Our rabbis taught: Six miracles occurred on that day [the day on which Nebuchadnezzar threw the friends of Daniel into the furnace]. These are: the furnace raised itself [for it was sunk in the ground, like a lime-kiln; on that day it raised itself to the surface of the ground, so that all could see the miracle]; the furnace was rent in two [a part of its walls was riven so that all could look in]; <H>humak suro (He Vav Mem Qof, Samech Vav Resh Vav)</H> [its height was lowered, as in the phrase <H>suro ka (Samech Vav Resh Vav, Resh Ayin)</H> (<I>Kiddushin</I> 82a); another reading <H>humak duso (He Vav Mem Qof, Dalet Vav Samech Vav)</H> like <H>yesodo (Yod Samech Vav Dalet Vav)</H> its base was thrown. This is the explanation taught me by R. Jacob ben Yakar; but my master[118] reads <H> (He Vav Samech Qof, Samech Yod Dalet, Vav)</H>: the lime of the furnace melted as a result of the great heat. Such are the explanations of my masters. It was from the heat thrown out by the lime that those men were consumed who cast Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah into the burning fiery furnace and that the golden image of the king was transformed before his eyes]; the image of the king was transformed before his eyes; the four empires were consumed by the flames [the kings and their subjects, who aided Nebuchadnezzar in casting Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah into the fire]; finally, Ezekiel brought the dead to life in the plain of Dura.[119] What has been said up to this point indicates the position taken by Rashi with regard to the Halakah. Unlike Maimonides in his commentary of the Mishnah, he did not as a rule concern himself with the fixation of legal principles and practice, or with the definite solution of questions under controversy. He confined himself to his task of commentator and interpreter. The brevity he imposed upon himself made it an obligation not to enter into long and detailed discussions; for he would have had to dispose of varying opinions and justify his choice. He carried his principle to such an extent that it could be said of him, "Rashi is a commentator, he does not make decisions."[120]