Midras Daniel 3:33: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition) & Sifrei Devarim

Our Rabbis were taught: At the time Nebuchadnezzar threw Chananya, Mishael and Azaryah into the furnace, the Holy One, praised be He! said unto Ezekiel: "Go and restore the dead in the valley of Dura," and those bones came and slapped Nebuchadnezzar's face. He questioned: "What is the nature of these? And he was told that the colleague of those [whom he had thrown into the kiln] was engaged in restoring the dead in the valley of Dura. He then began to say (Dan. 3, 33) His signs — how great are they! And His wonders — how mighty are they! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His rule is over every generation." R. Isaac said: "May hot-melted gold be poured into the mouth of that wicked, for if an angel had not come and slapped him on his mouth, he would have disgraced all the songs and praises which were uttered by David in the Psalms." Our Rabbis were taught: Six miracles occurred that day: The furnace floated upwards; it broke; its foundation was crumbled [by the heat]; the golden image fell upon its face; four kingdoms [which assisted Nebuchadnezzar] were burned; and Ezekiel restored the dead to life in the valley of Dura. All of them are known by tradition, except concerning the four kingdoms, which is written (Dan. 3, 2) And King Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble (his) lieutenants, the superintendents and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, those learned in the law, and all rulers of the provinces; and it is written (Ib. ib. 27) And the lieutenants, superintendents and governors, and the king's counsellors, being assemlled together, saw these men, etc. [four of the class of persons mentioned in the first passage are missing]. At the college of R. Eliezer b. Jacob it was taught: "Even at the time of danger one shall not change his official dress, as it is said (Ib. ib. 21) Then were these men bound in their mantles, etc." R. Jochanan said: (Fol. 93) "The righteous are even greater than ministering angels, as it is said, He answered and said, Lo, I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and there is no injury on them: and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." [The angels are mentioned last.]

Variantly: "When I call out the name of the L-rd": R. Yossi says: Whence is it derived that when those standing in the synagogue hear (from the prayer leader) "Bless the blessed Yod-keh-vav-keh" that they respond "Blessed is the blessed yod-keh-vav-keh forever"? From "When I call out the name of yod-keh-vav-keh, ascribe greatness to our G-d." Greater is he who answers "Amen" (to a blessing) than the blesser (himself). R. Nehorai said to him: This is the natural order of things: The common soldiers wage the war, and the heroes triumph! And whence is it derived that grace is recited with three? From "When I (1) call out the name of the L-rd, you (2) ascribe greatness to our G-d." And whence is it derived that when the grace leader says "Let us bless," that they respond after him "Blessed is He of whose we have eaten, etc." From "When I call out the name of the L-rd, ascribe greatness to our G-d." And whence is it derived that when one says (in the kaddish) "Let the great name be blessed," the response is "for ever and ever"? From "ascribe greatness to our G-d." And whence is it derived that our fathers went down to Egypt only so that the Holy One Blessed be He do wonders to sanctify His great name in the world? From (Shemoth 2:23-24) "And it was in the course of those many days … and G-d heard their outcry," and "When I call out the name of the L-rd." And whence is it derived that the L-rd brought the ten plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt only because they had not sanctified His great name in the world? For in the beginning it is written (Ibid. 5:2) "Who is the L-rd that I should hearken to His voice?" and in the end, (Ibid. 9:27) "The L-rd is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones." And whence is it derived that the L-rd performed wonders for our fathers at the Red Sea and the Jordan and the streams of Arnon only to sanctify His name in the world? viz. (Joshua 1:5) "And it was, when all the kings of the Emori on the western side of the Jordan, etc." and Rachav said to the messengers of Joshua (Ibid. 2:10) "For we have heard that the L-rd dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you, etc." From "When I call out the name of the L-rd." And whence is it derived that Daniel descended into the lions' den only so that the L-rd do wonders with him to sanctify His name in the world? From "When I call out the name of the L-rd." And it is written (Daniel 6:27) "An order is hereby issued by me that in all the dominion of my kingdom men shall tremble and fear before the G-d of Daniel." And whence is it derived that Chananiah, Mishael and Azaryah descended into the fiery furnace only so that the L-rd do wonders with them to sanctify His great name in the world? From (Ibid. 3:32-33) "It behooves me (Nevuchadnezzar) to relate the signs and wonders that the great G-d has performed for me. How great are His signs and how mighty are His wonders!" And whence is it derived that the ministering angels do not mention His exalted name until Israel mention His name below — "Hear, O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one"? From (Iyyov 38:7) "when there sang together the stars of morning," followed by "and all the sons of G-d shouted." "the stars of morning" — Israel, who are compared to stars, viz. (Bereshith 22:17) "and I shall multiply your seed like the stars of the heaven." "the sons of G-d" — the ministering angels, viz. (Iyyov 1:6) "and the sons of G-d came, etc."