דניאל, פרק ג׳, פסוק י׳

The Chaldean informers approach King Nebuchadnezzar with a calculated agenda, reminding him of the absolute royal decree he recently established regarding his golden idol. They address the king directly, emphasizing that his command was not a passing remark but a substantial, formal law. It represented his reasoned will, made entirely public for all to obey [מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא], establishing a firm rule [רש״י, יוסף אבן יחיא]. The decree dictated that the moment people heard the sound of the royal orchestra, which included horns, flutes, lyres, trigons, harps, bagpipes, and all other types of music, they were obligated to fall to the ground and worship the golden idol [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The punishment for anyone who refused this command was fixed in law: they would be thrown directly into a fiery furnace [יוסף אבן יחיא].

Behind the informers' exact repetition of the long list of musical instruments lies a careful trap. These men specifically want to harm the Israelite nobles and fear that the king might eventually look for a loophole to spare them from the death penalty. They anticipate a potential legal defense: the Jews might argue that the law only required them to bow if every single instrument played simultaneously. In reality, one specific instrument from the list was actually missing during the event. To prevent the Jews from using this absence as an excuse to escape punishment, the informers deliberately emphasize the full list to the king, reminding him that he himself included that specific instrument in his original decree. By doing so, they attempt to close off any possible avenue of rescue, hoping to trap the Jews and ensure their destruction without any way out [אלשיך].