And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Ver. 1. _And in the second year._] Of Daniel's advancement. Dan 1:19-20 Or, as Josephus hath it, _post annum secundum Aegyptiacae vastitatis,_ in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king._ Ver. 2. _Then the king commanded to call the magicians._] These had Ham for their founder, saith Pintus; but who can t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Ver. 3. _I have dreamed a dream._] His thoughts had been occupied belike about the issue of his kingdoms, and thereupon he had a divine vision. He that is moderately careful about the affairs of his l... [ Continue Reading ]
Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. Ver. 4. _Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriac,_] _i.e., _ In Chaldee, whence there is here no Chaldee paraphrase; or else, if the Syriac were then a di... [ Continue Reading ]
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. Ver. 5. _The thing is gone from me._] He had dreamed of monarchies, and now forg... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. Ver. 6. _He shall receive of me gifts and reward._] This was what they gaped after, but missed, and therefore out of envy... [ Continue Reading ]
They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. Ver. 7. _They answered again and said, Let the king, &c._] Thus these proud boasters vaunt of a false gift, and become like "clouds without rain," as Solomon hath it. Pro 25:14 See Dan... [ Continue Reading ]
The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. Ver. 8. _I know of certainty._] There is no halting before a cripple. Politicians can sound the depth of one another. Dan 11:27 _ That ye would gain the time._] Chald., Buy or red... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, [there is but] one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. Ver. 9. _There is but one decr... [ Continue Reading ]
The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [that] asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. Ver. 10. _There is not a man upon earth._] Yes, there is. But thi... [ Continue Reading ]
And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. Ver. 11. _And it is a rare thing._] Exceeding man's wit. _ Except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh._] They cohabit not with men, t... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon. Ver. 12. _For this cause the king was angry and very furious._] A cutting answer may mar a good cause. Pro 15:1 See on Daniel 2:9 . _ And commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon._]... [ Continue Reading ]
And the decree went forth that the wise [men] should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Ver. 13. _And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain._] And the wise men were slain, saith the Vulgate; some of them likely were cut off. The end of worldly wisdom is... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise [men] of Babylon: Ver. 14. _Then Daniel answered with counsel._] _Retulit consilium et causum; _ _a_ he conferred with Arioch the chief slaughterman, giving him good reasons... [ Continue Reading ]
He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why [is] the decree [so] hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Ver. 15. _Why is the decree so hasty from the king?_] Daniel, though now in danger of his life, forgetteth not his old freedom of speech; and God so wrought,... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Ver. 16. Then Daniel … desired the king to give him time.] Not to study or deliberate, but to pray with fervency and perseverance, which is the best help to find out secrets... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: Ver. 17. _Then Daniel went to his house._] A house then he had, though he had lost house and home for God, and thither he repaireth, as to his oratory, well perfumed with prayers. _ And made... [ Continue Reading ]
That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon. Ver. 18. _That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven._] All God's children can pray. Son 5:8 Those daughters of Jerusalem, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Ver. 19. _Then was the secret revealed._] Oh the power of joint prayer! It seldom or never miscarrieth. While the apostles were praying together, the house where they prayed shook; Act 4:31 to show th... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: Ver. 20. _Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God._] They who are slight in praying are usually as slight in praising; Job 35:13 Dan 2:10-12 but Daniel was serious and zealous in both.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: Ver. 21. _He changeth the times and the seasons, &c._] And so showeth that strength is his, such as is irresistible. _ He removeth king... [ Continue Reading ]
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. Ver. 22. _He revealeth the deep and secret things._] Daniel hath never done, but is incessant and unsatisfiable in praising God; and although there was haste of answering the king's expec... [ Continue Reading ]
I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast [now] made known unto us the king's matter. Ver. 23. _I thank thee, and praise thee._] A gracious man is a grateful man; there is the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise [men] of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise [men] of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. Ver. 24. _Destroy not the wise men of Babylon.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. Ver. 25. _I have found a man._] _Aulici aliorum sibi usurpant inventa._ Of the captives of Judah.] His worth deserved... [ Continue Reading ]
The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? Ver. 26. The king answered and said to Daniel, _a_ whose name was Belteshazzar.] So the king and courtiers had called him; but he too... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; Ver. 27. The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men … show unto thee.] And therefore thou hast... [ Continue Reading ]
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; Ver. 28. _But there is a God in heaven._] The saints are ever tender of God's glory. Ezr 8:22 Let these... [ Continue Reading ]
As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came [into thy mind] upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. Ver. 29. _Thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed._] Kingdoms have their cares, crowns are stuffed with thorns. T... [ Continue Reading ]
But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for [any] wisdom that I have more than any living, but for [their] sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. Ver. 30. _But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me, &c._] So... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness [was] excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof [was] terrible. Ver. 31. _Thou, O king, sawest,_] _sc., _ By the force of thy fancy; for in sleep the reasonable soul cometh into the shop of fantasy, and ther... [ Continue Reading ]
This image's head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, Ver. 32. The image's head was of fine gold.] This is the first, and till now, altogether unheard of prophecy concerning the four monarchies of the world. _Res plane digna quae memoriae tota c... [ Continue Reading ]
His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Ver. 33. _Part of clay._] The best things of the world stand in an earthly foundation _a_ Isa 40:6 _ a_ Mr Huet.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Ver. 34. _Which smote the image upon his feet, &c._] All the powers of the world are but a knock, soon gone. Psa 2:9... [ 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 threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole ear... [ Continue Reading ]
This [is] the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Ver. 36. _This is the dream._] By this time Nebuchadnezzar began much to admire Daniel, who modestly taketh in his associates, as Paul also doth Sylvanus and Timothy, when he saith, "And we will tell the interpretatio... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. Ver. 37. _Thou, O king, art a king of kings._] And yet the whole Babylonian empire was but as a crust cast by God, the great housekeeper of the world, to his dogs, as Luther somewhe... [ Continue Reading ]
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou [art] this head of gold. Ver. 38. _Thou art this head of gold._] A "head" the Babylonian monarchy is called, because it was the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth._ Ver. 39. _And after thee shall arise another kingdom,_] _a_ viz., That of the Persians, fitly set forth by silver, for their exceeding great wealth mentioned... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all [things]: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise._ Ver. 40. _And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron,_] _i.e., _ The Roman kingdom, fitly compared to iron... [ Continue Reading ]
_And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay._ Ver. 41. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay... [ 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. Ver. 42. _So the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken._] Or, Brittle. This we see daily fulfilled in the tottering kingdoms both of that of the Turk (which l... [ Continue Reading ]
_And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay._ Ver. 43. _They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men,_] _i.e., _ Endeavour by interchangeable marriages to re... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Ver. 44. _And in the days of these kings,_] _i.e.,... [ Continue Reading ]
Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream [is] certain, and the interpretation ther... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him._ Ver. 46. _Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face._] Out of admiration, and an opinion of some divinity in Daniel. See the like, Acts 14:11;... [ Continue Reading ]
The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth [it is], that your God [is] a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Ver. 47. _The king answered unto Daniel._] Who dissuaded him, with all his might, from doing on that sort, and incu... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise [men] of Babylon. Ver. 48. _Then the king made Daniel a great man._] This was, saith Broughton, about two years before the captiv... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel [sat] in the gate of the king. Ver. 49. _Then Daniel requested of the king._] Acquainting him likely that by their prayers also in part the secret had been brought... [ Continue Reading ]