Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 2 · Argument method – Questions
1. The argument and Methode.
THis chapter consisteth of 3. parts, 1. of Nebuchadnezzars dreame, with the inquisition after the meaning thereof, to vers. 14. 2. the interpretation giuen by Daniel, vers. 46. 3. the effects that followed.
1. Nebuchadnezzars dreame is described by the circumstance of time, and the effects, it troubled his spirit, vers. 1. The inquisition followeth, consisting of the calling and conuention of the wisemen. v. 2. 2. The conference betweene them and the king, which is threefold: In the first the king simply propoundeth his motion, to hauehave his dreame expounded, vers. 3. and the Chaldeans promise to declare it, so they knewe it, ver. 4. In the second the king requireth of them two things, to tell him his dreame which he had forgotten, and to declare the meaning, both threatening punishment, ver. 5. and promising reward, ver. 6. and the Chaldeans answer as before, ver. 6. In the third the king vrgeth them sore, that if they did not, as he requireth, he would hold them to be imposters and deceiuers, and punish them, ver. 8. 9. The Chadeans excuse themselues, 1. by the impossibilitie of the thing. 2. by the example of other kings. 3. by the difficultie, that none could doe such a thing but the Gods; ver. 11. 3. Then followeth the euent, they are commanded to be slaine, ver. 12.
2. In the second part, there is, 1. the preparation to the interpretation, ver. 14. then the interpretation it selfe to ver. 46.
1. In the preparation, 1. is set forth the occasion, Daniel is sought for with his fellowes to be killed, ver. 13. whereupon followeth his perswasion with Arioch, ver. 16. his motion to the king. ver. 17. 2. then the meanes are expressed which he vsed, first prayer with the effect thereof, ver. 18, 19. then a thanksgiuing vntounto God both generall to ver. 23. then particular, ver. 23.
2. The interpretation followeth, where, 1. the opportunitie is shewed, how he is brought in vntounto the king by Arioch, ver. 24. 25. 2. the preamble to the interpretation, consisting of the kings demaund, ver. 26. and Daniels answer, in these 4. parts, concerning the Astrologians; that they could doe nothing, ver. 27. touching God, that he onelyonly reuealed secrets, ver. 28. concerning the king, how he was affected, when he dreamed, ver. 29. touching himselfe, that he imputeth it not to his owne wisedome, ver. 30.
3. The interpretation consisteth of the simple narration of the dre…me, which consisted of two parts, the vision of the image to ver. 34. and of the stone which dashed it in pieces, ver. 34, 35. 2. of the exposition, first of the image and the parts thereof, to ver. 44. then of the stone, vers. 44. 45.
3. The effects are three. 1. the reuerencing of Daniel, ver. 46. 2. his confession of God, ver. 47. 3. the rewarding of Daniel with gifts and honours, ver. 48. and the aduancing of his fellowes at his request, vers. 49.
The diuerse readings.
v. 1. In the second yeare, in the raigne of Nebuchadnezzer, I. Pol. (not of the raigne of Nebuchadnezzer) L. V. G. for the distinction comming betweene, seuereth these two clauses) Nebuchadnezzer dreamed dreames, wherewith his spirit was troubled (troubled it selfe, Chald.) and his sleepe was vponupon him. G. I. Pol. (better, then left him. V. or was broken vponupon him. Pag.) or fled from him. L. the word is (haiah) was, and the preposition ghal, doth not signifie from: the meaning is, while he was in a deepe sleepe or slumber.
2. Then the King commanded to call the Magicians, and the Astrologians, and Sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to shew the King his dreames: so they came and stood before the King:
3. And the king said vntounto them, I hauehave dreamed a dreame, and my spirit was troubled (Chald. troubled it selfe) to know the dreame.
4. Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the Aramites language, O King, liue for euer: tell thy seruants the dreame, and we will shew the interpretation.
5. The King answered, and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make me vnderstand the dreame, and the interpretation thereof (not the coniecture thereof. L.) ye shall be rent in pieces, (ye shall perish. L. ye shall be made pieces. Chald.) and your houses shall be made a iakes. G. (dunghill, Chald. I. not your houses shall be confiscate. L.)
6. But if ye declare the dreame and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receiue of me gifts, and rewards, and great honour: therefore shew me the dreame, and the interpretation of it.
7. They answered againe (the second time, Chald.) and said, Let the king tell the dreame to his seruants, and we will declare the interpretation thereof.
8. The king answered and said, I know certenly that he would gaine time (redeeme, or buie time, Chald.) because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9. But if yee will not declare me the dreame, there is but one iudgement, (sentence. L. V. I. or law. A.) for you: for yee hauehave prepared lying and corrupt words to speake before me, till the time be changed. G. I. (the time be passed. L. till there be an other state of things, V.) therefore tell me the dreame, that I may knowe, if ye can declare the interpretation thereof.
10. The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said (Chal. and saying) there is not a man vponupon the earth (Chal. vponupon the drie ground) which can declare the kings matter: therefore not any king, nor prince, or ruler (mightie Chald.) euer asked such a question (such a saying. C.) of any Magician, Astrologian, or Chaldean.
11. And the matter (the saying. C.) which the king requireth, is precious. I. (rare. G. of great weight. L. A.) and there is not any other (to be found. L.) which can declare it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh (with men. L. with mortall men. V.)
12. For this cause the king was angrie, and in a great furie, and gaue charge to destroy all the wisemen of Babel.
13. So the sentence was giuen, and the wisemen were slaine: and they sought Daniel, and his fellowes to be slaine.
14. Then Daniel enquired of the counsell and decree. L. Po. (returned the counsell and decree. C. not answered with counsell. G. or interceded. V.) of Arioch the captaine of the guard. I. (or cheife marshall, or executioner. V. the captaine of his armie. L.) to the king, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babel.
15. Yea, he answered and said vntounto Arioch the kings captaine, why is the sentence so hastie from the king? then Arioch made knowne (declared. G.) the thing (the word. C.) to Daniel.
16. So Daniel went in, and desired of the King, that he would giuegive him time (leasure. G.) and he would declare the interpretation to the king.
17. Then Daniel went to his house, and made knowne the matter (the word. C.) to Hananiah, (Chananiah. C.) Mishael, and Hazariah his companions.
18. And that they should beseech merciemercy from the God of heauen in this secret (sacrament. L.) that Daniel with his fellowes might not perish with the rest of the wisemen of Babel.
19. Then was the secret reucaled to Daniel in a vision by night; therefore Daniel blessed the God of heauen.
20. And Daniel answered, and said, The name of God be blessed for euer and euer: for wisedome and strengh are his.
21. And he changeth times and seasons (moderateth. V.) he taketh away kings, (not kingdomes. L.) and establisheth kings (setteth vp. G. createth. V.) he giueth wisedome to the wise, and knowledge to men of vnderstanding: (to them which knowe vnderstanding. C.)
22. He discouereth the deepe and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkenesse, and the light dwelleth with him.
23. I thanke thee and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, that thou hast giuen me wisedome and strength, and hast made knowne vntounto me (made me to knowe) that which we desired of thee: for thou hast made knowne vntounto vsus the kings matter: (word. C.)
24. Wherefore Daniel went vntounto Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babel: he went, and said thus vntounto him, Destroy not the wise men of Babel, bring me in before the king, and I will declare vntounto the king the interpretation.
25. Then Arioch in hast brought in Daniel before the king, and said thus vntounto him, I hauehave found a man of the children of ludah taken captiues (children of the captiuitie of Iudah. C.) that will make knowne vntounto the king the interpretation.
26. Then answered the king and said vntounto Daniel, whose name was Beltshatzar (Balthasar. L. Beltsazar. V. Belteshazzar. G.) art thou able to make knowne vntounto me the dreame, which I hauehave seene, and the interpretation thereof?
27. Daniel answered before the king, L. A. (to the king. I. V. in the presence of the king. B. G.) and said: The secret which the king hath demanded can neither the wisemen, astrologians (magicians. L. wisards. V. soothsayers. B.) magicians. I. V. (enchanters. G. wise men. B. coniecturers. L.) soothsayers (such as gaue coniecture by the entralls of beasts, aruspices. I. L. readers of destinies. V. B.) declare vntounto the king.
28. But there is a God in heauen the reuealer of secrets, who hath made knowne vntounto king Nebuchadnezzar, what shall be in the dayes following. I. V. (in the latter dayes. L. G. B. A. P. but many of these things fell out not long after Nebuchadnezzars time) in the consequence or following of dayes. C.) Thy dreame, and the vision of thine head vponupon thy bed, is this.
29. O king thoughts came (ascended. C.) to thee vponupon thy bed, what should come to passe hereafter; and he which reuealeth secrets, telleth thee what shall come.
30. As for me, not for any wisedome which is in me, more then in any liuing, is this secret reuealed vntounto me, but for this, that they might (not that I might. B. or that it might. L. that, some, might. V. for their cause which might. I.) make known vntounto the king the interpretation, and that thou mightest knowe the thoughts of thine heart.
31. O king, thou sawest, and behold a great image: this large image whose glorie (and the glorie thereof. C.) was excellent, stood before thee, and the forme thereof was terrible.
32. This images head was of fine (good, C.) gold: the breast thereof, and the armes thereof of siluer; his bellie and his sides. I. (thighes. caeter.) of brasse.
33. His legges of yron, his feete were part (some of them. C.) of yron, part of clay:
34. Thou beheldest till a stone was cut out, which was not with hands, (that is cut out: without hands, caeter. but then the relatiue (which) should be omitted) which smote the image vponupon his feete, which were of yron and clay, and brake them in peices.
35. Then was the yron, the clay, the brasse, the siluer, and the gold broken altogether, and became like the chaffe of the summer floates, (where the wheat is threshed) and the wind carried them away, that not any place was found for them: and the stone that smote the Image became a great mountaine, and filled the whole earth.
36. This is the dreame, and we will declare the interpretation thereof before the king.
37. O King, thou art a King of Kings: for the God of heauen hath giuen thee a kingdome, power, and strength, and glorie.
38. And in all places, where the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field, and the foules of heauen, hath he giuen into thine hand. A. P. G. B. (not, all those places, where, &c. V. L. for here the preposition (in) is omitted, or where the children of men, the beasts of the field, &c. dwell. I. these are rather said to be giuen, as Ier. 27. 6.) and hath made thee ruler ouer (in. C.) them all: thou art this head of gold.
39. And after thee shall rise an other kingdome inferiour to thee (of siluer. L. G.) but this is inserted by way of exposition) and an other third kingdome shall be of brasse, which shal beare rule ouer all the earth.
40. And the fourth kingdome shall be strong as yron: for as yron breaketh in peices, and subdueth all things, and as yron, which bruiseth (as yron bruiseth. L. V. G. B. here the relatiue (which) is omitted) all these things, so shall it breake in peices, and bruise.
41. Where as thou sawest the feete and toes, part of potters clay, and part of yron; the kingdome shall be deuided, but there shall be in it of the strength I. V. G. (of the planting. L. A.) of yron, for so much as thou sawest yron mixed with clay, and earth.
42. And as the toes of the feete were part of yron, and part of clay, so shall the kingdome be partly strong, and partly broken.
43. And whereas thou sawest yron mixed with clay, and earth, they shall mingle themselues with the seede of men, but they shall not ioyne one with an other (this with that. C.) as yron cannot be mixed with clay.
44. And in the dayes of these kings (not kingdomes. L.) shall the God of heauen raise vp a kingdome, which shall neuer be destroyed: and this kingdome shall not be left (giuen ouer. B. G. deliuered ouer. L. to an other people, but it shall breake and destroy all these kingdomes, and it shall stand for euer.
45. Whereas thou sawest, that a stone was cut out of the mountaine, which was not with hands, I. (without handes, caeter. see before, vers. 34.) and that it broke in peices, the yron, the brasse, the clay, the siluer, and the gold: so the great God hath made knowne to the King, what shall be hereafter, and the dreame is true and the interpretation thereof faithfull. V. L. I. (sure. B. G.)
46. Then king Nebuchadnezzar fell vponupon his face, and bowed himselfe . G. B. (worshipped L. V. I.) vntounto Daniel: and charged oblations V. (sacrifices. L. meate offrings. G. rewards. B. gifts. I. the word is mincah which signifieth gifts and oblations offred) and sweet odors, to be offered (to be ordained. B.) vntounto him.
47. Also the king answered vntounto Daniel and said, Of a truth it is that (I know of a truth. G. of a truth your God. &c. L. B. but here the word translated (that) is omitted) your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, reuealing secrets, seeing thou wast able to reueale this secret.
48. So the king made Daniel a great man (magnified him. C. I.) and gaue him great gifts, very many: and made him gouernour ouer the whole prouince of Babel, and chiefe of the rulers, aboue all the wisemen of Babel.
49. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set ouer the businesse I. L. P. (the charge B. G. V.) of the prouince of Babel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; But Daniel was ruler in the kings gate. I. (sat in the kings gate. B. G. was in the kings gate. L. was in the court.V.)