Daniel 2:14-19 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 2:14-23

When the king sent for his wise men to tell them his dream, and the interpretation of it (Dan. 2:2), Daniel, it seems, was not summoned to appear among them; the king, though he was highly pleased with him when he examined him, and thought him ten times wiser than the rest of his wise men, yet forgot him when he had most occasion for him; and no wonder, when all was done in a heat, and nothing with a cool and deliberate thought. But Providence so ordered it; that the magicians being nonplussed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:14

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom ,.... In a discreet manner, using soft words and gentle language, humbly and modestly inquiring what should be the meaning of all this. The Vulgate Latin version is, "he inquired of the law and decree" F9 התיב עטא וטעם "interrogavit de lege et decreto", V. L.; "super consilio", Munster, Calvin; "de eo consilio", Castalio. ; what was the reason of the king's orders, which this officer had in commission to execute; with which others... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:15

And he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain ,.... Or governor F13 שליטא "dominatori", Junius &, Tremellius, Piscator, Broughtonus, ; over the persons before mentioned; either the king's guard or militia, or cooks or executioners: before, the manner in which Daniel answered is observed; here, the matter of it, as follows: why is the decree so hasty from the King ? or, "why this rash", hasty, or cruel (as the Vulgate Latin version) decree from the king? for so it was:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:16

Then Daniel went in ,.... Or "went up" F14 על "ascendit", Gejerus. ; to the king's palace, which might be built on an eminence; or into his chamber, where he probably was; or in some upper room, very likely introduced by Arioch; and which was a bold and daring action in them both: in Arioch, to cease from doing his orders, and entering into the king's presence before he had; and in Daniel, to appear before him, having the name of a wise man, when the king was in such a fury; all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:17

Then Daniel went to his house ,.... Which Sanctius thinks was in the king's palace; very probably it might be near it, somewhere in the city of Babylon; for that it should be twenty miles from that city, as Benjamin of Tudela relates F15 Itinerarium, p. 76. , is not likely; since Arioch's orders reached to none but the wise men of Babylon, and where he sought for and found Daniel; hither he went, to be alone, and to seek the Lord in secret: and made the thing known to Hananiah,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:18

That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret ,.... His view in sending for them, and informing them of this whole affair, was to engage them in prayer to God with him; even to that God that made the heaven, and dwells there, and is above all, and sees and knows what is done in earth, and rules both in heaven and in earth according to his will; to entreat his mercy, whose mercies are manifold, and not plead any merits of their own; and that he would, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:19

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision ,.... That is, after Daniel and his companions had importunately sought the Lord by prayer, the secret of the king's dream, and the interpretation of it, were made known to Daniel, and to him only; he being the person designed in Providence to be raised to great honour and dignity by means of it; this was done either the same night, or the night following, and, as some think, in a dream, and that he dreamed the same dream... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:14

Captain of the king's guard - Chief of the king's executioners or slaughter men. Margin, תבחיא רב rab tabachaiya , chief of the butchers, he that took off the heads of those whom the king ordered to be slain, because they had in any case displeased him. "Go and bring me the head of Giaffer." The honorable butcher went and brought the head in a bag on a dish. It was Herod's chief butcher that brought the head of John the Baptist in a dish to the delicate daughter of Herodias. This was the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:16

That he would give him time - That is, that he might seek unto God for a revelation of the thing. The Chaldeans dared not even to promise this; they would only pledge themselves for the interpretation, provided the king would furnish the dream. Daniel engages both to find the lost dream, and to give the proper interpretation. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:18

That they would desire mercies - For this Daniel had requested a little time; and doubtless both he and his three companions prayed incessantly till God gave the wished for revelation; but whether it was given that same sight, we do not know. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 2:14-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:18

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