Political numerology
Jim Jordan points out that Daniel 3 lists seven ranks of Nebuchadnezzar’s officers, and also seven kinds of musical instruments. The numerical link perhaps points to a connection of musical and political performance, musical and political “orchestration.”
Further, the word for “mighty man” (the Aramaic equivalent of gibbor ) is used twelve times (suppressed in most English translations, but found in veres 8, 12 [2x], 13, 20 [2x], 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27). And the story, of course, shows that the true mighty men are the Jewish ones, the mighty men who come from the twelve tribes.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
In Medias Res
Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.