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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Daniel 2

Daniel 2:1-49

NEBUCHANDEZZAR'S DREAM-IMAGE Nebuchadnezzar in his second year had a dream, which he required the wise men of his court to describe and interpret on pain of death. They said this was beyond their power, but professed their readiness to explain the dream if the king would tell them its nature. Nebuch... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:1

THE SECOND YEAR] seems inconsistent with the statement in Daniel 1:5, that Daniel and his companions were under training during three years of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. But it appears from the monuments that the Babylonian kings counted the year after their accession as their first year. The 'second'... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:4

IN SYRIACK] RM 'in Aramaic' The Aramaic portion of the book begins with the words 'O king.' The phrase 'in Aramaic' should probably be regarded as a parenthesis indicating that at 'this point a change of language takes place: see Intro.... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:5

THE THING IS GONE] RM 'the word is gone forth.' Nebuchadnezzar had not actually forgotten the dream, but he was resolved to test the wise men's power by insisting that they should describe as well as interpret it: so in Daniel 2:8. MADE A DUNGHILL] cp. Ezra 6:11.... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:16

GIVE HIM TIME] RV 'appoint him a time.' Daniel's request was very different from the temporising of the wise men in Daniel 2:9.... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:30

FOR _their_ SAKES THAT SHALL MAKE KNOWN THE INTERPRETATION] RV 'to the intent that the interpretation may be made known.'... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:38

THOU _art_ THIS (RV 'the') HEAD OF GOLD] The golden head may be identified either with the Babylonian empire which Nebuchadnezzar represented, or with Nebuchadnezzar personally. The latter is the more natural interpretation.... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:39

ANOTHER KINGDOM INFERIOR] either the Median rule of Darius, which the writer of Daniel mistakenly supposed to come before that of Cyrus the Persian (see on Daniel 8:20), or the kingdom of Belshazzar, who is contrasted with Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 5. ANOTHER THIRD KINGDOM] either the Persian empire,... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:41

THE FEET AND TOES] represent Alexander's empire as broken up after his death. MIRY CLAY] RM 'earthenware.' There were elements both of strength and weakness in the rival kingdoms of the Seleucidæ and Ptolemies.... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:43

THEY SHALL MINGLE THEMSELVES WITH THE SEED OF MEN] referring to the royal marriages by which these kingdoms sought to establish alliance: see Daniel 11:6; Daniel 11:17.... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:44

The Messianic kingdom of God will overpower and succeed the kingdoms of Syria and Egypt. AND THE KINGDOM.. OTHER PEOPLE] RV 'nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people.' The Messianic kingdom will be in the hands, not of foreigners, but of the Jews. Both the national limitation and... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:45

THE DREAM _is_ CERTAIN, AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF SURE] Note the absoluteness of the prediction, so unlike the conditional utterances of the prophets in general: see Intro.... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:46

Nebuchadnezzar worshipped Daniel, but it is plain that, though Daniel is not said to have prevented him, the king really meant to give the glory to God.... [ Continue Reading ]

Daniel 2:47

OF A TRUTH, etc.] RV 'of a truth your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings.' On the view that this narrative is literal history it is difficult to account for Nebuchadnezzar's conduct in Daniel 3.... [ Continue Reading ]

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