Section I. - Authenticity of the Chapter The objections to the authenticity and credibility of this chapter are not numerous or important. I. The first that is alleged, by Bertholdt (Com. pp. 192, 193), is substantially this: “that if the account here is true, the records of ancient times could not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE REIGN OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR - There is an apparent chronological difficulty in this statement which has given some perplexity to expositors. It arises mainly from two sources. (1) That in Jeremiah 25:1, it is said that the first year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar correspo... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE KING COMMANDED - That is, when he awoke. The particle rendered “then,” does not imply that this occurred immediately. When he awoke, his mind was agitated; he was impressed with the belief that he had had an important Divine communication; but he could not even recal the dream distinctly, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING SAID UNTO THEM, I HAVE DREAMED A DREAM, AND MY SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED TO KNOW THE DREAM - That is, clearly, to know all about it; to recollect distinctly what it was, and to understand what it meant. He was agitated by so remarkable a dream; he probably had, as Jerome remarks, a shadowy an... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SPAKE THE CHALDEANS TO THE KING - The meaning is, either that the Chaldeans spoke in the name of the entire company of the soothsayers and magicians (see the notes, Daniel 1:20; Daniel 2:2), because they were the most prominent among them, or the name is used to denote the collective body of so... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING ANSWERED AND SAID TO THE CHALDEANS, THE THING IS GONE FROM ME - The Vulgate renders this, “Sermo recessit a me” - “The word is departed from me.” So the Greek, Ὁ λόγος ἀπ ̓ ἐμοῦ ἀπέστη _Ho_ _logos_ _ap'_ _emou_ _apestē_. Luther, “Es ist mir entfallen” - “It has fallen away from me,”... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE SHOW THE DREAM - If you show what the dream was. AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF - What it signifies. That is, they were so to state the dream that Nebuchadnezzar would recognize it; and they were to give such an explanation of it as would commend itself to his mind as the true one. On this... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ANSWERED AGAIN, AND SAID, LET THE KING TELL HIS SERVANTS THE DREAM, AND WE WILL SHOW THE INTERPRETATION OF IT - Certainly not an unreasonable request, in any circumstances, and especially in theirs. They did not profess, evidently, to be able to recal a dream that was forgotten, but the extent... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING ANSWERED AND SAID, I KNOW OF CERTAINTY THAT YE WOULD GAIN THE TIME - Margin, “buy.” The Chaldee word זבנין _zâb__e__nı̂yn_ (from זבן _z__e__ban_) means, to get for oneself, buy, gain, procure. Greek, ἐξαγοράζετε _exagorazete_ - “that ye redeem time;” and so the Vulgate - _quod tempus red... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE WILL NOT MAKE KNOWN UNTO ME THE DREAM, THERE IS BUT ONE DECREE FOR YOU - That is, you shall share the same fate. You shall all be cut to pieces, and your houses reduced to ruin, Daniel 2:5. There shall be no favor shown to any class of you, or to any individual among you. It seems to have... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHALDEANS ANSWERED BEFORE THE KING, AND SAID - Perhaps the “Chaldeans” answered because they were the highest in favor, and were those in whom most confidence was usually reposed in such matters. See the notes at Daniel 2:2. On such an occasion, those would be likely to be put forward to announc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT IS A RARE THING THAT THE KING REQUIRETH - Chaldee, יקירה _yaqqı̂yrâh_ - meaning, “choice, valuable, costly;” then, “heavy, hard, difficult.” Greek, βαρύς _barus_. Vulgate, “gravis - heavy, weighty.” The idea is not so much that the thing demanded by the king was “uncommon” or “rarely made”... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CAUSE THE KING WAS ANGRY - Because they failed in explaining the subject which had been referred to them. It is true that his anger was unjust, for their profession did not imply that they would undertake to explain what he demanded, but his wrath was not unnatural. His mind was alarmed, an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DECREE WENT FORTH THAT THE WISE MEN SHOULD BE SLAIN - The original here will bear a somewhat different translation, meaning, “the decree went forth, “and” the wise men were slain;” that is, the execution of the sentence was actually commenced. So the Vulgate: _Et egressa sententia, sapientes... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DANIEL ANSWERED - Margin, “returned.” The original literally is, “returned counsel and wisdom,” meaning, that he returned an answer which was replete with wisdom. It would seem probable that Arioch had communicated to Daniel the decree of the king, and had stated to him that he was involved in... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ANSWERED AND SAID TO ARIOCH THE KING’S CAPTAIN - The word “captain” - a different word from what occurs in Daniel 2:14, שׁליטא _shallı̂yṭa'_ - denotes one who has rule or dominion; one who is powerful or mighty; and it would be applied only to one who sustained a post of honor and responsibility... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DANIEL WENT IN ... - Either by himself, or through the medium of some friend. Perhaps all that is meant is not that he actually went into the presence of the monarch, but that he went into the palace, and through the interposition of some high officer of court who had access to the sovereign, d... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DANIEL WENT TO HIS HOUSE - It is quite evident that he had obtained the object of his request, though this is not expressly mentioned. The king was undoubtedly, for the reasons above stated, willing that he should have a fair opportunity to try his skill in disclosing the mysterious secret. AN... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY WOULD DESIRE MERCIES OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN CONCERNING THIS SECRET - That they would implore of God that he would show his mercy to them in revealing this secret, that their lives might be spared. In the margin, as in the Chaldee, this is “from before the God of heaven.” All depended now on... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WAS THE SECRET REVEALED ... - To wit, the dream and the interpretation. The thing which had been “hidden” was disclosed. We may suppose that this occurred after a suitable time had been given to prayer. IN A NIGHT VISION - A representation made to him at night, but whether when he was asleep o... [ Continue Reading ]
DANIEL ANSWERED AND SAID - The word “answer,” in the Scriptures, often occurs substantially in the sense of “speak” or “say.” It does not always denote a reply to something that has been said by another, as it does with us, but is often used when a speech is commenced, as if one were replying to som... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
HE REVEALETH THE DEEP AND SECRET THINGS - Things which are too profound for man to fathom by his own power, and which are concealed or hidden until he makes them known. What is said here is an advance on what was affirmed in the previous verse, and relates to another kind of knowledge. “That” relate... [ Continue Reading ]
I THANK THEE, AND PRAISE THEE, O THOU GOD OF MY FATHERS - By his “fathers” here, Daniel refers doubtless to the Jewish people in general, and not to his own particular ancestors. The meaning of the phrase “God of my fathers” is, that he had been their protector; had regarded them as his people; had... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE DANIEL WENT IN, UNTO ARIOCH - In view of the fact that the matter was now disclosed to him, he proposed to lay it before the king. This of course, he did not do directly, but through Arioch, who was entrusted with the execution of the decree to slay the wise men of Babylon. That officer wo... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ARIOCH BROUGHT IN DANIEL BEFORE THE KING IN HASTE - The Chaldee word used here implies “in tumultuous haste,” as of one who was violently excited, or in a state of trepidation, from בהל _bâhal_ - “to tremble, to be in trepidation.” The trepidation in this case may have arisen from one or both... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING ANSWERED, AND SAID TO DANIEL, WHOSE NAME WAS BELTESHAZZAR - See the notes at Daniel 1:7. The “king” may have addressed him by this name, and probably did during this interview. This was the name, it would seem, by which he was known in Babylon - a name which implied honor and respectability... [ Continue Reading ]
DANIEL ANSWERED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING, AND SAID, THE SECRET WHICH THE KING HATH DEMANDED, CANNOT THE WISE MEN ... SHOW UNTO THE KING - Daniel regarded it as a settled and indisputable point that the solution could not be hoped for from the Chaldean sages. The highest talent which the realm cou... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN THAT REVEALETH SECRETS - One of the principal objects contemplated in all that occurred respecting this dream and its interpretation was, to direct the mind of the monarch to the true God, and to secure the acknowledgment of his supremacy. Hence, it was so ordered that t... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR THEE, O KING, THY THOUGHTS CAME INTO THY MIND UPON THY BED - Margin, “up;” that is, thy thoughts ascended. The Chaldee is, “thy thoughts ascended” - סלקוּ _selı̂qû_. So the Greek: “Thy thoughts ascended (ἀνέβησαν _anebēsan_) upon thy couch.” There is, evidently, some allusion to the thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR ME - So far as I am concerned in this matter, or whatever skill or wisdom I may evince in the interpretation, it is not to be traced to myself. The previous verse commences with the expression “as for thee;” and in this verse, by the phrase “as for me,” Daniel puts himself in strong contr... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU, O KING, SAWEST - Margin, “wast seeing.” The margin is in accordance with the Chaldee. The language is properly what denotes a prolonged or attentive observation. He was in an attitude favorable to vision, or was looking with intensity, and there appeared before him this remarkable image. Compa... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IMAGE’S HEAD WAS OF FINE GOLD - Chaldee, “good gold” - טב דהב _d__e__hab_ _ṭâb_ - that is, fine, pure, unalloyed. The whole head of the figure, colossal as it was, appeared to be composed wholly of this. Had the “whole” image been made of gold, it would not have been so striking - for it was... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS LEGS OF IRON - The portion of the lower limbs from the knees to the ankles. This is undoubtedly the usual meaning of the English word “legs,” and it as clearly appears to be the sense of the original word here. Iron was regarded as inferior to either of the other metals specified, and yet was we... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SAWEST - Chaldee, “Thou wast seeing;” that is, thou didst continue to behold, implying that the vision was of somewhat long continuance. It did not appear and then suddenly vanish, but it remained so long that he had an opportunity of careful observation. TILL THAT A STONE WAS CUT OUT WITHOUT H... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WAS THE IRON, THE CLAY, THE BRASS, THE SILVER, AND THE GOLD BROKEN TO PIECES TOGETHER, AND BECAME LIKE THE CHAFF OF THE SUMMER THRESHING-FLOOR - The word rendered “together” (כצרה _kachădâh_) our translators would seem to have understood as referring to “time;” to its being done simultaneousl... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE DREAM; AND WE WILL TELL THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF BEFORE THE KING - Daniel here speaks in his own name, and in the name of his companions. Hence, he says, “we will tell the interpretation.” It was in answer to their united supplications Daniel 2:18, that this meaning of the vision had b... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU, O KING, ART A KING OF KINGS - The phrase “king of kings” is a Hebraism, to denote a supreme monarch, or one who has other kings under him as tributary, Ezra 7:12; Ezekiel 26:7. As such it is applied by way of eminence to the Son of God, in Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16. As here used, it m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHERESOEVER THE CHILDREN OF MEN DWELL, THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD, AND THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVENS, HATH HE GIVEN INTO THY HAND - This is evidently general language, and is not to be pressed literally. It is designed to say that he ruled over the whole world; that is, the world as then known. This is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THEE - This must mean “subsequently” to the reign, but it does not mean that the kingdom here referred to would “immediately” succeed his own reign, for that would not be true. The Medo-Persian empire did not come into the ascendency until many years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar. This... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOURTH KINGDOM - Represented in the image by the legs of iron, and the feet “part of iron, and part of clay,” Daniel 2:33. The first question which arises here is, what kingdom is referred to by this? In regard to this, there have been two leading opinions: one, that it refers to the Roman e... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEREAS THOU SAWEST THE FEET AND TOES, PART OF POTTERS’ CLAY AND PART OF IRON - Daniel 2:33. The Chaldee is, “of them clay of the potter, and of them iron;” that is, part was composed of one material and part of the other. The sense is, not that the feet were composed entirely of one, and the to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS THE TOES OF THE FEET WERE PART OF IRON AND PART OF CLAY, SO THE KINGDOM SHALL BE PARTLY STRONG, AND PARTLY BROKEN - Margin, “brittle.” The margin is the more correct rendering of the Chaldee word (תבירה _t__e__bı̂yrâh_). It means “frail, fragile” - easily broken, but not necessarily that it... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEREAS THOU SAWEST IRON MIXED WITH MIRY CLAY, THEY SHALL MINGLE THEMSELVES WITH THE SEED OF MEN - Various explanations have been given of this verse, and it certainly is not of easy interpretation. The phrase “seed of men,” would properly denote something different from the original stock that... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS - Margin, “their.” The reading in the text “these kings” - is the more correct. The Vulgate renders this, “in the days of these kingdoms.” The natural and obvious sense of the passage is, that during the continuance of the kingdoms above-mentioned, or before they shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH AS THOU SAWEST THAT THE STONE ... - On the meaning of the language employed here, see the notes at Daniel 2:34. The word “forasmuch” may be taken either in connection with what precedes, or with what follows. In the former method, there should be a period at the word “gold” in this verse;... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR FELL UPON HIS FACE - This was the common method of signifying profound respect among the Orientals. Compare Genesis 17:3; Genesis 50:18; Leviticus 9:24; Numbers 14:5; Joshua 5:14; Judges 13:20; Revelation 11:16. AND WORSHIPPED DANIEL - The word rendered “worshipped” here... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING ANSWERED UNTO DANIEL - Answered either what he had said in the interpretation of the dream, or “possibly” something that he had said in regard to the impropriety of offering this homage to him. Compare the notes at Daniel 2:46. It is certain that, for some cause. whatever might have been th... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE THE KING MADE DANIEL A GREAT MAN - That is, he gave him an honorable appointment; he so honored him that he was regarded as a great man. He was really made great by the grace of God, and the extraordinary favor which God had bestowed upon him, but the estimate which the king had of his greatne... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DANIEL REQUESTED OF THE KING ... - In his own remarkable prosperity, and in the extraordinary honors conferred on him, he did not forget the companions of his humbler days. They were his countrymen; they had been captives with him; they had been selected with a view to stand with him before the... [ Continue Reading ]