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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 2:31-45

Daniel here gives full satisfaction to Nebuchadnezzar concerning his dream and the interpretation of it. That great prince had been kind to this poor prophet in his maintenance and education; he had been brought up at the king's cost, preferred at court, and the land of his captivity had hereby been made much easier to him than to others of his brethren. And now the king is abundantly repaid for all the expense he had been at upon him; and for receiving this prophet, though not in the name of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:38

And wheresoever the children of men dwell ,.... Not in every part of the habitable world, but in every part of his large dominion inhabited by men: the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven, hath he given into thine hand ; all parks, chases, and forests (so that none might hunt or hawk without his permission), as well as the persons and habitations of men, were at his dispose; showing the despotic power and sovereign sway he had over his subjects: and hath made thee ruler... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:38

Thou art this head of gold - See on Daniel 2:31-34 ; (note), and at the end. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:38

Verse 38 Daniel here declares “ the golden head of the image “ to be the Babylonian kingdom. We know that the Assyrians were subdued before the monarchy was transferred to Babylon; but since they did not prevail sufficiently to be considered as supreme rulers in that eastern territory, the Babylonian empire is here mentioned first. It is also worthwhile to remark, that God was unwilling to refer here to what had already occurred, but he rather proposed that the people should in future depend on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:1-49

EXPOSITION DANIEL FIRST BECOMES DISTINGUISHED . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31-43

The universal world-powers. "Thou, O king, sawest, and behold an image, one and grand" ( Daniel 2:31 ). Seize first the imagery of the dream. 1 . A grand unity loomed before Nebuchadnezzar. "Behold an image, one and grand" (Chaldee, Daniel 2:31 ). Four empires represented, not by four figures, but one. Symbol of human power at its highest, that of universal empire, but separate from God. Same spirit and genius in all four. A common thing to represent empire by the human figure; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31-45

The image and the stone. The king's dream as interpreted by Daniel shadows forth the history of successive monarchies, and the final overthrow of them by a greater unearthly kingdom. On the face of it it teaches the broad lesson that history is made by higher destinies than the will of kings; that it is determined beforehand according to a Divine scheme. The character of the successive monarchies, and the part they take in the general order of events, is expressed by the appearance of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:34-45

The everlasting kingdom. "And the stone that smote the image," etc. ( Daniel 2:35 ). We shall assume, what is certain, that the "stone' is the image of the kingdom of the Son of God. I. ITS CHARACTERISTICS . 1 . The mediatorial action of the Son of God is of the nature of kingly rule. (See and weigh the meaning well of Ephesians 1:22 , Ephesians 1:23 .) 2 . The kingdom was supernatural in its origin. Here may well be discussed the now present doctrine that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:36-43

Human sovereignty. In a proper sense of the words, every dream is prophetic. Else on what ground are we to conclude that the dreams of Joseph, Pharaoh, Abimeloch, Pilate's wife, were prophetic; and others not prophetic? Dreams are revelations of dominant ideas and habitudes of mind: they disclose features of moral character; they are reminders of an unslumbering Judge; they serve in some measure to forecast the future. The powers of heaven and of hell lie close about us in our sleep. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:38

And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and bath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. The Septuagint, if we take along with this verse the final clause of the preceding verse, has even more of that look of exaggeration which we can scarcely fail to be conscious of in the Massoretic, "In all the earth inhabited £ by men, and wild beasts, and birds of the heaven, and fish of the sea,... read more

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