Daniel 2:2 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 2:2

Daniel 2:2. Then the king commanded to call the magicians and the astrologers Concerning the meaning of these two words, see note on Daniel 1:20. Daniel and his companions were not called among them; perhaps because the Chaldeans despised them as youths and strangers, and would not have them thought equal in knowledge to themselves. And the sorcerers This word is always taken in an ill sense by the sacred writers, signifying a sort of necromancers, that through diabolical arts pretended... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:1-23

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (2:1-23)Soon after completing their early training, Daniel and his friends were faced with a severe test. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and wanted his wise men to tell him its meaning. However, he would not, or could not, tell them the dream. He insisted that they first describe the dream to him accurately, and then he could be sure that their interpretation also was accurate (2:1-6). The wise men replied that the king’s demand was unreasonable. No person anywhere had such... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 2:2

to call, &c . = to send for. This tells us of the religious system of Babylonia, of which subsequent Jewish commentators and Greek translators would know little or nothing. There were six classes of the Chaldean priesthood. magicians . Hebrew. chartummim. Connected with the kharutu (the sceptre) or rod of office of those who repelled demons and evil spirits by incantations, &c. astrologers . Hebrew. 'ashshaphim = in Babylonian, asipi, prophets who assumed to announce the will of... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Daniel 2:2

"Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live forever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Daniel 2:2

Daniel 2:2. His dreams: so they came— His dream: wherefore they came. Daniel 2:3. Was troubled] Is distressed. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:2

2. Chaldeans—here, a certain order of priest-magicians, who wore a peculiar dress, like that seen on the gods and deified men in the Assyrian sculptures. Probably they belonged exclusively to the Chaldeans, the original tribe of the Babylonian nation, just as the Magians were properly Medes. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 2:1-3

1. The king’s dream 2:1-3 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 2:2-3

Nebuchadnezzar assembled his wise men (Daniel 2:12) to interpret the meaning of what he had dreamed. Daniel identified four distinct groups of them here. The king wanted to make sure someone could help him. The magicians (Heb. hartummim) were evidently scholars who could divine the future by using various means. [Note: Leupold, p. 75.] The conjurers or enchanters (assapim) could evidently communicate with the dead. [Note: Ibid., p. 76.] The sorcerers (mekassepim) practiced sorcery and cast... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:1-49

Nebuchandezzar’s Dream-ImageNebuchadnezzar in his second year had a dream, which he required the wise men of his court to describe and interpret on pain of death. They said this was beyond their power, but professed their readiness to explain the dream if the king would tell them its nature. Nebuchadnezzar persisted in his first demand, and as the wise men could not satisfy him he gave orders that they should be slain (Daniel 2:1-13). Daniel, however, interposed and asked that the execution of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Daniel 2:2

(2) Magicians.—Heb. chartummim, so called, most probably, from the pencil or stylus with which they wrote. The word is elsewhere used of the Egyptian magicians. (See Schrader, Keil-Inschriften, p. 26; Records of the Past, vol. 1 p. 131.)Astrologers.—Heb. ashshaphim, a name derived from the whisperings or mutterings made by them while employed in their incantations. They are mentioned by Daniel only.Sorcerers.—Heb. mekashshaphim; are spoken of in the Pentateuch both as male and female, (e.g.... read more