. It shall be for the whole house of Israel.
7 "'And the prince will have a portion on the one side and on the other side of the portion for the holy district, and of the property for the city, bordering the portion for the holy district, and bordering the property for the city, extending to the west from the west side, and to the east from the east side, running lengthwise along one of the tribal portions, from the western border to the eastern border. 8 This land will be his possession in Israel; and my princes will no longer oppress my people. And the rest of the land they will give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
18 "'Thus says the Lord God: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish, and purify the sanctuary; 19 and the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering, and put it on the
9 "'Thus says the Lord God: Let it be enough for you, O princes of Israel! Remove violence and plundering, and administer judgment and justice. Stop dispossessing my people, says the Lord God.
45:3 "25,000 cubits" – about 12.5 kilometers. "10,000 cubits" – about 5 kilometers. 45:4,5 Priests and Levites were to have places to live, not to own (44:28). 45:6 This city does not contain the temple, but lies next to the temple area. The area allotted for the city contains pasture lands, etc. The city itself is much smaller than this (48:16). 45:7 The prince is given two portions, one east and one west of the temple and city area. 45:8 Here the word prince is put in the plural. And they will not behave as former rulers in Israel's history had behaved (vs 9-12). 45:10,11 An ephah and a homer were dry measures, and a bath was a liquid measure. 45:12 A shekel weighed about 11.5 grams. A mina usually was 50 shekels, the one described here was 60 shekels. 45:13-17 The system described is different from that in the law of Moses. According to that system the people gave their offerings directly to the priests. Here they give them to the prince who will then place the offerings in the hands of the priests. Observe that the purpose of these offerings is "to make reconciliation for the people." The Hebrew word here is usually translated "make atonement." But it is possible to translate it "make reconciliation," or "cover over," "pacify." The vision
then points to a time when atonement will need to be made, and so it cannot refer to the redeemed in the new heaven and earth.
Many scholars think the time refers to the millennium (Revelation chapter 20). But in the millennium will animal sacrifices and other offerings be needed to make atonement? This is a hard question for those who see a completely literal fulfillment of this vision in the millennium. But, then, these chapters pose hard questions for any system of interpretation. And if we refuse an interpretation because there are difficulties involved in it, we can have no interpretation of these chapters at all. Actually, even under the law of Moses, sacrifices could not make full atonement – they could only symbolize the atonement which Christ would make when He came. Perhaps the same thing may be said about the sacrifices mentioned here in Ezekiel. They may symbolize the atonement Christ has already made at His first coming.
"Peace offerings" (vs 15,17) – notes at Leviticus chapter 3. 45:18 From this verse to verse 16 of chapter 46 we have instructions regarding the offerings of the people. There are many changes from the law of Moses, and the significance of these changes is very difficult to determine.
1129 EZEKIEL 46:18
doorposts of the temple, and on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the gateposts of the inner court. 20 And you shall do the same on the seventh day of the month for each one who has gone astray unintentionally or in ignorance. Thus you shall make atonement for the temple.
shall be without blemish. 7 And he shall provide a grain offering, an ephah for each bull, and an ephah for each ram, and for the lambs as much as he is able to get, and a hin of oil for each ephah. 8 And when the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the portico of the gate, and he shall go out by the same way.
21 "'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days. Unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22 And on that day the prince shall provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land. 23 And for the seven days of the feast he shall provide a burnt offering for the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams, without blemish, each day of the seven days, and each day a young male goat as a sin offering. 24 And he shall provide a grain offering of an ephah for each bull, and an ephah for each ram, and a hin of oil for each ephah.
9 "'But when the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate, and he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate; he shall not return by way of the gate that he came in, but shall go out opposite it. 10 And the prince among them will go in when they go in, and will go out when they go out.
11 "'And at the festivals and appointed feasts the grain offerings shall be an ephah for each bull, and an ephah for each ram, and as much as he is able to give with the lambs, and a hin of oil for each ephah. 12 Now when the prince provides a freewill burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily for the LORD, then someone shall open the gate that faces east for him, and he shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out someone shall shut the gate.
25 "'In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, he shall do the same for the seven days of the feast, for the sin offering, for the burnt offering, and for the grain offering, and for the oil.
"'Thus says the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that faces east will be shut the six working days, but on the Sabbath it will be opened, and on the day of the new moon it will be opened. 2 And the prince shall enter by way of the portico of the gate from outside, and shall stand by the gatepost. And the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship before the LORD at the door of this gate on the Sabbaths and on the new moons. 4 And the burnt offering that the prince offers to the LORD on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish. 5 And the grain offering shall be an ephah for each ram, and the grain offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and a hin of oil for each ephah. 6 And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bull without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram. They
13 "'Daily you shall prepare a burnt offering for the LORD, a lamb of the first year without blemish. You shall prepare it each morning. 14 And with it you shall prepare a grain offering each morning, a sixth of an ephah, and a third of a hin of oil, to moisten the fine flour. This is to be a regular grain offering to the LORD by a permanent ordinance. 15 Thus they shall prepare the lamb, and the grain offering, and the oil, each morning as a continual burnt offering.
16 "'Thus says the Lord God: If the prince gives a gift from his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons. It shall be their possession by inheritance. 17 But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall belong to him until the year of liberty. Afterwards it shall revert to the prince; but his inheritance shall belong to his sons. It shall be theirs. 18 Moreover,
45:21 "Passover" – note at Lev 23:5. 45:22 This verse is evidence that the prince cannot be the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus was sinless and needed to offer no sin offering for himself. 45:24 "Hin" – probably about 4 liters. 45:25 This feast is called the Feast of Ingathering in Ex 23:16 and 34:22, and the feast of Tabernacles in Lev 23:34 and Deut 16:16. 46:1 There were two east gates – one for the outer court which was to be permanently closed (44:2), one for the inner court which was sometimes to be opened.
46:2 "Prince" – 45:22. 46:9 Great numbers of people would be coming and going. To avoid disorder straight columns should move in only one direction through the temple courts. 46:12 "Freewill" – Lev 22:18; 23:38; Num 15:3; Deut 12:6. 46:13-15 In Numbers 28:3-8 the instruction was to offer a lamb in the morning and one in the evening. 46:17 "Liberty" – see Lev 25:8-15. Properties which had been sold were to revert to their original owners every 50th year. 46:18 "His property" – compare Micah's
"New moon" – 1 Sam 20:5; Isa 1:13.
EZEKIEL 46:19 1130
the prince shall not seize any of the people's inheritance by oppression, by evicting them from their property; but he shall give an inheritance to his sons from his own property, so that none of my people will be scattered from his property.'"
2 Then he brought me out by way of the gate on the north, and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faced east; and I saw water running out on the right side.
3 And when the man who had the line in his hand went out toward the east, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the water. The water was up to the ankles. 4 Again he measured a thousand cubits, and brought me through the water. The water was up to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through. The water was up to the waist. 5 He measured another thousand; and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen, water to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.
19 Afterwards he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy rooms of the priests, which faced north; and I saw there a place at the far western end. 20 Then said he to me, "This is the place where the priests will cook the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they will bake the grain offering, so that they do not carry them out into the outer court, and so sanctify the people."
21 Then he brought me out to the outer court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and I saw in each corner of the court another court. 22 In the four corners of the court there were enclosed courts forty cubits long and thirty wide. These four corner courts had the same measurements. 23 And there was a row of stones all around them, surrounding each of the four, and all around under these rows cooking hearths had been made. 24 Then he said to me, "These are places for those who will do the cooking, where the servants of the temple will boil the sacrifice of the people."
6 And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this ?" Then he led me and had me return to the bank of the river. 7 Now when I returned I saw that there were many trees on the bank of the river, on the one side and on the other. 8 Then he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region, and goes down into the desert, and into the Sea. When it enters the Sea, the water there will be made healthful. 9 And this will happen: Wherever the river flows every moving living creature will live, and there will be a great many fish, because this water will go there, and the water there will be made healthful, and where the river goes everything will live. 10 And it will be that fishermen will stand by it from Engedi to En-Eglaim. There will be places for spreading nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, a great many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not be made healthful. They will be given for blessings inevitably flow out. 47:3 A thousand cubits equals about 450 meters. 47:4-6 The river begins as a spring in the temple. In less than two kilometers it becomes deep and wide. The picture forbids thinking of other streams joining it. So this is a miraculous river. Its flow is not increased in the natural way of rivers in our world today. The angel's question in v 6 was probably meant to emphasize this. 47:7 Compare Gen 2:9; Isa 35:1,2; 51:3. Water brings life. 47:8 "Sea" – the Dead Sea. 47:9,10 At present there are no fish, no living creatures at all in the Dead Sea. Its heavy concentration of salts and minerals makes it impossible for such life to exist there. Spiritual lessons have been drawn from this – the Holy Spirit like living streams of water (John 7:39) flow through the world, and people dead in trespasses and sins are made alive. But such spiritual applications should not blind us to the possibility of a transformation of the literal Dead Sea in the future. 47:10 "Great Sea" – the Mediterranean Sea (also vs 15,19,20). 47:11 Salt will still be needed.
Afterward he brought me back to the door of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east; for the front of the temple faced the east, and the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, at the south side of the altar. picture of God's coming kingdom (Micah 4:4). 46:19-24 Again detailed descriptions are given and their spiritual significance, if they have any, is almost impossible to discover. They seem to point only to physical activity. 47:1-12 There are three possible views about this river:
(a) It is a literal river showing the great physical changes there will be in the land of Israel in the millennium.
(b) It is altogether a symbolic picture teaching spiritual lessons and will never have any kind of literal fulfillment.
(c) The description contains a mixture of literal and symbolical meanings which speak of some sort of literal stream in the future, but which teach spiritual lessons.
The author of these notes thinks the third view most likely. 47:1 "He" – 40:3. "Temple" – indicating that the source of blessing, whether physical or spiritual, is God Himself who will reside in the temple (43:7). 47:2 The water flows from under the gate through which the glory of God entered (43:4). Where God comes in, from there
1131 EZEKIEL 48:11
salt. 12 And by the river, on its bank, on this side and on that side, all kinds of trees will grow for food. Their leaf will not wither, their fruit will not come to an end. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
you as those born in the country among the children of Israel. They are to have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And it shall be that whatever tribe the foreigner lives among, there you shall give him his inheritance, says the Lord God.
13 Thus says the Lord God: "These are the boundary lines, by which you will inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will have two portions. 14 And you will inherit it with one another equally, for I lifted up my hand and swore to give it to your fathers, and this land will fall to you as your inheritance.
"Now these are the names of the tribes: From the northern border along the road to Hethlon, as one goes to Hamath, Hazarenan, the northern border of Damascus, to the boundary with Hamath; these are his sides east and west, a portion for Dan.
2 "And along the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Asher.
15 "And this will be the border of the land on the north: from the Great Sea, the road to Hethlon, as men go to Zedad, 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, Hazar-Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 And the border from the Sea will be to Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, with the border of Hamath on the north. This is on the north side.
3 "And along the border of Asher, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Naphtali.
4 "And along the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Manasseh.
5 "And along the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Ephraim.
6 "And along the border of Ephraim, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Reuben.
18 "And on the east you shall mark out from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and the Jordan river by the land of Israel, from the northern border to the eastern sea. And this is the east side.
7 "And along the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Judah.
8 "And along the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, will be the district you will set apart as a gift, twenty-five thousand rods wide, and as long as any of the other portions from the east side to the west side; and the sanctuary will be in the middle of it.
19 "And the south side will be from Tamar southward to the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, along the river of Egypt to the Great Sea. And this is the south side on the south.
9 "The district you set apart as a gift to the LORD will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width. 10 And this holy portion will be for the priests. It will be twenty-five thousand cubits long on the north, and ten thousand wide on the west, and ten thousand wide on the east, twenty-five thousand long on the south; and the sanctuary of the LORD will be in the center of it. 11 It will be for the priests who are set
20 "And the west side will be the Great Sea from the southern border to a point opposite Hamath. This is the west side.
21 "So you shall divide this land for yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 And it will be like this : You will divide it by lot as your inheritance, and for the foreigners who live among you, who will beget children among you; and they shall be to
47:12 "By the river" – for a spiritual lesson suggested by this see Ps 1:3. For other significant mentions of streams in the Bible see Gen 2:10; 36:8,9; Ps 46:4; Isa 33:21; Zech 14:8; John 7:37-39; Rev 22:1,2. 47:13 From this verse to verse 29 of chapter 48 we have instructions concerning the division of the land of Israel. See also 45:1-8. Here is a detailed description of the borders of the land and the portions for all the tribes of Israel. If no kind of literal fulfillment of this vision is to be expected the language here seems strange indeed.
of this world. It is the very land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen 15:9-21; 17:18,21; 28:13) and which is in view throughout the Old Testament. 47:15-17 The northern border is approximately where it was in the days of David and Solomon. 47:18 The area east of the Jordan river, once the home of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh (Deut 3:1217), is not included. "Eastern sea" – Dead Sea. 47:19 "Kadesh", "river of Egypt" – Solomon's kingdom extended this far. The "river of Egypt" does not mean the Nile but a river on the border of Egypt.
"Joseph" – Levi would live in a special, holy area in the land and would have no inheritance like the other tribes, so there is no portion for Levi, so both Manasseh and Ephraim are allotted portions. 47:14 "Fathers" – the land spoken of in these chapters is not some "glory land" out
"Great Sea" – Mediterranean. 47:22,23 This is a new instruction, not found in the law of Moses. 48:8-22 45:1-8 is here given in more detail. 48:11 40:46; 44:15.
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apart from the sons of Zadok, who have kept my charge, who did not go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. 12 And this portion of the land that is offered as a gift for them will be a most holy place along the border of the Levites.
apart from the property of the Levites, and apart from the property of the city, which is in the center of that which belongs to the prince, the land between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, will be for the prince.
23 "As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west side, Benjamin will have one portion.
13 "And opposite the border of the priests the Levites will have a portion twenty-five thousand cubits long, and ten thousand wide. The entire length will be twenty-five thousand, and the width ten thousand. 14 And they shall not sell or exchange any of it, or make this best part of the land over to others, for it is holy to the LORD.
24 "And along the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon will have one portion.
25 "And along the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar one portion.
26 "And along the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun one portion.
15 "And the five thousand cubits in width that are left along the twenty-five thousand, will be for the common use of the city, for dwellings and open land; and the city will be in the center of it. 16 And these are its measurements: the north side four thousand five hundred cubits, and the south side four thousand five hundred, and the east side four thousand five hundred, and the west side four thousand five hundred. 17 And the open land of the city will be two hundred and fifty cubits on the north, and two hundred and fifty on the south, and two hundred and fifty on the east, and two hundred and fifty on the west. 18 And the rest of the length along the holy portion set apart as a gift will be ten thousand on the east, and ten thousand on the west; and it will be alongside the holy portion set apart as a gift. And its crops will be for food for those who serve the city. 19 And those who serve the city, from all the tribes of Israel, will cultivate it. 20 The complete portion set apart as a gift will be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand cubits. You shall set apart this holy portion, along with the property of the city.
27 "And along the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad one portion.
28 "And along the southern border of Gad, the border will go toward the south from Tamar to the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, and to the river of Egypt to the great sea.
29 "This is the land which you will divide by lot to the tribes of Israel as their inheritance, and these are their portions, says the Lord God.
30 "And these will be the exits of the city: from the north side, which measures four thousand five hundred cubits, 31 the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. There will be three gates on the north; one gate named for Reuben, one gate for Judah, one gate for Levi.
"32 And on the eastern side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits, will be three gates; one gate named for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, one gate for Dan.
33 "And on the southern side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits, will be three gates; one gate named for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, one gate for Zebulun.
21 "And the rest of it will be for the prince; this area on the one side and on the other of the holy portion, and of the property of the city, from the twenty-five thousand cubits of the contributed portion to the eastern border, and on the west from the twenty-five thousand to the western border, along the tribal portions will be for the prince. It will be the holy portion; and the sanctuary of the temple will be in the center of it. 22 Moreover,
34 "On the western side, four thousand five hundred cubits, with their three gates; one gate named for Gad, one gate for Asher, one gate for Naphtali.
35 "The total distance around will be eighteen thousand cubits.
"And the name of the city from that day will be, The LORD is There."
48:14 Indeed God's priests must not sell or barter anything that belongs to God Himself. 48:15,16 45:6. The city, like the one in Rev 21:16, is square. But its size is very much smaller than that one, being little more than two kilometers each way. 48:21,22 45:7,8. 48:25-27 Under Joshua the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun were allotted territories in the northern part of Israel, and Gad was east of the Jordan river. 48:28 47:19. "Great Sea" – the Mediterranean. 48:30-34 Rev 21:12,13. The arrangement
of these names is quite different from the arrangement of the tribes surrounding the tabernacle in the wilderness (Num 2:3-31). Levi is included in the names here (v 31), so to keep the number at twelve Joseph has one gate representing the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. 48:35 Jerusalem in the future will have other names (see Isa 1:26; 60:14; 62:2-4,12; Jer 3:17; 33:16; Zech 8:3). But no name can be superior to Jehovah-Shammah, "The LORD is there." God will be where He delights to be – in the midst of His people. See note at Ex 25:8.
DANIEL
Author:
Some modern critics of the Bible have denied that Daniel wrote this book, but see 8:1,15,27; 9:2-4,20; 10:2,7; 12:5,8. These verses indicate that Daniel was the author. Further evidence for this is in Matt 24:15 where the Lord Jesus stated that the prophecy concerning "the abomination of desolation" (Dan 9:27) was spoken through "Daniel the prophet."
Date:
Babylon was captured by the Medes and Persians in 539 BC. Daniel must have written this book a short time after that.
Themes:
Two themes appear together throughout the book – the experiences of Daniel (and sometimes his Hebrew friends) in the city of Babylon, and the prophetic visions which came to Daniel. Over both themes we see the sovereign God fulfilling His purposes. In the prophetic visions we can see the rise and fall of empires, the very powerful empire that will rule the world in the last days of this present age, the coming of antichrist, the destruction of man's kingdoms and the establishment of Christ's eternal kingdom.
Contents:
The training of the young Hebrew men ........................................................... 1:1-21
Daniel's noble resolve ............................................................................ 1:8 The result ............................................................................................. 1:15 God's gift.............................................................................................. 1:17,20 The dream of king Nebuchadnezzar ................................................................ 2:1-49
The dream itself .................................................................................... 2:1-3 The failure of Babylon's wise men ............................................................ 2:4-13 Daniel's request, prayer, and thanksgiving ............................................... 2:14-23 Daniel interprets the dream .................................................................... 2:26-45 The result ............................................................................................. 2:46-49 King Nebuchadnezzar makes an image ............................................................ 3:1-30
The king's command to worship it ............................................................. 3:4-6 Shadrach and companions refuse to obey ................................................ 3:8-18 The king's fury ...................................................................................... 3:19-23 Saved from the fiery furnace .................................................................. 3:24-27 The result ............................................................................................. 3:28-30 King Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a tree ........................................................... 4:1-37
Daniel's interpretation ............................................................................ 4:19-27 The dream fulfilled ................................................................................. 4:28-37 Belshazzar's feast, and the writing on the wall ................................................. 5:1-30
The writing ........................................................................................... 5:5,6 The failure of Babylon's wise men ............................................................ 5:7-9 The queen's advice ................................................................................ 5:10-12 The king's words to Daniel ...................................................................... 5:13-16 Daniel's words to the king ....................................................................... 5:17-24 Daniel explains the writing ...................................................................... 5:25-28 The fulfillment ....................................................................................... 5:30 Daniel in the lions' den .................................................................................. 6:1-26
The plot of Daniel's enemies .................................................................... 6:1-9 Daniel's faithfulness in prayer ................................................................. 6:10,11 The punishment .................................................................................... 6:12-18 God's protection .................................................................................... 6:19-24
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The result ............................................................................................. 6:25-28 Daniel's dream of four beasts ........................................................................ 7:1-28
The dream itself .................................................................................... 7:1-14 The interpretation of the dream .............................................................. 7:15-28 Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat ........................................................... 8:1-27
The dream itself .................................................................................... 8:1-14 The interpretation ................................................................................. 8:15-27 Daniel's understanding of God's word, his prayer ............................................. 9:1-19 The angel Gabriel speaks of "seventy weeks" .................................................. 9:20-27 Daniel has another vision .............................................................................. 10:1 - 12:13
The vision itself ..................................................................................... 10:1-10 The message ........................................................................................ 10:11 - 12:4 War in the unseen world ........................................................................ 10:12-14,20,21 Daniel gets strength .............................................................................. 10:15-19 The struggle between various rulers ........................................................ 11:1-35 The kings at the end of this age .............................................................. 11:36-45 The great tribulation .............................................................................. 12:1 Deliverance, resurrection and rewards ..................................................... 12:2-4 The vision and message concluded .......................................................... 12:5-13
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In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the LORD gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hands, and some of the articles belonging to the house of God, which he carried away to the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
Mishael, and Azariah of the children of Judah. 7 The chief of the eunuchs gave them names. He gave to Daniel the name Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, Shadrach; and to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with any portion of the king's food or with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested the chief of the eunuchs that he might not to defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favour and tender affection of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are of your age? Then you would make me endanger my head to the king."
3 And the king ordered Ashpenaz the chief of his eunuchs to bring some of the children of Israel, and of the royal family, and of the nobles, 4 young men without blemish, but handsome, with training in every branch of wisdom, well informed, and understanding science and who had the ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's food and of the wine which he drank, and three years training for them, so that at the end of that time they might stand before the king.
11 Then Daniel said to Melzar whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your
6 Now among these were Daniel, Hananiah,
1:1 "Third year" – Jer 25:1 indicates that this was the fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign. The difference can be accounted for like this – in Babylon the years of a king's reign were counted from the first new year's day after he became king, but in Israel the year he became king also was included in the reckoning. Jehoiakim began his reign in 608 BC. He ruled part of that year, the years 607 and 606, and part of the year referred to in this verse which was 605 BC. Daniel, writing in Babylon, used the Babylonian system of reckoning and so did not count the year Jehoiakim ascended the throne. 1:2 2 Chron 36:5-7. Daniel was taken to Babylon in that same year, Ezekiel eight years later.
various gods of Babylon. Belteshazzar probably means "May Bel protect his life". Bel meant Lord in the Babylonian language and signified the god Marduk (Jer 50:2). Shadrach could mean either "the inspiration of Rach (the sun god)" or "the command of Aku (their moon god)". Meshach could mean either "devotee of Shach (their word for the planet Venus)" or "who is like Aku?". Abednego means "servant of Nego" (Nego = Nebo – another of the many gods of Babylon – Isa 46:1).
Why did the chief official give them these names? Possibly he considered the gods of Babylon more powerful and important than Jehovah the God of Israel, or perhaps he wanted these Hebrew youths to fit into the society of that country and thought that Babylonian names would help them in this. 1:8 Daniel would consider this food and wine defiling because portions of both would have been offered to false gods. Also the meat would not have been prepared according to the law God gave Israel (Lev 11:4-20; Deut 12,23,24). Daniel was a young man, far from his homeland and faced with the choice of offending God or offending the king. With great courage he chose to risk the latter. Holiness was more important to him than physical comfort or safety. Christians sometimes sin because they are afraid of offending others, or because of fear for their own safety or position. This is because the fear of God is not the controlling factor in their lives (Job 28:28; Ps 34:11-14). 1:9 "God" – God will work on behalf of those who take their stand for Him. This is seen all through the book of Daniel. See also the case of Joseph (Gen 39:2-4; 20-23; etc). 1:10 Daniel feared God, the official feared the king. This made a big difference in their behavior. 1:11-14 Daniel began to show the wisdom
"Shinar" – another name for Babylonia. 1:3,4 Only those regarded as the brightest and best were chosen. We should be glad that this is not God's way of choosing – 1 Cor 1:26-29. Yet God's good purpose was in the king's command. God had determined to raise Daniel to the highest place in Babylon, next to the king.
"Eunuchs" – or "court officials." It seems that officials in the king's court were sometimes called "eunuchs" even though they may not have been literal eunuchs.
"Understanding science" – or "quick to understan.
"Chaldeans" – Chaldea was the southern part of Babylonia but sometimes the name was used to indicate the whole country. 1:5 "The king's food" – a sign of the king's favor. So God does for believers – Ps 23:5; Isa 25:6; Luke 14:16; John 6:48-51; Rev 19:7. 1:6,7 The name Daniel means "My judge is God", Hananiah means "Jehovah is gracious" (Hebrew "Yah" = Jehovah, the LORD), Mishael means "Who is what God is?", and Azariah means "Jehovah helps". The new names given to them were all connected with
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servants for ten days; let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be inspected in your presence, along with the appearance of the young men who eat of the appointed portion of the king's food. Then deal with your servants according to what you see." 14 So he gave his consent to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of king Cyrus.
And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, which made his spirit so troubled that his sleep left him. 2 Then the king gave orders to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream."
15 And at the end of ten days, in appearance they looked better and fatter than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's food. 16 So Melzar took away the portion of their food and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Syriac, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will tell the interpretation."
17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all branches of literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all kinds of visions and dreams.
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "The thing has gone from me. If you do not make known the dream to me, along with its interpretation, you will be cut in pieces, and your houses will be made heaps of rubbish. 6 But if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honour. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation."
18 Now at the end of the days which the king had specified for bringing them in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in to the presence of Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king talked with them, and among them all no one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they served in the king's presence. 20 And in all the matters of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in his whole realm.
7 They answered again and said, "May the king tell his servants the dream; then we will tell the interpretation of it."
8 The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me. 9 But if you do not
for which he was later famous. 1:15 This was God's doing. 1:16 God caused the guard to cooperate. So the temptation to eat of the king's food and the danger of not doing so were overcome. Compare 1 Cor 10:13. 1:17 "God gave" – Job 32:8; Jam 1:5; 2 Pet 3:15. The ability to understand visions and dreams was a special gift of God over and above the other understanding God gave Daniel. 1:19 "They served" – God had been preparing them for His own service as well. 1:20 This was God's doing and not merely a matter of their own intellect and study. 1:21 539 BC. This means that Daniel was still living when Cyrus made his proclamation that the Jews could return to Israel (2 Chron 36:22,23). 2:1 "Second year" – 603 BC. See note on the time of a king's reign at 1:1. Daniel and his friends were trained for "three years" (1:5,18). This was probably a round figure including parts of years. Their first year (or part of a year) of training was the year Nebuchadnezzar ascended the throne, their second was his first full year as king, their third was in his second full year as king.
overrun with such people as are listed here. It was in some ways probably much like India is today (western countries are certainly not free of them either). All through the book of Daniel these magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers are shown to be completely unable to find out the mind and will of the one true God. And this is as true of such people now as it was then. "Astrologers" – the Hebrew word here signifies conjurors or enchanters. "Chaldeans" (also vs 4,5,10) – Chaldea, the southern section of Babylonia, was noted for its astrologers and wise men – so much so that in some contexts, such as the one here, Chaldeans actually meant astrologers or wise men. Astrology is as empty a superstition now as it was proved to be in Daniel's day. The so-called "fate" of men, or what happens to them day by day, has nothing to do with the position of the stars at their birth or at any other time. Their future is determined by the true and living God, and while they live on this earth the important thing is their relationship to Him and whether they trust and obey and serve Him, or not. See note at Gen 25:24. 2:4 The text from this verse to the end of chapter 7 is in the Aramaic language – the language of Aram (Syria). This language was very similar to Hebrew. 2:5-13 No doubt the astrologers and other such people pretended to have supernatural
"Dreams" – God used this means to raise Daniel to a high position in Babylon and to reveal important truth through the interpretation of the dream. 2:2 See Deut 18:10-12. Babylon was
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make known to me the dream, there is but one decree for you. For you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak to me, until the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can tell me its interpretation."
for wisdom and might are his. 21 And he changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings, and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise,
and knowledge to those who have
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter. So no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a difficult thing that the king requires, and there is no one who can tell it to the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."
understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him. 23 I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers. You have given me wisdom and power,
and have made known to me now
12 Because of this the king was angry, indeed very furious, and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 When the decree went out that the wise men should be slain, they sought Daniel and his companions to kill them.
what we asked from you; for you have now made known to us
the king's matter."
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said this to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me into the king's presence, and I will tell the king the interpretation."
14 Then Daniel with good advice and wisdom answered Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch revealed the matter to Daniel. 16 Then Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could tell the king the interpretation.
25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel into the king's presence, and said this to him: "I have found a man among the captives of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation."
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream which I saw, and its interpretation?"
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 so that they would ask mercy from the God of heaven concerning this secret, that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20 Daniel responded and said,
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, "The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot tell the king, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and makes known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head on your bed, were these:
"Blessed be the name of God forever
and ever,
insights. Now they are put to the test and their ignorance exposed. The true God arranged this to show the folly of looking for answers to such people, and to show Himself mighty in behalf of Daniel. 2:12,13 Anger often leads men to speak and act unjustly. 2:18 Daniel acted very wisely (vs 14-16), but he depended on God, not on his wisdom. 2:19 "Secret" – 2:27-30,47; 4:9. "Vision" – in Bible days God often revealed truth in dreams and visions. Notes at Gen 15:1; Num 12:6. "God of heaven" – the name is used 22 times in the Old Testament. Of these 17 are in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel. The true God, the God of Israel, is transcendent, far higher than sun, moon, and stars, and all the so-called gods of the world. 2:20 Daniel was as ready to praise as he was to pray. And he did not praise himself for having learned the interpretation of the
king's dream. He praised God who gave it.
"Wisdom and might" – these are the twin themes of this prayer. In this way the true God is distinguished from the gods of Babylon, and all other gods. 2:21 The course of history and its political changes are in God's hands (4:17; 1 Sam 2:6-8; Jer 27:5; Rom 13:1). 2:22 Job 12:22; Ps 139:11,12; Jer 23:24; Heb 4:13; Jam 1:17; 1 John 1:5. 2:23 "I thank" – notes on thanksgiving at Lev 7:12,13; Ps 7:17; 50:14,15; 56:12.
"Wisdom and power" – Daniel is not boasting but recognizing God's good gifts and thanking God for them. 2:27,28 First of all, Daniel gives glory to God. And he indicates that Babylon's astrologers, magicians, etc were not in touch with the true God. By all the means at their disposal they could not tell the king his dream. But God can reveal anything to His servants.
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29 "As for you, O king, on your bed you had thoughts of what will happen hereafter. And the one who reveals secrets makes known to you what is going to happen. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than any living person, but for the sake of those who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you might know the thoughts of your heart.
the silver, and the gold, were broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 "This is the dream. And we will tell its interpretation in the king's presence. 37 You, O king, are a king of kings, for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wherever the children of men live, he has given the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky into your hands, and has made you ruler over them all. You are this head of gold.
31 "You, O king, looked and saw a great image. This great image, of exceptional splendour, stood before you, and its form was awe-inspiring. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You watched until a stone was cut out without hands. It struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze,
39 "And after you another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which will rule the whole earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron; for just as iron breaks in pieces and crushes all things, and
2:29 Notice this name for God – "the one who reveals secrets". Let us always look to Him to interpret to us the mysteries of Himself and His Word. Compare Rom 16:25; 1 Cor 2:9-12; Eph 1:9,17-19; 3:3,9; Col 1:26,27; 2:2. 2:30 He put the emphasis where it belonged. God was revealing needed truth, not giving Daniel a reason for boasting. There are some who pride themselves in being able to interpret the Bible and tend to forget to praise the One who gives all such ability. 2:31 Evidently Daniel saw in vision (v 19) exactly what the king had seen in his dream, and so could describe it in detail. 2:32-45 The statue represents four kingdoms of the world. It seems clear both from the Bible and from history which kingdoms are meant. The head is king Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian empire (vs 37,38). The chest and arms represent the empire which succeeded Babylon (v 39; 5:28) – the empire of the Medes and Persians established by Cyrus. The belly and thighs represent the empire which succeeded Medo-Persia (v 39; 8:21) – the empire of Greece and Macedonia under Alexander the Great. The legs and feet represent the kingdom which replaced all the others (v 40) – the Roman empire. (In Luke 2:1 we are told that Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, controlled the "world" – that is, the world of the Old and New Testaments.) The rock that struck the image is God's eternal kingdom (vs 44,45).
kings. The stone is cut out, but not by human hands. In other words it is established not by men, but by God Himself. 2:35 The rock striking the statue brings to an end, all at the same time, all the kingdoms mentioned. This indicates either that the first three kingdoms will be parts of the 4th at the time of its destruction, or that with the destruction of the 4th kingdom all the kingdoms of men (symbolized by the other three) will come to an end; or it may indicate both of these things. This verse surely speaks of sudden, overwhelming destruction. Not a trace of those kingdoms will remain after the rock has smashed them. The times of the Gentiles with their worldly kingdoms will have an utter end. God's kingdom which will completely replace man's kingdoms is compared to a mountain that "filled the whole earth". Compare Isa 2:23; 11:9; Micah 4:1. 2:37,38 Jer 27:6,7. Daniel says King Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold. This is because the king represented the kingdom (v 39). 2:40-44 More detail is given concerning the fourth kingdom than the other three. The same is true in chapter 7 where these same four kingdoms appear again. 2:40 Iron was a fit symbol of the Roman Empire – hard, strong, able to crush others. It is possible that the two legs of the statue symbolize the division of the Roman Empire into two parts in 394 AD (as the chest with its two arms may speak of the two "arms" of the empire of the Medes and Persians, and the belly and two thighs may speak of Greece and Macedonia in Alexander's empire), but this is not certain. As for the toes, the number is not given but two feet certainly mean ten toes. And the toes surely must have the same interpretation as the ten horns of 7:7,24 and Rev 13:1; 17:3,12-14, since the same kingdom is in view in each of these visions. See notes on those chapters. The author of
There have been other great empires since Rome's power waned. Why are they not mentioned here? Probably because they are not related to Bible times and are not of central importance in Bible prophecy. 2:34 "Stone" – or "rock". In the Bible "stone" and "rock" sometimes symbolize Christ ( Ps 118:22; Isa 28:16; Zech 4:7; 10:4; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:7. For the destructive power of this "stone" see Matt 21:42-44). Here the rock is God's kingdom (vs 44,45), in which, of course, Christ is the King of
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as iron shatters, it will break in pieces and shatter all these others. 41 And just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of potter's clay, and partly of iron, the kingdom will be divided. But there will be in it the strength of iron, just as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron, and partly of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong, and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will be a combination of the offspring of men, and will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself and paid homage to Daniel, and gave orders that they should present an offering and incense to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is God of gods, and Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret."
48 Then the king gave Daniel a high position, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel made a request of the king, and he placed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
44 "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed. And the kingdom will not be left to other people, but it will break in pieces and bring to an end all those kingdoms; and it will stand forever, 45 just as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain, without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold.
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold. Its height was sixty cubits, and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent men to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the
"The great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter; and the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure."
these notes believes that the final form of the Roman Empire is still in the future and that its sudden destruction will occur at the second coming of Christ (Rev 19:11-16). 2:41-43 We are not told what the clay may signify, only that there will be an inherent weakness and lack of true unity in this kingdom. The picture may suggest a very strong central government forcing diverse elements together for a time. Certainly the final world kingdom of man will be like this (Revelation chapter 13). 2:44 "Kings" – the context indicates feet with its toes, not kings. The word "kings" coming here is evidence that the toes signify kings. God will set up His kingdom "in the days of these kings". "These kings" cannot refer to the rulers of the kingdoms mentioned in the preceding verses (Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander), for God did not set up His kingdom in those days. In v 34 we are told that the rock strikes the statue on the feet – which must signify the final form of the Roman empire. In any case, for the following reasons it seems clear the fulfillment of these things did not take place at the first coming of Christ but awaits the end of this age:
thinking that the stone crushing the image in the way Daniel describes it means Christ at His first coming setting up this kingdom).
But has not the kingdom of God already come? Did not Christ set it up at His first coming? In a hidden and spiritual sense, yes, and all believers are in it. But it has not yet come openly, in its manifest form, in its outward glory and splendour, and believers are to look forward to its coming (Matt 6:10; 19:28; Luke 19:11,12; 21:31; Acts 1:6; Rev 11:15). Notes on God's kingdom at Matt 4:17; etc. 2:46 "Prostrated" – an amazing sight. The most powerful king on earth on his face before a mere youth who was an exile from a foreign land. The king was acknowledging the superiority of Daniel's God and the supernatural revelation that had come to Daniel. "Offering" – we are not told Daniel permitted this actually to happen. It is very doubtful that he did. Compare Acts 14:13. 2:48,49 Compare Gen 41:41-43. Perhaps this is one reason why the Babylonian empire is compared to gold (vs 32,38). 3:1 "Image" – in the interpretation of the dream Nebuchadnezzar had been called the "head of gold". Now he has an image made which is gold from head to foot (at least, gold-plated – Isa 40:19). He was a proud man with visions of grandeur (4:30). By making this image was he not showing what was in his heart? It seems he wanted the whole image of chapter 2 to be gold, to be his kingdom alone, with no kingdom ever succeeding his. 3:2-6 The king had started on the road to a knowledge of the true God (2:47). This matter of the image shows he had not come
The Roman Empire and the kingdoms which preceded it were not suddenly smashed to pieces at the first coming of Christ, nor did they then disappear with "no place found for them." And the whole earth is not yet filled with the kingdom of God (vs 34,35). Moreover, the kings symbolized by the ten horns of chapter 7 and Revelation chapter 17 (and no doubt by the toes of this chapter) were not in existence at Christ's first coming (see Rev 17:12 – this is a very important fact which should keep us from
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dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, and counsellors, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have paid no attention to you. They do not serve your gods, or worship the golden image which you have set up."
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury gave a command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods, or worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, good. But if you do not worship, in that same hour you will be thrown into the middle of a blazing fiery furnace. And what God will deliver you out of my hands?"
4 Then a herald proclaimed loudly, "This is the command given to you, O people of all nations and languages: 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown that same hour into the middle of a blazing fiery furnace."
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, all the people of all the nations and languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hands, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, or worship the golden image which you have set up."
8 Therefore at that time some Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke up and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, must fall down and worship the golden image, 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship must be thrown into the middle of a blazing fiery
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression on his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore
position (2:48). 3:13 "Rage" – 2:12. 3:15 Those who have false views of God and religion sometimes resort to persecution and threats of torture or death to get their way (Acts 8:1; 9:1). 3:16-18 Like Daniel in 1:8 they courageously resolved to risk their lives rather than displease God by disobedience to His Word. They well knew what God thought of the worship of anyone or anything other than Himself. See Ex 20:2-6; etc. They were also aware no doubt, that one of the chief reasons for the exile of the Jews to Babylon was idolatry (Lev 26:14-39; Deut 27:1426; Jer 1:16; 9:13,14). 3:16 "We have no need" – this is what the Hebrew here literally means. The KJV translation here is surprising. 3:18 "If not" – they accepted God's will no matter what it might prove to be, and they were ready for anything – certainly ready to escape fiery persecution and death, but equally ready to endure them if necessary. Their attitude is an example to all believers facing trouble now, and to all God's people at the end of this age when the great tribulation (Matt 24:21) looms on the horizon. 3:19 Verse 13; Prov 19:12,19.
very far. At this time the true God to him was merely one of the gods and he was not about to abandon the ones he had always served (v 14). This is often the way with men – many are willing to add another god to their list, if it does not mean leaving the gods they have. But God will have no part in this. See note at 1 Kings 18:21; etc. 3:7 Fallen man will do almost anything to save his skin. Only a few, comparatively, will not (see note at Job 2:4,5). This will be demonstrated to the full at the end of this age when the antichrist rules the world (Rev 13:15-17). 3:8-12 "Chaldeans" – these astrologers (note on 2:2) had been saved from death by the Jews (1:12-24). This is how they tried to reward them (compare Ps 35:12-18). Daniel is not mentioned in this chapter. There are three possible reasons for this. He may have been away from the city of Babylon on official business; or if he was in the city he may not have been required, for some reason or other, to attend the dedication of the image; or if he was present at the dedication and joined with his friends in refusing to worship the image (as he certainly would have done had he been there), at that time the astrologers may have been afraid to accuse him because of his high
1141 DANIEL 4:7
he spoke and commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded some of the strongest men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to throw them into the blazing fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other clothing, and were thrown into the middle of the blazing fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flames from the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the middle of the blazing fiery furnace.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel, and rescued his servants who trusted in him, and frustrated the king's command and gave up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree that the people of any nation or language who speak anything improper against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, will be cut in pieces, and their houses will be made a pile of rubbish. Because there is no other God who can rescue in this way."
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
"Nebuchadnezzar the king to all peoples and nations of all languages who live in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king became astonished, and rose up hurriedly, and spoke, saying to his counsellors, "Did we not throw three bound men into the middle of the fire?"
2 "I thought it good to tell of the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."
3 "How great are his signs!
25 He answered and said, "Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like a Son of God."
And how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the mouth of the blazing fiery furnace, and spoke and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came out of the middle of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power. Not a hair of their head was singed, nor were their clothes affected, nor was the smell of fire on them.
4 "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and on my bed my thoughts and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore I gave an order to bring all the wise men of Babylon into my presence, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came, and I told the dream to them, but they did not reveal its interpretation to me.
3:25 "A son of God" – this could be translated also "a son of the gods" (the Hebrew word "Elohim" here can mean either God or gods. The word for 'the' is absent). Nebuchadnezzar meant some sort of supernatural being (v 28). He served many gods and knew nothing about the one Son of the true God. But in the light of the rest of the Bible we can say that this one who came to be with his servants was the "messenger" of Jehovah (note at Gen 16:7). This fiery trial brought the Son of God to their side. Welcome all trials and tribulations that bring a deeper experience of His nearness! Compare Isa 43:1,2. 3:26,27 "Most High God" – 4:2,34; 5:18,21; 7:18. "Come out" – see Ps 66:8-12. They had passed this test of faith, had glorified God in the fire. Now they are brought out to a place of abundance. God does not always deliver His servants in a miraculous way; He calls on some of them to lay down their lives for Him (Heb 11:35-38). And whatever He decides in individual cases
is best. 3:28-30 The king takes another step forward in the knowledge of the true God (2:47). Pharaoh in Egypt did not react like this when he saw God's wonders (Ex 8:15,32; 9:34). In Babylon God was being gracious not only to His servants but to the king. 3:29 "No other God who can rescue" – a true and powerful testimony from an idolatrous king. He well knew that none of the gods of Babylon had ever done anything like this. In 6:27 we have a similar testimony. 4:1-37 This chapter gives the record of how God brought the king to a deeper knowledge of Himself. The king himself wrote it down and, presumably, published it far and wide (vs 1, 2). 4:3 2:44. 4:5 2:1. 4:6,7 Compare 2:5-9. This time the king was making it much easier for these "wise" men. But they failed once more, as they always must and will wherever they may be.
"Astrologers. . .Chaldeans" – see 2:2.