Why did the instructions for the number of instruments to be used in Daniel 3 (worshipping the golden image) change from 6 to 5?
In Daniel there are 6 instruments listed to be played when all must then bow down and kneel to the metal image constructed by Nebuchadnezzar. The instruments are listed 3 times in 3 verses, but in one verse only there are only 5 instruments mentioned / listed. This is when the 3 Hebrews did not kneel and were brought to the king to understand why they refused. Question: what is the significance of recording / listing only 5 of the 6 instruments. God does not do random, or makes mistakes. He has a specific purpose for every word - jot and tittle in the Scriptures. I would enjoy reading anyone's thinking on this....... thank you, Charlie.
Daniel 3:1 - 30
ESV - 1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
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Asked June 16 2020
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Charles K.
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Tim Maas
In reviewing the cited passage, I found at least one translation (the New American Standard Bible) that lists six instruments in each of verses 5, 7, and 10, with all of those instruments being the same in each verse (horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe). So, apparently, reconciliation of the noted discrepancy is possible. Even in the case of a text that was inspired in the original language in which it was written, a possible source of any variations could be subsequent translations of that passage into other languages (such as the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew text into Greek), especially if those translations occur over a period of thousands of years. To me, any such variances do not cast doubt on the inspiration and inerrancy of the original wording, but can be accurately rectified or understood through study and comparison.
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