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Matthew Henry

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 2:21

And he changeth the times and the season ,.... Not only of day and night, summer and winter, and times and seasons of prosperity and adversity; but all the changes and revolutions in states and kingdoms, in all times and ages, are from him; and particularly those pointed at in the following dream, in the Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman monarchies: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings ; he is King of kings, and Lord of lords; by him they reign, and continue on their thrones, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:21

He changeth the times - Time, duration, succession are his, and under his dominion. It is in the course of his providence that one king is put down, and another raised up; and therefore he can distinctly tell what he has purposed to do in the great empires of the earth. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:21

Verse 21 Daniel explains, in these words, what might have been obscure; for he teaches God to be the true fountain of wisdom and virtue, while he does not confine them to himself alone, but diffuses them through heaven and earth. And we must mark this diligently; for when Paul affirms God alone to be wise, this praise does not seem magnificent enough, (Romans 16:27;) but when we think of God’s wisdom, and set before our eyes all around and about us, then we feel more strongly the import of... 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 2:14-23

A specific remedy for human distress. The immoderate anger of the king had only aggravated his trouble without bringing a remedy. Uncontrollable temper is suicidal, it robbed Nebuchadnezzar of his kingly dignity, of the use of reason, of the power of memory. For the time being he had forgotten that, in all matters of practical wisdom, he had found Daniel to surpass all other state councillors. Now he was on the point of staining his conscience and his throne with wanton cruelty, with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:14-30

The dream found. "Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision." In this section Daniel is the principal actor; and as he moves through the successive scenes of this part of the sacred drama, his character shines like the light, and may illumine for us the path of life. We shall, therefore, keep him prominent throughout. Observe Daniel— I. IN THE SHADE . 1 . The position. Although Daniel had been trained for distinguished services, pronounced by the king to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:19-23

Divine might and Divine wisdom. We have here a model of the highest form of worship—a prayer which is wholly adoration and thanksgiving. The importance of this is emphasized by the circumstances. Daniel's life is threatened; he has just received the Divine assistance by which he can give the king his dream and secure his own escape; yet he stays to utter a full expression of praise for the greatness and goodness of God, with the sentence of death still hanging over him. For the most part, if... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:21

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. In regard to this verse, Theodotion and the Septuagint only differ in this from the Massoretic text, that they omit the repetition of the word "kings." The Peshitta has a different sense in the middle clause. "He maketh (Peshitta, ma'bed ) kings and confirmeth (Peshitta, maqeem ) kings" The Syriac translators have evidently... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:21

And he changeth the times and the seasons - The object of this is to assert the general control of God in reference to all changes which occur. The assertion is made, undoubtedly, in view of the revolutions in empire which Daniel now saw, from the signification of the dream, were to take place under the Divine hand. Foreseeing now these vast changes denoted by different parts of the image Daniel 2:36-45, stretching into far-distant times, Daniel was led to ascribe to God the control over “all”... read more

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