Daniel 2:2

the magicians, and the enchanters] See on Daniel 1:20. As in Egypt (Genesis 41:8), the -magicians" and -wise men" (Daniel 2:12) would be the natural persons for the king to consult on the interpretation of a dream.

and the sorcerers This is a word which is well known in the earlier literature: e.g. Exodus 7:11; Exodus 22:18 (in the fem.); Deuteronomy 18:10; cf. the subst. sorceriesMicah 5:11, and (in Babylon) Isaiah 47:9; Isaiah 47:12.

Chaldeans Here, as in Daniel 1:4, used in the sense of the priestly or learned class (see p. 12 ff). So Daniel 2:4; Daniel 2:10.

for to shew for to tell (R.V.). To -shew" is used often in A.V., and sometimes in R.V., not in the modern sense of pointing out, but in that of tellingor declaring; and it stands here for the Heb. word usually rendered tellor declare. So Genesis 46:31 (R.V. tell); Jdg 13:10; 1 Samuel 11:9 (R.V. told), 1Sa 19:7, 1 Samuel 25:8 (R.V. told); 2 Kings 6:11; Isaiah 41:22; Isaiah 41:26 (R.V. declare), &c.; cf. the Parallel Psalter, p. 481.

3 was disturbed] or is disturbed. It is not perfectly clear whether the intention of the writer is to represent the king as having really forgotten the dream and desiring to have it recalled to him; or as still remembering it, and merely making this demand for the purpose of testing the magicians" skill.