St Albert the Great's Commentary on Daniel 3:14-20, 91-97

 

Albert the Great's Commentary on Daniel 3

The Fiery Furnace and the Decree of Nebuchadnezzar

Dan 3:14

And King Nebuchadnezzar speaking out said to them, examining the truth of the accusation. & this is: "Truly, Sidrach, Misach, & Abdenago, whom I know by name and have exalted, do you not worship my gods & thus wish them not to be propitious to me & the golden statue which I have set up do you not adore & thus surely you despise my majesty?"

Commentary: For worldly men marvel that the good do not worship riches & delights. 1 Peter 4: "Marveling that you do not run with them into the same confusion of luxuria."

Dan 3:15

Now therefore... He recalls them to the fulfillment of his precept. & this is: "If you are prepared without delay in whatever hour you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe..."

Commentary: For he wishes to lead days in joy. "Prostrate yourselves," namely to be trampled by demons. Jeremiah 2: "Under every leafy tree you were prostrated, O harlot." "And adore the statue which I made," that you may seem to venerate my majesty. "But if you shall not have adored..."

The Penalty: He adds the penalty: "In the same hour you shall be sent into the furnace of burning fire." He avenged with fire because fire with its active property afflicts more. Isaiah 26: "Fire shall devour your enemies."

The Blasphemy: And he bursts into blasphemies: "And who is God who shall snatch you..." this is, who can snatch you "from my hand?" Similar said Isaiah 36: "Where are the gods of the nations who have delivered their land from my hand, that the Lord might deliver Jerusalem from my hand?" Deuteronomy 32 also says: "Where are their gods in whom they had trust?"

Dan 3:16-18 (The Response)

Responding... Here the response of the boys is touched upon, full of faith & constancy & has two parts, namely response & condemnation. The response contains three things: confession of truth, faith in divinity, & devotion of the confessor. & this is: Responding Sidrach, Misach, & Abdenago... said to King Nebuchadnezzar... lest silent they might seem conquered. "It is not necessary for us to answer you concerning this matter," namely whether God can liberate us... for constancy is to be proved more by deeds than words. For divine deeds are words by which God speaks. 2 Peter 2: "God knows how to deliver the godly from temptation, but to reserve the unjust for the day of judgment to be tormented." Isaiah 43: "When you shall walk in the fire, you shall not be burned, & the flame shall not burn in you." 17... "Behold our God... whom we worship..." Psalm 45: "Our God is our refuge & strength." Psalm 43: "If we have forgotten the name of our God, & if we have spread our hands to a strange god." "Is able to snatch us from the furnace of burning fire & from your power," because to God all things are possible. Esther 13: "All things are placed in your dominion, & there is none who can resist your will." For to the Lord of creatures creatures obey, & He does not burn with fire whom He has wished to preserve. "And from your hands, O king, liberate." Jerome: Here in Hebrew "king" is not [present], lest they seem to flatter. Psalm 139: "Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man, from the unjust man deliver me." 1 Maccabees 2: "Fear not the words of a sinful man, for his glory is dung & worms." 18... "But if he shall not wish to liberate us," namely God, even though He can. Hebrews 11: "Others were stretched out, not accepting redemption, that they might find a better resurrection." "Let it be known to you, king..." Isaiah 12: "Make known His inventions among the peoples." "That your gods we do not worship..." 1 Corinthians 8: "For although there are those who are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, indeed there are many gods & many lords, yet to us there is one God the Father, from whom are all things & we in Him." "And the golden statue which you have set up we do not adore," because we do not venerate the height of the world with riches & delights & honors. Deuteronomy 6: "You shall fear the Lord your God & shall serve Him alone."

Dan 3:19 (The King's Fury)

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury... Here the sentence of condemnation is touched upon, in sentence, in effect, & in the perfection of the miracle. & this is: "Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury."

Commentary: In fury indeed & not in justice he reigned. Whence Isaiah 14 is said concerning him: "Bringing nations under in fury, persecuting cruelly." "And his countenance," this is Nebuchadnezzar's, "was changed," namely that he might snort through his nostrils & indicate the fury of his breast with burning eyes. Isaiah 2: "Cease from man whose spirit is in his nostrils." Esther 15: "When the king had lifted up his face, the queen fell down in paleness, her color changed." "Against Sidrach, Misach, & Abdenago," whom before he had held. Concerning Daniel no mention is made, as Jerome [says], because he was with the king, who did not adore the proper statue. Matthew 10: "You shall be hated by all men for my name's sake." "And he commanded that the furnace be heated," which had been prepared in the field. Isaiah 9: "Wickedness is burned like fire." "Sevenfold more than it was accustomed to be heated." For inflamed with seven vices he received sevenfold burning, as if simple fire did not suffice to torment the saints.

Dan 3:20 (The Execution)

And to the strongest men of his army, whom he thought could resist even divine strength, he commanded, namely that with feet bound, "Sidrach, Misach, & Abdenago," lest with loose feet they could leap out of the fire, "they send them into the furnace of burning fire," that both bound with chains & enclosed by the furnace they might not escape the fire. Wisdom 3: "As gold in the furnace He proved them & as a holocaust victim He accepted them."

Dan 3:91 (The Miracle)

The king responded & said... Nebuchadnezzar, namely. "Behold I see four men," when we have placed only three, "loose," when they were bound, "walking," when first they fell into the furnace lying, "in the midst of the fire," where the force of the fire is greater, "& there is no hurt in them," supply: for harm. The Lord fulfilled in them what He said, Matthew 18: "Where there are two or three gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Psalm 90: "I am with him in tribulation." "And the appearance of the fourth appearing," namely with the three, "is like the son of God." Jerome: In which Angels are signified who are called sons of God & sons of gods. Job 1: "When the sons of God came to stand before the Lord." Jerome: This Angel or son of God is estimated to be Christ who descended to the furnace of hell, in which the souls of the saints were held, nor were they burned, that He might liberate them from the infernal regions. Isaiah 9: "Angel of Great Counsel."

Dan 3:93 (The Call)

Then Nebuchadnezzar approached... Here the proof of the deed is touched upon in the calling of the men, consideration, & probation. & this is: "Then Nebuchadnezzar approached," by himself, namely, "to the door of the furnace of burning fire," this is opposite the door. For by himself he wished to exhibit honor. Esther 4: "He is worthy of this honor whomever the king shall wish to honor." "And said: Sidrach, Misach, & Abdenago," he names them with Chaldean names by which they became known to him in the palace. "Servants of the most high God," servants by cult, of the most high by power. Isaiah 2: "He himself was reputed most high." "Come out," because He always flows with life. Acts 17: "In Him we live, move, & are." Psalm 35: "Lord, with You is the fountain of life." "And come to us," namely as friends whom before you endured as enemies. Thus sheep capture wolves. Matthew 10: "Behold I send you in the midst of wolves."

Dan 3:94 (The Inspection)

And immediately... went out Sidrach, Misach, & Abdenago, not resisting, namely for the salvation of enemies. 1 Corinthians 9: "I have become all things to all men, that I might save all." "From the midst of the fire," thoroughly unburnt. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach): "In the midst of fire I was not scorched." And he adds concerning the consideration: "And the satraps, magistrates, & judges, & potentates," supply: others of the king, struck by so great a miracle, "contemplated diligently those men," good men who had even conquered the flame. "Because the fire had no power," so great namely & so valid, "in their bodies," namely for harm. Psalm 28: "The voice of the Lord cutting off the flame of fire." Chrysostom: He cut it off that to the saints it might be light for solace & the ardor might not know how to burn for punishment. "And not a hair of their head was singed." Matthew 10: "The hairs of your head are all numbered." "And their garments," which we said above signify chastity, "were not changed," namely to lust. Psalm 138: "Burn my reins & my heart & see if there is in me the way of iniquity & lead me in the eternal way." "And the ardor of fire had not passed through them." Isaiah 43: "When you shall walk in fire you shall not be burned & the flame shall not burn in you." Literally however the odor of fire is the evaporation of the breath of dryness which did not appear in the boys.

Dan 3:95-96 (The Decree)

And bursting forth, supply: with spirit compelling him. Job 32: "My belly is like must without vent, which bursts new wine skins." Job 4: "Who can hold the conceived word?" Nebuchadnezzar said... & here the proof of the deed & the fruit of the miracle is touched upon. "Blessed be their God," of Sidrach namely, Misach, Abdenago. Tobit 12: "Bless the God of heaven & confess before all the living." "Who sent his Angel." Psalm 90: "He has commanded His Angels concerning you to keep you." "And snatched his servants." Ecclesiasticus 51: "You deliver those who endure You & liberate them from the hand of anguish." "Who believed in him," namely with faith & devotion tending toward Him. John 3: "That everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life." "And changed the king's word," of the earthly king, supply. Ecclesiasticus 48: "In his days he feared not the prince & no one conquered him in power, nor did any word overcome him." "And delivered their bodies," into danger, supply. Matthew 10: "Fear not those who kill the body & are not able to do more." "That they might not serve," by cult, supply, "& might not adore," by veneration, "any god," this is some one of the gods, "except God alone," this is Him who alone is God, so that the exclusive designation makes an exclusion of essence, not of person. Deuteronomy 32: "See that I am alone & there is no other God besides me." Psalm 44: "He is the Lord your God & they shall adore Him."

The Fruit of the Miracle: And he adds the fruit of the miracle both among those present & those absent. Among those present he says: "By me therefore this decree is set forth," this is a decretal mandate "that all be obliged," "that every people," of whatever community, namely, "of whatever tongue," of whatever nations, "and tribe," of whatever generations. Job 3: "Small & great are there & the servant free from his lord." "Whichever shall have spoken blasphemy," namely by exprobation or exposition of false crime. Matthew 12: "The spirit of blasphemy shall not be forgiven neither in this age nor in the future." "Against the God of Sidrach, Misach, & Abdenago," who alone is God. Psalm 80: "There shall be no new God in you nor shall you adore a strange god, for I am the Lord." "Shall perish in body." Leviticus 24: "Bring the blasphemer outside the camp & let all the people stone him." "And his house be laid waste," & namely no relics remain. Psalm 51: "God shall destroy you from your tabernacle & pluck you from the land of the living." And he adds the reason: "For there is no other God," besides Himself, supply, "who can save thus." Jeremiah 14: "The Expectation of Israel, its savior in time of tribulation." Matthew 1: "He shall save His people from their sins."

Dan 3:97 (The Promotion)

Then the king, by himself, supply, which before he had done through Daniel, "promoted," into power, supply, & dignity," "Sidrach, Misach, & Abdenago," whom he had found faithful, "in the province of Babylon," that namely they might be prefects of works & provinces. Matthew 24: "Who do you think is the faithful servant whom the Lord has constituted over his family?"

CONTINUE