Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 2 · Questions · Question 1 – Question 6
Quest. 1. vers. 1. How the second yeare is to be counted wherein Nebuchadnezzar had this dreame.
1. Theodoret thinketh that it was the second yeare from the beginning of his raigne: but that cannot be, for Nebuchadnezzars raigne beganne in part of the 3. and 4. yeare of Iehoiakim, cap. 1. 1. and Ierem. 25. 1. and 3. yeares after that were appointed for Daniels education, c. 1. 5. while those 3. yeares were expired, there was no proofe or triall had of Daniels wisedome; therefore it can not be, that the storie in the first chapter is set downe by way of recapitulation, as Theodoret thinketh: for till the three yeares were past, they were not brought before the king.
2. Some thinke that this was the second yeare of Nebuchadnezzars raigne by himselfe alone, who also raigned after a sort with his father, who also was called by the same name: Caluin. Geneuens. But this cannot stand, because the first yeare of Nebuchadnezzar his sole raigne was in the 3. and 4. raigne of Iehoiakim. Ierem. 25. 1. after which three yeares must be counted for Daniels education: this then could not be the second yeare of his raigne alone.
3. Some vnderstand here two Nebuchadnezzars, the father mentioned before, cap. 1. 1. and his sonne, brother to Euilmerodach, who beeing the younger was preferred before the other, and the Elder because of his wickednesse was put by the gouernment, ex Lyran. so also Emmanuel Sa. But this Nebuchadnezzar could not be sonne to Nebuchadnezzar the great,Ierem. 27 7. and brother to Euilmerodach, for the Lord had giuen the kingdomes of the earth, but vntounto Nebuchadnezzar, and his sonne: that is Euilmerodach, and his sonnes sonne, which was Balthazar the sonne of Euilmerodach: but if there were a Nebuchadnezzar brother to Euilmerodach, then should there be three beside Nebuchadnezzar the great, and not two onelyonly as Ieremie saith: there were indeede two Nebuchadnezzars, one called Nebuchadnezzar priseus, the auntient, the other Nebuchadnezzar magnus, the great: who beganne his raigne the same yeare Daniel went into captiuitie, in the 3. and 4. yeare of Iehoiakim.
4. The vsuall interpretation is, that it must be vnderstood of the second yeare of Nebuchadnezzars absolute Monarchie, after the subduing of Egypt: so Iosephus lib. 10. cap. 11. of the same opinion is Hierome, and of the later writers, Lyranus, Hugo Cardi, who thinketh it was the 26. yeare of his whole raigne, and the second of his Monarchie, Peter. also Pintus, Bullinger, Pellican, are of the same opinion: But this cannot stand: for Nebuchadnezzar conquered Tyrus, before he subdued Egypt: for Egypt is giuen him for his wages for his seruice against Tyrus, Ierem. 24. 18. 19. but Daniel was famous for his wisedome, (which was not knowne till he had expounded Nebuchadnezzars dreame) before Tyrus was destroyed: for he is celebrated for his pietie, and therein ioyned with Noah and Iob, Esek. 14. and for his wisdome, Esek. 28. 3. And then immeadiately in that chapter followeth the prophesie of the destruction of Tyrus.
5. Wherefore this second yeare must be counted from the time when Daniel first stood before the king: in the second yeare then of his seruice and ministrie, Nebuchadnezzar had this dreame: but where it is added, in the raigne of Nebuchadnezzer, these words are not to be ioyned with the former, in the second yeare, as appeareth by the Hebrew distinction, rebiah, set ouer the word shetaim, second: this then happened in the raigne of Nebuchadnezzar, which is mentioned by way of distinction, because in the last words of the former chapter, it is said that Daniel was to the first yeare of King Cyrus; least any should thinke that this was done in the second yeare of Cyrus, direct mention is made of the raigne of Nebuchadnezzar. Inn. Polan. Pappus.
Quest. 2. What Nebuchadnezzar this was, and whence he was so called.
1. Some thinke, as is touched in the former question, that this was the sonne of Nebuchadnezzar the great, brother to Euilmerodach: but it is before shewed that there were but two kings of this name, Nebuchadnezzar called priscus, the auncient, and Nebuchadnezzar called magnus, the great: Lib. antiq. 1…. c. 13.of these two Iosephus maketh mention, the first raigned 21. yeares, the second 43. yeares after his computation: then after him succeeded, not an other Nebuchadnezzar (which Pintus thinketh, but without any ground, to hauehave beene a generall name to all the kings of Chaldea, as Caesar was to the Romane Emperours) but his sonne Euilmerodach, Lib. 10. antiq. c. 13.whom Iosephus calleth Abilamarodachus: This Nebuchadnezzar then here mentioned, was he which was surnamed the great. 2. Some thinke, that there was a third Nebuchadnezzar held to be the sonne of Cyrus, in whose time fell out the historie of Holofernes and Iudith, Lyran. but it is euident in Scripture that no kings of the Persians, but onelyonly of the Chaldeans were called by that name. 3. Concerning the notation of Nebuchadnezzars name, Lyranus hath this narration, that he ws so called of this euent: beeing a child he was cast out, and suckled by a shee-goat vnderunder a tree, in the which sate an owle, which a certaine leper passing by wondred at, to see an owle set there in the day, and by that occasion looking about he espied the child, which he caused to be nursed and brought vp. So of these three is the name compounded, of Nabu which in that language signifieth an owle, and chodo a goate, and nosor a leper: But this seemeth to be a fabulous narration: for whereas Nebuchadnezzar the great is imagined to hauehave beene so called vponupon this occasion, that is not like, because his father was called by that name before him.
Quest. 3. vers. 1. Why he is said to hauehave dreamed dreames.
1. Though he dreamed here but once, and in respect of the time had but one dreame, yet it is called in the plurall cholmoth, dreames, not somnium, a dreame (as the Latine translatour interpreteth) because many matters were contained in this dreame: it was somnium multiplex, one dreame, yet consisting of many parts, Inn. Polan. 2. As also, because in that one image, which he sawe, there were diuers mettals, which were types and representations of diuers Monarchies, one succeeding another, Pappus. so that this dreame was diuers, both in respect of the matter and obiect thereof, and the diuers interpretation and signification of the same.
4. Quest. What manner of dreame this was which Nebuchadnezzar had.
1. Dreames are either naturall, which the mind causeth of it selfe, but vponupon some occasion or beginning either externall or internall, or they are somnia immissa, dreams which the minde of it selfe procureth not, but are sent and wrought vponupon it by some other power: and they are of two sorts, either foreign, sent of God, or foreign, sent of euill spirits.
2. Divine dreames are such as God offreth to the minde, and sometime such dreames are shewed to the faithfull, as to Iaacob, Ioseph, Daniel; sometime to those which were not of the people of God, as to Abimelech, Gen. 20. Laban. Gen. 31. Pharaoh. Gen. 41.
3. Diuine dreames are all foreign, that is containing some diuination of things hid and secret, and afterward to come to passe, and they are of two sorts, nuda foreign, naked visions, simply and plainely expressing the meaning, scope and purpose of the dreame, as that was which was shewed to Ioseph concerning Marie, how he should dispose of her, Matth. 1. or els they are foreign, mysticall dreames, folded vp in types and figures, which cannot be vnderstood without some signification: such was Pharaohs dreames of the 7. fat and leane kine, and of the 7. full and 7. thinne and lanke cares, Gen. 41.
4. This dreame which Nebuchadnezzar had, was both a diuine dreame, and of this last sort, obscure and darke, which could not be vnderstood without an interpreter: for though Nebuchadnezzars thoughts, who was desirous to knowe what should come to passe after him, ministred some occasion, yet the cause of this dreame they were not; but Gods hand was in it, as both may appeare by the effect which it wrought, his spirit was sore troubled, vers. 1. As Abimelech also was in a great feare, after he had the vision in his sleepe, Gen. 20. and Pharaoh was perplexed after his dreame, Gen. 41. Polan. As also Daniel himselfe telleth the king afterward, vers. 28. that God himselfe shewed the king, what should be in the latter dayes. Pap.
Quest. 5. Why it pleased God to send this dreame vponupon Nebuchadnezzar.
1. The Lord did it for Nebuchadnezzars sake, that thereby he might be humbled, and acknowledge the true God of Israel, and thereupon be fauourable to his people, whom he held in captiuitie.
2. It was done also in respect of Daniel, that by this meanes he might be had in reputation, and so be exalted for the comfort of the Lords people: as Ioseph for the same cause was aduanced in Egypt, to be a softer father to his brethren.
3. The vse hereof also is generall concerning the whole Church of God, that as these fower great Monarchies were dissolued by the power of Christ, whose kingdome onelyonly is inuincible: so God will destroy the mightie kingdomes and potentates of the earth, who shall band themselues against Christ and his Church.
4. Gods glorie also herein is set forth, to whom belongeth all power, and who knoweth all secrets, Pap. So also Hugo Cardi. vt Daniele interpretante glorificetur Deus, &c. that by Daniels interpretation God might receiue glorie, and the captiue people comfort.
5. Lyranus addeth an other reason: specialis Dei prouidentia circa principes magnos, &c. the speciall prouidence of God is ouer great Princes, because the common wealth dependeth of them, and therefore the Lord doth often reueale vntounto them things to come, as vntounto Pharaoh the famine which should followe.
Quest. 6. vers. 1. Of the meaning of these words, and his sleepe was vponupon him.
1. The Latine interpreter readeth his dreame fledde from him: which reading followe Lyran. Hu. Car. Pere. Pin. Pap. Pel. but the word shenah here vsed, signifieth sleepe, not a dreame: and the preposition ghall, is not from, but vponupon, or in: Lyranus hereupon taketh occasion to shewe the cause of the obliuion and forgetfulnesse of dreames: for obliuion commeth of the commotion and stirring of humours, which is the cause that children and olde men are so forgetfull, terror autem facit magnam humorum commotionem: and terror maketh a great commotion and stirring of humors, which inuaded Nebuchadenezzar here. But this anno…ation hath no good ground here, because as is before shewed, the text spenketh not of the passing away of his dreame, but of his sleepe being still vponupon him.
2. Some reade, his sleepe was interrupted, or broken off, Pagnin. or destistuit ipsum, his sleepe left him. Vatab. Bullinger. for so the word nihiah of haiah in niphall sometime signifieth, as Dan. 8. 27. but the preposition is ghall, vponupon, not from: the true reading thenis; his sleepe was vponupon him.
3. Iunius giueth this sense, that his sleepe was yet vponupon him, his spirit was troubled in his sleepe, when he had this dreame: so that he could not sleepe quietly, vt ne somnus ipsius tranquillus esset, his verie sleepe was vnquiet: But the troubling of his spirits sheweth that he awaked from his dreame: as is said of Pharaoh, Gen. 41. 8. that when the morning came, his spirit was troubled, where the same word pagham is vsed, to be troubled, perplexed.
4. Polanus giueth a contrarie sense, that he was somno oppressus, in a sound sleepe, lying astonished, as if he were dead: but the troubling of his spirits argueth some interruption and discontinuing of his sleepe.
5. I rather therefore here approoue Caluins iudgement, quod attonitus iterum dor…i… rit &c. that beeing amazed and astonished with this dreame, he fell asleepe againe: whereupon came the forgetfulnesse of his former dreame: so also Geneuens. he was so heauie with sleepe, that he beganne to sleepe againe.