CHAPTER II _Nebuchadnezzar, in the second year of his reign, (or in the_ _fourth, according to the Jewish account, which takes in the_ _first two years in which he reigned conjointly with his_ _father,) had a dream which greatly troubled him; but of which_ _nothing remained in the morning but t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 2:2. _THE MAGICIANS_] חרטמים _chartummim_. Genesis 41:8. _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 Babylonian... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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_] מלכא לעלמין חיי _Malca leolmin cheyi_. With these words the _Chaldee_ part of Daniel commences; and continues... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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 valuable... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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 gre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _CAPTAIN OF THE KING'S GUARD_] Chief of the _king's_ _executioners_ or _slaughter men_. Margin, רב תבחיא _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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _THAT THEY WOULD DESIRE MERCIES_] For this Daniel had requested a little time; and doubtless both he and his _three_ companions prayed incessantly till God gave the wished for revelation; but whether it was given that _same sight_, we do not know.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _THEN WAS THE SECRET REVEALED - IN A NIGHT VISION._] Daniel either dreamed it, or it was represented to his mind by an immediate inspiration.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _WISDOM AND MIGHT ARE HIS_] He knows all things, and can do all things.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _I THANK THEE AND PRAISE THEE_] No wonder he should feel gratitude, when God by this merciful interference had saved both the life of him and his fellows; and was about to reflect the highest credit on the God of the Jews, and on the people themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _DESTROY NOT THE WISE_ MEN] The decree was suspended till it should be seen whether Daniel could tell the dream, and give its interpretation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _CANNOT THE WISE_ MEN] Cannot your own able men, aided by your gods, tell you the secret? This question was necessary in order that the king might see the foolishness of depending on the one, or worshipping the other. _THE SOOTHSAYERS_] One of our old words: "The tellers of truth:" but גז... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN_] To distinguish him from those idols, the works of men's hands; and from the false gods in which the Chaldeans trusted. _IN THE LATTER DAYS._] A phrase which, in the prophets, generally means the _times of the Messiah_. God is about to show what shall take place... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _A GREAT IMAGE_] Representing the _four great monarchies_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _HEAD_ WAS _OF FINE GOLD_] The _Babylonish empire_, the first and greatest. _BREAST AND HIS ARMS OF SILVER_] The _Medo-Persian empire_, under Cyrus, c. _HIS BELLY AND HIS THIGHS OF BRASS_] The _Macedonian empire_, under Alexander the Great, and his successors.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _HIS LEGS OF IRON_] The _Roman government_. _HIS FEET PART OF IRON AND PART OF CLAY._] The same, mixed with the barbaric nations, and divided into _ten_ kingdoms. See at the end of the chapter. Daniel 2:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _A STONE WAS CUT OUT_] The _fifth_ monarchy; the spiritual kingdom of the Lord Jesus, which is to last for ever, and diffuse itself over the whole earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _THE STONE - BECAME A GREAT MOUNTAIN_] There is the kingdom אבן _eben_, of the _stone_, and the kingdom of the mountain. See at the end at the chapter. Daniel 2:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _THE GOD OF HEAVEN_] Not given by thy own gods, nor acquired by thy own skill and prowess; it is a Divine gift. _POWER_] To rule this kingdom. _AND STRENGTH_] To defend it against all foes. _AND GLORY._] Great honour and dignity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _THOU_ ART _THIS HEAD OF GOLD_] See on Daniel 2:31-27, and at the end. Daniel 2:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 2:44. _A KINGDOM WHICH SHALL NEVER BE DESTROYED_] The extensive and extending empire of Christ. _SHALL NOT BE LEFT TO OTHER PEOPLE_] All the preceding empires have swallowed up each other successively; but this shall remain to the end of the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 2:45. _THE DREAM IS CERTAIN_] It contains a _just_ _representation_ of things as they shall be. _AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF SURE._] The parts of the dream being truly explained.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 2:46. _THE KING - FELL UPON HIS FACE_] Prostrated himself: this was the fullest act of adoration among the ancients. _WORSHIPPED DANIEL_] Supposing him to be a god, or Divine being. No doubt Daniel forbade him; for to receive this would have been gross idolatry.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 2:47. _YOUR GOD_ IS _A GOD OF GODS_] He is greater than all others. _AND A LORD OF KINGS_] He governs both in heaven and earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 2:48. _MADE DANIEL A GREAT MAN_] By, 1. Giving him many rich gifts. 2. By making him _governor_ over the whole province of Babylon. And, 3. By making him the _chief_ or _president_ over all the _wise men_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 2:49. _DANIEL REQUESTED OF THE KING, AND HE SET SHADRACH,_ _Meshach, and Abed-nego over the affairs of the province of_ _Babylon_] He wished his _three_ companions promoted, who had shared his anxieties, and helped him by their prayers. They all had places of trust, in which they could... [ Continue Reading ]