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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 2:1

The second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar - That is, the second year of his reigning alone, for he was king two years before his father's death. See the notes on Daniel 1:1 ; (note). This was therefore the fifth year of his reign, and the fourth of the captivity of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams wherewith his spirit was troubled - The dream had made a deep and solemn impression upon his mind; and, having forgotten all but general circumstances, his mind was distressed. read more

Adam Clarke

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

The magicians - חרטמים chartummim . See the note on Genesis 41:8 ; (note). The astrologers - אשפים ashshaphim . Perhaps from נשף nashaph , to breathe, because they laid claim to Divine inspiration; but probably the persons in question were the philosophers and astronomers among the Babylonians. The sorcerers - מכשפים mechashshephim . See the note on Deuteronomy 18:10 , and on Exodus 22:18 ; (note), and Leviticus 19:31 ; (note), where several of these arts are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:4

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriac - ארמית aramith , the language of Aram or Syria. What has been generally called the Chaldee. O king, live for ever - חיי לעלמין מלכא Malca leolmin cheyi . With these words the Chaldee part of Daniel commences; and continues to the end of the seventh chapter. These kinds of compliments are still in use in the East Indies. A superior gives a blessing to an inferior by saying to him, when the latter is in the act of doing him reverence,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:5

Ye shall be cut in pieces - This was arbitrary and tyrannical in the extreme; but, in the order of God's providence, it was overruled to serve the most important purpose. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:8

That ye would gain the time - The king means either that they wished to prolong the time that he might recollect it, or get indifferent about it; or that they might invent something in the place of it; or make their escape to save their lives, after having packed up their valuables. See Daniel 2:9 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:10

There is not a man upon the earth - The thing is utterly impossible to man. This was their decision: and when Daniel gave the dream, with its interpretation, they knew that the spirit of the holy gods was in him. So, even according to their own theology, he was immeasurably greater than the wisest in Babylon or in the world. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:13

They sought Daniel and his fellows - As the decree stated that all the wise men of Babylon should be slain, the four young Hebrews, being reputed among the wisest, were considered as sentenced to death also. 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

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