Daniel 2

—O king, live for ever] Or, “Long live the king.” An usual mode of addressing the monarch. When he in his turn addressed the people, it was in the form, “Peace be multiplied unto you:” see chap. iv. 1. Wintle.

— the latter days.] This phrase often signifies the times of the Messiah, called the last times or age of the world. See the note on Isa. ii. 2; and so the expression may be understood here: for the prophecy contained in this vision reaches to the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom. See ver. 44, and compare chap. x. 14. W. Lowth.

— his breast and his arms of silver.] Which Daniel interprets, ver. 39, “And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee.” The kingdom, which arose after the Babylonian, was the Medo-Persian. The two hands and the shoulders, saith Josephus, signify that the empire of the Babylonians should be dissolved by two kings. The two kings were the kings of the Medes and Persians, whose powers were united under Cyrus, who was son of one of the kings, and son-in-law of the other, who besieged and took Babylon, put an end to that empire, and on its ruins erected the Medo-Persian, or Persian, as it is more usually called, the Persians having soon gained the ascendancy over the Medes. This empire is said to have been inferior, as being less than the former, according to the sense of the Latin Vulgate, because neither Cyrus, nor either of his successors, ever carried their arms into Africa or Spain, so far as Nebuchadnezzar is reported to have done: or rather inferior, as being worse than the former: for Dean Ptoleaux asserts, and it may be very truly so asserted, that the kings of Persia were the worst race of men that ever governed an empire. This empire, from its first establishment by Cyrus, to the death of the last king Darius Codomannus, lasted not much more than two hundred years. Bp. Newton.

The arms and shields of the Persians were frequently ornamented or cased with silver: whence Alexander instituted that remarkable body of veteran infantry, called Argyraspides, from their silver shields, after the conquest of Persia, adopting the manners of the conquered nations. Dr. Hales.

— his belly and his thighs of brass.] Which Daniel interprets, ver. 39, “And another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.” Alexander the Great subverted the Persian empire. The kingdom therefore which succeeded to the Persian, was the Macedonian: and this kingdom was fifty represented by brass; for the Greeks were famous for their brawn armour, their usual epithet being, “the brawn-casted Greeks.” The interpretation of Daniel in Josephus is, that another, coming from the west, completely armed in brass, shall destroy the empire of the Medes and Persians. This third kingdom is also said to “bear rule over all the earth,” by a figure usual in almost all authors. Alexander himself commanded, that he should

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Before CHRIST 603. I Or, which was not in hands, as ver. 45.

clay.] Which is thus interpreted by Daniel, “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron:” &c. See ver. 40-43. The Romans succeeded next to the Macedonians, and therefore in course were next to be mentioned. The Roman empire was stronger and larger than any of the preceding. The Romans brake in pieces and subdued all the former kingdoms. The iron was “mixed with miry clay,” and the Romans were defiled with a mixture of barbarous nations. The Roman empire was at length divided into ten lesser kingdoms, answering to the ten toes of the image, as we shall see hereafter. These kingdoms retained much of the old Roman strength, and manifested it upon several occasions, so that “the kingdom was partly strong, and partly broken.” They “mingled themselves with the seed of men;” they made marriages and alliances one with another, as they continue to do at this day: but no union ensued; reasons of state are stronger than the ties of blood, and interest generally swails more than affinity. Some expound it of the secular and ecclesiastical powers, sometimes agreeing, and sometimes clashing and interfering with each other, to the weakening of both, and endangering of their breaking to pieces. The Roman empire therefore is represented in a double state; first, with the strength of iron, conquering all before it, “his legs of iron;” and then weakened and divided by the mixture of barbarous nations, “his feet part of iron and part of clay.” It subdued Syria, and made the kingdom of the Seleucidæ a Roman province in the year 65 before Christ; it subdued Egypt, and made the kingdom of the Lagidæ a Roman province in the year 30 before Christ: and in the fourth century after Christ, it began to be torn in pieces by the incursions of the barbarous nations. Bp. Newton. 34, 35. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands.] Which is interpreted and explained by Daniel, in the 44th and 45th verses, “And in the days of these kingdoms shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom,” &c. This description can with propriety be understood only, as the ancients understood it, of the kingdom of Christ. “And in the days of these kings;” that is, in the days of some of them. As “in the days when the judges ruled,” Ruth i. 1, signifies “in the days when some” of the judges ruled: so “in the days of these kings” signifies, “in the days” of some

&c.] He might perhaps think, like some of his predecessors, that his conquests were to be ascribed to his own fortitude and prudence: see Isa. x. 13. The Prophet therefore assures him, that his success must be primarily imputed to the God of heaven. Bp. Newton. 38. — the beasts of the field and the fowls of the hearen.] The Greek adds, “and the fish of the sea.” Whatever right thy subjects can claim, either in their possessions, or in any perquisites thereto belonging, is all held of thee, as the supreme lord. Compare Jer. xxvii. 6. W. Lowth. — Thou art this head of gold.] See the note on ver. 32.

Chap. III. ver. 1. Nebuchadnezzar—made an image] The statue was probably of Bel, or some Assyrian deity; see ver. 14. It is thought to have been hollow within, like that of the Colossus of Rhodes, whose height exceeded that of the statue by ten cubits. The proportion of the height seems unequal to the breadth, unless the pedestal, on which it was placed, be included. Diodorus relates, that Xerxes took away an image of gold forty feet high, when he demolished the temple of Belus in Babylon. Dean Prideaux supposes it may have been this statue, and then the body of the image would hardly have been twenty-seven cubits high. The statue of Jupiter, made by Lysippus at Tarentum, is said to have been forty cubits. Wintle, W. Lowth.

— in the plain of Dura.] See its probable situation near Babylon, in the map of the dominions of David and Solomon.

Daniel 2:2

2.—the sorcerers] See the note on chap. i. 20. By “sorcerers” seems to be meant a sort of necromancers, who pretended to an acquaintance with departed spirits. Wintle. —the Chaldeans] The Chaldeans were so much addicted to the study of the heavenly motions, and to

make prognostications from them, that the word “Chaldean” is used both in Greek and Latin authors for an

astrologer. W. Lowth. According to this sense, we find it used below, ver. 4, for the magicians of every sort. Wintle.

Daniel 2:4

4.—in Syriack] That is, in the Aramean or Syrian language, as understood in its largest sense, being what was spoken by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and many of the neighbouring nations, and the same with what was

called the ancient Chaldee. This language, when corrupted by the introduction of many Hebrew words,

in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

Daniel 2:5

5.—The thing is gone from me] Meaning, “I do not recollect it,” according to the Greek and Latin versions: or, according to the Syriack, “The word is most sure which I say:” that is, My decree is gone forth and is irrevocable. Wintle.

—ye shall be cut in pieces] That is, alive: a dreadful punishment sometimes inflicted by the Babylonians.

Parkhurst. Compare 1 Sam. xv. 33; Heb. xi. 37; Luke xi. 46. The same sort of punishment is still used in Abyssinia. Bruce.

Daniel 2:8

8.—I know of certainty that ye would gain the time] Ye seek delays, in order to gain time; that the king’s attention to other concerns might make him forget this. Wintle.

Daniel 2:9

9.—till the time be changed] Until some other occasion may divert me from this earnest inquiry. Bp. Hall.

Daniel 2:10

10.—There is not a man upon the earth &c] The answer of the Chaldeans was very reasonable, that no king had ever required such a thing, that it transcended all the powers and faculties of man; God alone could disclose it. But the pride of absolute power cannot hear any reason, or bear any control. Bp. Newton. The furious and arbitrary conduct of Nebuchadnezzar both in this instance, and in that which is recorded in the following chapter, is much illustrated by history, which shews that such characters are not uncommon among the Eastern monarchs. Daniel findeth the dream, and blesseth God. Before CHRIST 603. returned. marshall. chief of the executioners, or, slaughtermen. before God. they should not destroy Daniel, &c. o Ps. 112. 2. & 113. 18. such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

Daniel 2:19

19. That they would desire mercies &c.] Many useful observations might be drawn from this passage on the nature, the efficacy, and the rewards, of devotion; on the power and prevalence of united addresses to Heaven; and the important benefits, which the piety of a few holy men may sometimes bring down upon a multitude. Such improvements must be obvious to every attentive reader. Wintle.

Daniel 2:20

20. — Blessed be the name of God &c.] In this and the three next verses, the Prophet has celebrated the praises of the Almighty in a simple, but truly sublime and animated, strain of warm and unaffected piety; has made especial mention of his wisdom and power; and illustrated the display of those attributes in several instances apposite to the subject and occasion. Wintle.

Daniel 2:21

21. — he changeth the times and the seasons: &c.] The

Daniel 2:28

28. But there is a God in heaven &c.] Daniel’s great modesty in disclaiming all merit or extraordinary wisdom on his own part; his piety in giving the glory to God alone, and at the same time his skill and dexterity in preparing the king’s attention, and gradually opening his understanding to the reception of the truth, and the acknowledgment of the one true God, are very remarkable. Wintle. The impious king, as St. Jerome justly observes, had a prophetick dream, thus, the saint interpreting it, God might be glorified, and the captives, Before CHRIST 603. That I have found. children of the captivity of Judah. made known. Daniel is brought to the king. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Before CHRIST 603.

what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

came up.

Daniel 2:30

30. — but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king.] That this may be the means for myself and my three friends to gain your good will, the better to promote the glory of God, and do kindnesses to our brethren of the captivity. W. Lowth.

Daniel 2:31

31. Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image.] In this vision of the image composed of four metals, the foundation of all Daniel’s prophecies is laid. It represents a body of four great nations, which should reign over the earth successively; namely, the people of Babylonin, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. And by a stone cut out without hands, which fell upon the feet of the image, and brake all the four metals to pieces, and “became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth,” it further represents, that a new kingdom should arise after the four, and conquer all those nations, and grow very great, and last to the end of all ages. Sir Isaac Newton.

— This great image, whose brightness was excellent, &c.] A great terrible human figure is not an improper emblem of human power and dominion; and the various metals of which it was composed, not unfitly typify the various kingdoms that should arise. The order of their succession is clearly denoted by the order of the parts, the head and higher parts signifying the earlier times, and the lower parts the latter times. Bps. Chandler and Newton.

Grotius acutely observes, that this image appeared with a glorious lustre in the imagination of Nebuchadnezzar, whose mind was wholly taken up with admiration of worldly pomp and splendour: whereas the same monarchies were represented to Daniel under the shape of fierce and wild beasts, chap. vii; as being the great supporters of idolatry and tyranny in the world. W. Lowth.

Daniel 2:32

32. This image’s head was of fine gold.] Which Daniel interprets, ver. 38, “Thou art this head of gold;” thou, and thy family, and thy representatives. The Babylonian therefore was the first of these kingdoms; and it was fifty represented by the “head of fine gold,” on account of its great riches; and Babylon for the same reason was called by Isaiah “the golden city,” chap. xiv. 4. Daniel addresses Nebuchadnezzar, as if he were a very powerful king, and his empire very large and extensive: “Thou, O king, art a king of kings:” &c. see verses 37 and 38. Almost all the ancient Eastern histories are lost: but there are some fragments

their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

Daniel 2:39

39. — another kingdom inferior to thee.] See the note on ver. 32, “his breast and his arms of silver.” — another third kingdom of brass.] See the note on ver. 32, “his belly and his thighs of brass.” — which shall bear rule over all the earth] See what is said of Alexander of Macedonia at the beginning of the first book of Maccabees. It is reported of this were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly || broken.

Daniel 2:40

40. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron.] See the note on ver. 33.

Daniel 2:44

44. And in the days of these kings] That is, kingdoms. See the note on ver. 34. — and the kingdom shall not be left to other people.] This kingdom shall not be transferred like the former ones, but shall be of a very different nature, shall crush all temporal kingdoms, and shall be universal, unchangeable, and eternal. Wintle.

Daniel 2:45

45. Forasmuch as thou sawest &c.] There should not have been a full stop placed at the end of the last verse, as our translation is commonly pointed: the particle “forasmuch” carrying on the sense from the foregoing words, as in verses 40 and 41. W. Lowth. — the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.] The king, hearing his dream related with such exactness, might be better assured of the truth of the interpretation, and of the great events which should follow. Bp. Newton. 46. Then the king—fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel.] Or, “did reverence to Daniel.” The king highly revered Daniel, and paid him such tokens of respect, as were consonant to Oriental manners. Wintle. 47. — Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings.] Superior to all the gods or demons who are worshipped by men; the supreme Before CHRIST 603. Or, brittle. with this. days. d Chap. 4. 3,

Daniel 2:48

48. — ruler over the whole province of Babylon.] When the empire came under the government of the Medes and Persians, every province had a prince or ruler appointed over it, chap. vi. 1. This may have been practised before, only afterwards improved by the addition of three presidents over the rest, chap. vi. 2, and v. 7. W. Lowth.

— chief of the governors over all the wise men] President of the college of the Magi. Bp. Horsley.

Daniel 2:49

49. — but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.] See the notes on Gen. xxiii. 10.

It was from the prophecy recorded in this chapter that the distinction first arose of the four great empires of the world, which hath been followed by most historians and chronologers in their distribution of times. These four empires, as they are the subject of this prophecy, are likewise the subject of the most celebrated peas both in former and in later ages. Not but there have been empires as great, or greater, than some of these, as those of the Tartars for instance, and of the Saracens, and of the Turks; and we may think perhaps, that they were as well deserving of a place in this

a good confession. 19 God delivereth them out of the furnace. 26 Nebuchadnezzar seeing the miracle blesseth God.

Before CHRIST about 580.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.