Daniel 2:4-49

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

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 2:24-30

We have here the introduction to Daniel's declaring the dream, and the interpretation of it. I. He immediately bespoke the reversing of the sentence against the wise men of Babylon, Dan. 2:24. He went with all speed to Arioch, to tell him that his commission was now superseded: Destroy not the wise men of Babylon. Though there were those of them perhaps that deserved to die, as magicians, by the law of God, yet here that which they stood condemned for was not a crime worth of death or of... read more

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 2:46-49

One might have expected that when Nebuchadnezzar was contriving to make his own kingdom everlasting he would be enraged at Daniel, who foretold the fall of it and that another kingdom of another nature should be the everlasting kingdom; but, instead of resenting it as an affront, he received it as an oracle, and here we are told what the expressions were of the impressions it made upon him. 1. He was ready to look upon Daniel as a little god. Though he saw him to be a man, yet from this... 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

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