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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 2:1-13

We meet with a great difficulty in the date of this story; it is said to be in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 2:1. Now Daniel was carried to Babylon in his first year, and, it should seem, he was three years under tutors and governors before he was presented to the king, Dan. 1:5. How then could this happen in the second year? Perhaps, though three years were appointed for the education of other children, yet Daniel was so forward that he was taken into business when he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:4

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in, Syriac ,.... These spake, either because the interpretation of dreams particularly belonged to them; or else as being the chief of the wise men, and of greatest authority; or as chosen by the rest, and spake in their name; and indeed this appellation may include them all, being all of the same country, though they might differ in their profession: they spake in the Syriac or Babylonish language, the same with the Chaldee, being their mother tongue,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:5

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans ,.... In the same language they spoke to him: the thing is gone from me ; either the dream was gone from him; it was out of his mind, he had forgot it, and could not call it to remembrance; he had been dreaming of monarchies and kingdoms, which are themselves but dreams and tales, and empty things that pass away, and which he might have learned from hence: or, as it may be rendered, "the word is confirmed by me" F26 מלתא מני אזדא ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:6

But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof ,.... Which he was extremely intent upon to know; and therefore makes use of every way to obtain it, first by threatenings, to terrify, and next by promises, to allure: ye shall receive of me gifts, and rewards, and great honour ; gold, silver, jewels, rich apparel, houses, lands, and great promotion to some of the highest places of honour, trust, and profit, in the kingdom, as Daniel afterwards had: therefore show me the dream,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:7

They answered again, and said ,.... Or, a "second" F5 תנינות δευτερον , Sept.; "secundo", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ar. time; repeating the same words, having nothing more to say: let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation thereof ; the first part was but right and reasonable, though the latter was mere boasting and arrogancy. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:4

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriac - ארמית aramith , the language of Aram or Syria. What has been generally called the Chaldee. O king, live for ever - חיי לעלמין מלכא Malca leolmin cheyi . With these words the Chaldee part of Daniel commences; and continues to the end of the seventh chapter. These kinds of compliments are still in use in the East Indies. A superior gives a blessing to an inferior by saying to him, when the latter is in the act of doing him reverence,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:5

Ye shall be cut in pieces - This was arbitrary and tyrannical in the extreme; but, in the order of God's providence, it was overruled to serve the most important purpose. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:5

Verse 5 Here the king requires from the Chaldeans more than they professed to afford him; for although their boasting, as we have said, was foolish in promising to interpret any dream, yet they never claimed the power of narrating to any one his dreams. The king, therefore, seems to me to act unjustly in not regarding what they had hitherto professed, and the limits of their art and science, if indeed they had any science! When he says — the matter or speech had departed from him, the words... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:6

Verse 6 Here the king, on the other hand, desires to entice them by the hope of gain, to apply themselves to narrate his dream. He had already attempted to strike them with horror, that even if they are unwilling he may wrest the narration of the dream from them, as well as its interpretation. Meanwhile, if they could be induced by flattery, he tries this argument upon them; for he promises a gift, and reward, and honor, that is, he promises a large remuneration if they narrated his dream, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:7

Verse 7 Here the excuse of the Magi is narrated. They state the truth that their art only enabled them to discover the interpretation of a dream; but the king wished to know the dream itself. Whence he appears again to have been seized with prodigious fury and became quite implacable. Kings sometimes grow warm, but are appeased by a single admonition, and hence this sentiment is very true, — anger is assuaged by mild language. But since the fair reply of the Magi did not mitigate the king’s... read more

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