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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 2:1

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar ,.... It was in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign that Daniel was carried captive, Jeremiah 25:1 , three years Daniel had been under tutors; at the end of which he was presented to the king, as is related in the preceding chapter; and yet the following dream was in the second of his reign: this creates a difficulty, which is solved by some thus: in the second year after the destruction of the temple, so the Jewish chronicle F15... read more

John Gill

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

Then the king commanded to call the magicians ,.... He ordered his servants in waiting to send immediately for the wise men, the philosophers of that age and kingdom, that studied the things of nature, and the natural causes of things: and the astrologers ; that cast nativities, and pretended by the position and influence of the stars to know what would befall men: and the sorcerers ; or wizards, that made use of familiar spirits, and the help of the devil; necromancers that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:3

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream ,.... What before is called dreams is here expressed in the singular, a dream; for it was but one dream, though it contained in it various things; this the king could remember, that he had a dream; for it had left some impression on his mind, though he could not call to mind what it was about. Aben Ezra makes mention of one of their Gaons or Rabbins, that affirmed that Nebuchadnezzar knew his dream, but was willing to try the wise men; but,... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:8

The king answered and said, I know of certainty ,.... I see plainly and clearly what you are at, and am fully assured you mean nothing, but that ye would gain the time : or buy F6 די עדנא אנתון זבנין "quod tempus vos emitis", Pagninus, Munster; "ementes", Montanus; "vos tempus redimere", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. , or redeem time, as in Ephesians 5:16 , prolong time, put off the answer to longer time; spin out time, as people do in buying and selling; or have it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:9

But if ye will not make known unto me the dream ,.... For the present he does not insist upon the interpretation, only the dream itself, at least this is now only mentioned; concluding that if they could do the one, they could do the other, as is after observed: there is but one decree for you ; for them all; and that was the decree of death; which should never be revoked or mitigated, or the sentence be changed for another; but should certainly be executed, and in which they were all... read more

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