Introduction: In our first bible study we read in (Daniel 1:17); that Daniel had an understanding in Visions and dreams. Here we have an early and eminent instance of it, which soon made him famous in the court of Babylon. Just as Joseph; by the same means came to be so in the court of Egypt. This chapter is a history, but it is the history of a prophecy, by a dream and the interpretation of it. Pharaoh’s dream, and Joseph’s interpretation of it, related only to the years of plenty and famine and the interest of God’s Israel in them. But Nebuchadnezzar’s dream here, and Daniel’s interpretation of that, look much higher, to the four monarchies, and the concerns of Israel in them, and the kingdom of the Messiah, which should be set up in the world upon the ruins of them. In this chapter 2 of Daniel we have divided it into 5 sections.
I) Now the great perplexity that Nebuchadnezzar was put into by a dream which he had forgotten, and his command to the magicians to tell him what it was, which they could not pretend to do is found in (verses 1–11).
II) The King gave orders for the destroying of all the wise men of Babylon, and of Daniel among the rest, with his fellows is found in (verses 12–15).
III) The discovery of this secret to him, in answer to prayer, and the thanksgiving he offered up to God there upon is found in (verses 16–23).
IV) His admission to the king, and the discovery he made to him both of his dream and of the interpretation of it is found in (verses 24–45).
V) The great honor which Nebuchadnezzar put upon Daniel, in recompense for this service, and the preferment of his companions with him is found in (verses 46–49).
II) In verses 1 through 13 is the first section of Daniel:
A) We meet with a great difficulty in the date of this story; it is said to be in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, verse 1. Now Daniel was carried to Babylon in his first year, and, it should seem, he was three years under tutors and governors before he was presented to the king, in (chapter 1:5). How then could this happen in the second year? Perhaps, though three years were appointed for the education of other children, yet Daniel was so forward that he was taken into business when he had been but one year at school, and so in the second year he became thus considerable. Some make it to be the second year after he began to reign alone, but the fifth or sixth year since he began to reign in partnership with his father. Now some read it, and in the second year, (the second after Daniel and his fellows stood before the king), in the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, or in his reign, this happened. Just as Joseph, in the second year after his skill in dreams, showed and expounded Pharaoh’s dream; so did Daniel, in the second year after he commenced master in that art, did this service. Now I would much rather take it some of these ways than suppose, as some do, that it was in the second year after he had conquered Egypt, which was the thirty-sixth year of his reign, because it appears by what we meet with in Ezekiel, that Daniel was famous both for wisdom and prevalence in prayer long before that. And therefore this passage, or story, which shows how he came to be so eminent for both of these must be laid early in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign.
III) The perplexity that Nebuchadnezzar was in by reason of a dream which he had dreamed but had forgotten it.
Daniel: Chapter 2: (603 B.C.)
I) King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream:
1) Read: (Daniel 2:1); and in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. KJV
1) Explanation: (Daniel 2:1); in verse one; of the second year of this verse concerns his reign as sole King. Now King Nebuchadnezzar, actually reigned as co-regent with his father for several years, in which some or all of the three-year time period took place. Now the dream which “troubled” him was sent by the Lord God.
1) Comments: (Daniel 2:1); in verse one; The King dreamed dreams, that is, a dream consisting of divers distinct parts, or which filled his head as much as if it had been many dreams. Now Solomon speaks of a multitude of dreams, strangely incoherent, in which there are diver’s vanities, in (Ecclesiastes 5:7). This dream of Nebuchadnezzar’s had nothing in the thing itself but what might be paralleled in many a common dream, in which are often represented to men things as foreign as are here mentioned; but there was something in the impression it made upon him which carried with it an incontestable evidence of its divine original and its prophetic significance.
1) Extra Coments: (Daniel 2:1); in verse one; The greatest of men are not exempt from, nay, they lie most open to, those cares and troubles of mind which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the laboring man is sweet and sound, and the sleep of the sober temperate man free from confused dreams. The abundance of the rich will not suffer them to sleep at all for care, and the excesses of gluttons and drunkards will not suffer them to sleep quietly for dreaming. But this recorded here was not from natural causes. Nebuchadnezzar was a troublers of God’s Israel, but God here troubled him; for he that made the soul can make his sword to approach to it. He had his guards about him, but they could not keep trouble from his spirit. We know not the uneasiness of many that live in great pomp, and, one would think, in pleasure, too. We look into their houses and are tempted to envy them; but, could we look into their hearts, we should pity them rather. All the treasures and all the delights of the children of men, which this mighty monarch had command of, could not procure him a little repose, when by reason of the trouble of his mind his sleep broke from him. But God gives his beloved sleep, to those who return to him as their rest.
IV) Next the trial that he made of his magicians and astrologers whether they could tell him what his dream was, which the King had forgotten. They were immediately sent for, to show the king his dreams.
2) Read: (Daniel 2:2); 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. KJV
2) Explanation: (Daniel 2:2); in verse two; In verse two; the King’s action in consulting His priests and mediums is one of the many proofs of the accuracy of this history, for in their difficulties unconverted men seek help in every direction other that from our Lord Jesus.
2) Comments: (Daniel 2:2); in verse two; there are many things which we retain the impressions of, and yet have lost the images of the things; though we cannot tell what the matter was, we know how we were affected with it; so it was with this king. His dream had slipped out of his mind, and he could not possibly recollect it, but he was confident he should know it if he heard it again. God ordered it; so that Daniel might have the more honor, in him, the God of Daniel. Note, God sometimes serves his own purposes by putting things out of men’s minds as well as by putting things into their minds. The magicians, it is likely, were proud of their being sent for into the king’s bed-chamber, to give him a taste of their office, not doubting but it would be for their honor. He tells them that he had dreamed a dream, and I am troubled.
3) Read: (Daniel 2:3); and the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. KJV
3) Explanation: (Daniel 2:3); in verse three; the King simply said to the magicians, I had a dream and my spirit is troubled to know this dream.
3) Comments: (Daniel 2:3); in verse three; they speak to him in the Aramaic tongue, which was then the same with the Chaldeans, but now they differ much. And hence forward Daniel uses that language, or dialect of the Hebrew, for the same reason that those words in (Jeremiah 10:11); are in that language because designed to convince the Chaldeans of the folly of their idolatry and to bring them to the knowledge and worship of the true and living God. Which the stories of these chapters have a direct tendency to. But chapter 8 and forward, being intended for the comfort of the Jews, is written in their peculiar language. They, in their answer, complimented the king with their good wishes, desired him to tell his dream, and undertook with all possible assurance to interpret it.
V) King Nebuchadnezzar’s Demand:
4) Read: (Daniel 2:4); Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live forever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. KJV
4) Explanation: (Daniel 2:4); in verse four; now if the dream would have been told unto them, the interpretation, they would have given the King something that they would have made up out of their own minds, and this would not have been the true interpretation.
4) Comments: (Daniel 2:4); in verse four; but the king insisted upon it that they must tell him the dream itself, because he had forgotten it and could not tell it to them. And, if they could not do this, they should all be put to death as deceivers.
5) Read: (Daniel 2:5); 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. KJV
5) Explanation: (Daniel 2:5); in verse five; here the Lord directed that the King Nebuchadnezzar could not tell them what he had dreamed or even remember its meaning).
5) Comments: (Daniel 2:5); in verse five; The King gave a degree that they themselves cut to pieces and their houses made a dunghill. If they could, they should be rewarded and preferred.
6) Read: (Daniel 2:6); but if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew men the dream, and the interpretation thereof. KJV
6) Explanation: (Daniel 2:6); in verse six; Now the King had threatened these all of the magicians and astrologers with death because of their lack of ability to intrepid his dream. The King promised them great riches if they would just live up to their power of their advertisement.
6) Comments: (Daniel 2:6); in verse six; And they knew, as Balaam did concerning Balak, that he was able to promote them to great honor, and give them that wages of unrighteousness which, like him, they loved so dearly. No question therefore that they will do their utmost to gratify the king; if they do not, it is not for want of good will, but for want of power. Providence so ordering it that the magicians of Babylon might now be as much confounded and put to shame as of old the magicians of Egypt had been, that, how much so ever his people were both in Egypt and Babylon vilified and made contemptible. Now his oracles might in both be magnified and made honorable, by the silencing of those that set up in competition with them. The magicians, having reason on their side, insist upon it that the king must tell them the dream, and then, if they do not tell him the interpretation of it, it is their fault.
7) Read: (Daniel 2:7); they answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. KJV
7) Explanation: (Daniel 2:7); in verse seven; here again the magicians, simply ask the King to tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
7) Comments: (Daniel 2:7); in verse seven; but arbitrary power is deaf to reason. The king falls into a passion, gives them hard words, and, without any color of reason, suspects that they could tell him but would not; and instead of upbraiding them with impotency, and the deficiency of their art, as he might justly have done, he charges them with a combination to affront him: You have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me. How unreasonable and absurd is this imputation! If they had undertaken to tell him what his dream was, and had imposed upon him with a sham, he might have charged them with lying and corrupt words. But to say this of them when they honestly confessed their own weakness only shows what senseless things indulged passions are, and how apt great men are to think it is their prerogative to pursue their humor in defiance of reason and equity, and all the dictates of both. When the magicians begged of him to tell them the dream, though the request was highly rational and just, he tells them that they did but dally with him, to gain more time.
8) Read: (Daniel 2:8); The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. KJV
8) Explanation: (Daniel 2:8); in verse eight; Here again the King said that they wished to prolong the time so that He might recollect the his dream, or more time for them so the magicians, could invent something in the place of His dream. Then again the magicians, might make their escape to save their own lives.
8) Comments: (Daniel 2:8); in verse eight; The King answered them and said that they just wanted more time so that the time would be changed.
9) Read: (Daniel 2:9); 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. KJV
9) Explanation: (Daniel 2:9); in verse nine; Now the King now knows that their silence was due to their inability to answer him.
9) Comments: (Daniel 2:9); in verse nine; either till the king’s desire to know his dream be over, and he grown indifferent whether he be told it or no, though now he is so hot upon it, or till they may hope he has so perfectly forgotten his dream (the remaining shades of which are slipping from him apace as he catches at them) that they may tell him what they please and make him believe it was his dream, and, when the thing which is going, is quite gone from him, as it will be in a little time, he will not be able to disprove them. And therefore, without delay, they must tell him the dream. In vain they do plead. They say that there is no man on earth that can retrieve the king’s dream.
VI) The Inability of the Wise Men:
10) Read: (Daniel 2:10); 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. KJV
10) Explanation: (Daniel 2:10); in verse ten; they were wrong! Now there was at least one man; who could, but only because he knew the Lord God. His name was Daniel.
10) Comments: (Daniel 2:10); in verse ten; there are settled rules by which to discover what the meaning of the dream was; whether they will hold or no is the question. But never were any rules offered to be given by which to discover what the dream was; they cannot work unless they have something to work upon. They acknowledge that the gods may indeed declare unto man what is his thought (Amos 4:13), for God understands our thoughts afar off (Psalms 139:2), what they will be before we think them, what they are when we do not regard them, what they have been when we have forgotten them. But those who can do this are gods, but that they have not their dwelling with flesh.
11) (Read: (Daniel 2:11); and it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other than can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. KJV
11) Explanation: (Daniel 2:11); in verse eleven; Now the King was wrong in using the word “Gods”. There were no Gods, but only “One God”, Jehovah. Now the old King would soon learn about the one true God Jehovah.
11) Comments: (Daniel 2:11); in verse eleven; and it is they alone that can do this. As for men, their dwelling is with flesh; the wisest and greatest of men are clouded with a veil of flesh, which quite obstructs and confounds all their acquaintance with spirit, and their powers and operations; but the gods, that are themselves pure spirit, know what is in man. See here an instance of the ignorance of these magicians, that they speak of many gods, whereas there is but one and can be but one infinite; yet see their knowledge of that which even the light of nature teaches and the works of nature prove, that there is a God, who is a Spirit, and perfectly knows the spirits of men and all their thoughts, so as it is not possible that any man should. This confession of the divine omniscience is here extorted from these idolaters, to the honor of God and their own condemnation, who though they knew there is a God in heaven, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secret is hid, yet offered up their prayers and praises to dumb idols, that have eyes and see not, ears and hear not. That there is no king on earth that would expect or require such a thing, verse 10. This intimates that they were kings, lords, and potentates, not ordinary people, that the magicians had most dealings with, and at whose devotion they were, while the oracles of God and the gospel of Christ are dispensed to the poor. Kings and potentates have often required unreasonable things of their subjects, but they think that never any required so unreasonable a thing as this, and therefore hope his imperial majesty will not insist upon it. But it is all in vain; when passion is in the throne reason is under foot: He was angry and very furious.
VII) King Nebuchadnezzar’s Decree:
12) Read: (Daniel 2:12); for this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. KJV
12) Explanation: (Daniel 2:12); in verse twelve; the king was angry and very furious, with all the wise men of Babylon. For he had lost faith, at least; to some degree in his gods, Nebo and Bel, whom his wise men represented.
12) Comments: (Daniel 2:12); in verse twelve; Note, It is very common for those that will not be convinced by reason to be provoked and exasperated by it, and to push on with fury what they cannot support with equity. The doom passed upon all the magicians of Babylon. There is but one decree for them all in (verse 9); they all stand condemned without exception or distinction. The decree has gone forth, which said that they must every man of them be slain.
13) Read: (Daniel 2:13); and the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. KJV
13) Explanation: (Daniel 2:13); in verse thirteen; now they sought Daniel and his fellows. As the decree stated that all the wise men of Babylon should be slain, and the four young Hebrew, were being reputed among the wisest, they were considered as sentenced to death with them also.
13) Comments: (Daniel 2:13); in verse thirteen; Daniel and his fellows (though they knew nothing of the matter) not excepted. Please Read the two paragraphs below,
1) What are commonly the unjust proceedings of arbitrary power? Nebuchadnezzar is here a tyrant in true colors, speaking death when he cannot speak sense, and treating those as traitors whose only fault is that they would serve him, but cannot.
2) What is commonly the just punishment of the pretenders? How unrighteous so ever Nebuchadnezzar was in this sentence, as to the ringleaders in the imposture, God was righteous. Those that imposed upon men, in pretending to do what they could not do, are now sentenced to death for not being able to do what they did not pretend to.
VIII) (Daniel’s Offer to Interpret the Dream and his Prayer for Help)
14) Read: (Daniel 2:14); 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: KJV
14) Explanation: (Daniel 2:14); in verse fourteen; Now the captain of the King’s guard was the chief executioners for the King and he was also called the slaughter of men. The chief butchers would cut off the heads of those whom the King ordered to be slain, just because they had in any case displeased Him. The King would tell the chief butcher to go and bring me the head of Gaffer. Then the honorable butcher went and brought the head in a bag on a dish. Remember it was King Herod’s chief butcher that brought the head of John the Baptist in a dish.
14) Comments: (Daniel 2:14); in verse fourteen; he did not fall into a passion, and reproach the king as unjust and barbarous, much less did he contrive how to make resistance, but mildly asked, Why is the decree so hasty?
15) Read: (Daniel 2:15); 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. KJV
15) Explanation: (Daniel 2:15); in verse fifteen; Now this proclaims that “Arioch”, which is spoken of favorably by the Holy Spirit, for he was seeking to find a way out of this dilemma).
15) Comments: (Daniel 2:15); in verse fifteen; and whereas the rest of the wise men had insisted upon it that it was utterly impossible for him ever to have his demand gratified, which did but make him more outrageous. Daniel undertakes, if he may but have a little time allowed him, to give the king all the satisfaction he desired.
16) Read: (Daniel 2:16); Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. KJV
16) Explanation: (Daniel 2:16); in verse sixteen; And Daniel ask the King give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation). Here you can see that God’s plan was being brought about exactly as designed by the Holy Spirit).
16) Comments: (Daniel 2:16); in verse sixteen; the king, being now sensible of his error in not sending for Daniel sooner, whose character he began to recollect, was soon prevailed upon to respite the judgment, and make trial of Daniel. Note, The likeliest method to turn away wrath, even the wrath of a king, which is as the messenger of death, is by a soft answer, by that yielding which pacifies great offences; thus, though where the word of a king is there is power, yet even that word may be repelled, and that so as to be repealed; and so some read it here (verse 14). Then Daniel returned, and stayed the counsel and edict, through Arioch, the king’s provost marshal.
IX) Daniel knew how by prayer to converse with God, and he found favor with him, both in petition and in thanksgiving, which are the two principal parts of prayer.
17) Read: (Daniel 2:17); Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: KJV
17) Explanation: (Daniel 2:17); in verse seventeen; Here Daniel simply went to his house and made the thing known to his three companions.
17) Comments: (Daniel 2:17); in verse seventeen; his humble petition for this mercy, that God would discover to him what was the king’s dream, and the interpretation of it. When he had gained time he did not go to consult with the rest of the wise men whether there was anything in their art, in their books, that might be of use in this matter. But went to his house, there to be alone with God, for from him alone, who is the Father of lights, he expected this great gift. We must observe and read the 2 paragraphs below in A and B.
A) He did not only pray for this discovery himself, but he engaged his companions to pray for it too. He made the thing known to those who had been all along his bosom-friends and associates, requesting that they would desire mercy of God concerning this secret, verses 17 and 18.
Though Daniel was probably their senior, and every way excelled them, yet he engaged them as partners with him in this matter, the union of forces produces greater force. (Read; (Esther 4:16).
B) Note, Praying friends are valuable friends; it is good to have an intimacy with and an interest in those that have fellowship with God and an interest at the throne of grace; and it well becomes the greatest and best of men to desire the assistance of the prayers of others for them. Now remember Paul often entreats his friends to pray for him. Thus we must show that we put a value upon our friends, upon prayer, upon their prayers. He was particular in this prayer, but had an eye to, and a dependence upon, the general mercy of God: That they would desire the mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret.
18) Read: (Daniel 2:18); 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. KJV
18) Explanation: (Daniel 2:18); in verse eighteen; Daniel ask God about this secret and to have mercy for his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Now Daniel did this by calling a prayer meeting.
18) Comments: (Daniel 2:18); in verse eighteen; we ought in prayer to look up to God as the God of heaven, a God above us, and who has dominion over us, to whom we owe adoration and allegiance, a God of power, who can do everything. Our savior has taught us to pray to God as our Father in heaven. And, whatever good we pray for, our dependence must be upon the mercies of God for it, and an interest in those mercies we must desire; we can expect nothing by way of recompense for our merits, but all as the gift of God’s mercies. They desired mercy concerning this secret. Note, What-ever is the matter of our care must be the matter of our prayer; we must desire mercy of God concerning this thing and the other thing that occasions us trouble and fear. God gives us leave to be humbly free with him, and in prayer to enter into the detail of our wants and burdens. Secret things belong to the Lord our God, and therefore, if there be any mercy we stand in need of that concerns a secret, to him we must apply; and, though we cannot in faith pray for miracles. yet we may in faith pray to him who has all hearts in his hand, and who in his providence does wonders without miracles, for the discovery of that which is out of our view and the obtaining of that which is out of our reach, as far as is for his glory and our good, believing that to him nothing is hidden, nothing is hard.
18) Extra Comments; (Daniel 2:18); in verse eighteen; Their plea with God was the imminent peril they were in; they desired mercy of God in this matter, that so Daniel and his fellows might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, that the righteous might not be destroyed with the wicked. Note, when the lives of good and useful men are in danger it is time to be earnest with God for mercy for them, as for Peter in prison, (Acts 12:5).
X) The mercy which Daniel and his fellows prayed for was bestowed. The secret was revealed unto Daniel in a night-vision.
19) Read: (Daniel 2:19); Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. KJV
19) Explanation: (Daniel 2:19); in verse nineteen; this verse means that the same dream that was given to the King was now given to Daniel. I believe that the same dream was given to Daniel that very same night of their prayer meeting.
19) Comments: (Daniel 2:19); in verse nineteen; some think he dreamed the same dream, when he was asleep, that Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed; it should rather seem that when he was awake, and continuing instant in prayer, and watching in the same, the dream itself, and the interpretation of it, were communicated to him by the ministry of an angel, abundantly to his satisfaction. Note, Paul said that the effectual fervent prayer of righteous men avails much. There are mysteries and secrets which by prayer we are let into; with that key the cabinets of heaven are unlocked, for Christ has said, Thus knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
20) (Read: (Daniel 2:20); Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: KJV
20) Explanation: (Daniel 2:20); in verse twenty; here Daniel said, blessed be the name of God for ever and ever. For wisdom and might are his, and God knows all things, and He can do all things. Now in this and the following passages, we are given an account of the total and absolute ruler ship and all control by our Lord of all His Creations.
20) Comments: (Daniel 2:20); in verse twenty; His grateful thanksgiving for this mercy when he had received it. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven in verse 19. He did not stay till he had told it to the king, and seen whether he would own it to be his dream or no, but was confident that it was so, and that he had gained his point, and therefore he immediately turned his prayers into praises. As he had prayed in a full assurance that God would do this for him, so he gave thanks in a full assurance that he had done it; and in both he had an eye to God as the God of heaven. His prayer was not recorded, but his thanksgiving is. We must observe these 2 paragraphs below.
1) The honor he gives to God in this thanksgiving, which he studies to do in a great variety and copiousness of expression: Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever. There is that forever in God which is to be blessed and praised; it is unchangeably and eternally in him. And it is to be blessed for ever and ever; as the matter of praise is God’s eternal perfection, so the work of praise shall be everlastingly in the doing.
2) He gives to God the glory of what he is in himself: Wisdom and might are his, wisdom and courage (so some); whatever is fit to be done he will do. Whatever he will do he can do, he dares do, and he will be sure to do it in the best manner, for he has infinite wisdom to design and contrive and infinite power to execute and accomplish. With him are strength and wisdom, which in men are often parted.
XI) (Second Part of Daniel Chapter 2):
21) Read: (Daniel 2:21); 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: KJV
21) Explanation: (Daniel 2:21); in verse twenty-one; Now he changes the times and the seasons, this has reference to the successive Empire, and is allowed by the Lord God and seen by Daniel in the vision of the night).
21) Comments: (Daniel 2:21); in verse twenty-one; He gives him the glory of what he is to the world of mankind. He has a universal influence and agency upon all the children of men, and all their actions and affairs. Are the times changed? Is the posture of affairs altered? Does everything lie open to mutability? It is God that changes the times and the seasons, and the face of them. No change comes to pass by chance, but according to the will and counsel of God. Are those that were kings removed and deposed? Do they abdicate? Are they laid aside? It is God that removes kings. Are the poor raised out of the dust, to be set among princes? It is God that sets up kings; and the making and unmaking of kings is a flower of his crown who is the fountain of all power, King of kings and Lord of lords. Are there men that excel others in wisdom, philosophers and statesmen, that think above the common rate, contemplative penetrating men? It is God that gives wisdom to the wise, whether they be so wise as to acknowledge it or no; they have it not of themselves, but it is he that gives knowledge to those that know understanding, which is a good reason why we should not be proud of our knowledge, and why we should serve and honor God with it and make it our business to know him. He gives him the glory of this particular discovery. He praises him, first, for that he could make such a discovery.
22) Read: (Daniel 2:22); He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. KJV
22) Explanation: (Daniel 2:22); in verse twenty-two; Now God is not only the God of nature, and of man. But God is also all revelation. Our God can make known to man what otherwise man could never know. Our God is the very source of all light and enlightenment. Read; (I Timothy 6:16); Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.
22) Comments: (Daniel 2:22); in verse twenty-two; He reveals the deep and secret things which are hidden from the eyes of all living. It was he that revealed to man what is true wisdom when none else could (Job 27:27-28); it is he that reveals things to come to his servants and prophets. He does himself perfectly discern and distinguish that which is most closely and most industriously concealed, for he will bring into judgment every secret thing; the truth will be evident in the great day.
22) Extra Comments: (Daniel 2:22); in verse twenty-two; He knows what is in the darkness, and what is done in the darkness, for that hides not from him, (Psalms 139:11-12). The light dwells with him, and he dwells in the light (I Timothy 6:16), and yet, as to us, he makes darkness his pavilion. Some understand it of the light of prophecy and divine revelation, which dwells with God and is derived from him; for he is the Father of lights, of all lights; they are all at home in him. Secondly, for that he had made this discovery to him. Here he has an eye to God as the God of his fathers; for, though the Jews were now captives in Babylon, yet they were beloved for their father’s sake. He praises God, who is the fountain of wisdom and might, for the wisdom and might he had given him, wisdom to know this great secret and might to bear the discovery. Note, What wisdom and might we have we must acknowledge to be God’s gift. Thou hast made this known to me.
23) Read: (Daniel 2:23); 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. KJV
23) Explanation: (Daniel 2:23); in verse twenty-three; Daniel now particularizes his reasons for praise and thanksgiving. He addresses God as the God of his fathers. (He appeals to God as the Covenant God of Israel. (Who had led their fathers through the wilderness?
23) Comments; (Daniel 2:23); in verse twenty-three; what was hidden from the celebrated Chaldeans, who made the interpreting of dreams their profession, is revealed to Daniel, a captive Jew, a babe, much their junior. God would hereby put honor upon the Spirit of prophecy just when he was putting contempt upon the spirit of divination. Was Daniel thus thankful to God for making known that to him which was the saving of the lives of him and his fellows? Much more reason have we to be thankful to him for making known to us the great salvation of the soul, to us and not to the world, to us and not to the wise and prudent.
23) Extra-Comments; (Daniel 2:23); in verse twenty-three; the respect he puts upon his companions in this thanksgiving. Though it was by his prayers principally that this discovery was obtained, and to him that it was made, yet he owns their partnership with him, both in praying for it (it is what we desired of thee) and in enjoying it. Thou hast made known unto us the king’s matter. Either they were present with Daniel when the discovery was made to him, or as soon as he knew it he told it to them. I have found it, I have found it), that those who had assisted him with their prayers might assist him in their praises; his joining them with him is an instance of his humility and modesty, which well become those that are taken into communion with God. Thus St. Paul sometimes joins Sylvanus, Timotheus, or some other minister, with himself in the inscriptions to many of his epistles. Note, what honor God puts upon us we should be willing that our brethren may share with us in.
XII) (Now Daniel Glorifies God and Tells the King about his Dream)
A) (In these verses 24-30): We have here the introduction to Daniel’s declaring the dream, and the interpretation of it.
24) Read: (Daniel 2:24); 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. KJV
24) Explanation: (Daniel 2:24); in verse twenty-four; here Daniel said don’t destroy the wise men. The decree was suspended till it should be seen whether that Daniel could tell the dream, and then its interpretation to the King).
24) Comments: (Daniel 2:24); in verse twenty-four; he immediately spoke the reversing of the sentence against the wise men of Babylon, in verse 24. He went with all speed to Arioch, to tell him that his commission was now superseded: Destroy not the wise men of Babylon. Though there were those of them perhaps that deserved to die, as magicians, by the law of God, yet here that which they stood condemned for was not a crime worth of death or of bonds, and therefore let them not die, and be unjustly destroyed. But let them live, and be justly shamed, as having been nonplussed and unable to do that which a prophet of the Lord could do. Note, since God shows common kindness to the evil and good, we should do so too, and be ready to save the lives of even bad men; (Matthew 5:45). A good man is a common good. To Paul in the ship God gave the souls of all that sailed with him; they were saved for his sake. To Daniel he was owing the preservation of all the wise men, who yet rendered not according to the benefit done to them, (Daniel 3:8).
25) Read: (Daniel 2:25); 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. KJV
25) Explanation: (Daniel 2:25); in verse twenty-five; here in this verse we do not know how much that Daniel had revealed unto Arioch, if anything, we aren’t told here.
25) Comments: (Daniel 2:25); in verse twenty-five; Daniel was brought before the King by Arioch, the captain of the King’s guard, in haste, because he had found a man of the captives of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation of his dream.
26) Read: (Daniel 2:26); 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? KJV
26) Explanation: (Daniel 2:26); in verse twenty-six; the king said to Daniel, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and the interpretation of it?
26) Comments: (Daniel 2:26); in verse twenty-six; Daniel contrived as much as might be to reflect shame upon the magicians, and to give honor to God, upon this occasion. The king owned that it was a bold undertaking, and questioned whether he could make it good. The King said; “Art thou able to make known unto me the dream”? What! For such a babe in this knowledge, such a stripling as thou are, will thou undertake that which thy seniors despair of doing? The less likely it appeared to the king that Daniel should do this the more God was glorified in enabling him to do it. Note, In transmitting divine revelation to the children of men it has been God’s usual way to make use of the weak and foolish things and persons of the world, and such as were despised and despaired of, to confound the wise and mighty, that the excellency of the power might be of him, (I Corinthians 1:27-28). Daniel from this takes occasion, to put the king out of conceit with his magicians and soothsayers, whom he had such great expectations from (verse 27).
27) Read: (Daniel 2:27); 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; KJV
27) Explanation: (Daniel 2:27); in verse twenty-seven; here in this verse there is shade of rebuke to the king that was implied in Daniel’s answer. Daniel ask this question at the instigation of the Holy Spirit.
27) Comments: (Daniel 2:27); in verse twenty-seven “This secret they cannot show to the king; it is out of their power; the rules of their art will not reach to it. Therefore let not the king be angry with them for not doing that which they cannot do; but rather despise them, and cast them off, because they cannot do it.’’ Now Broughton reads it generally: “This secret no sages, astrologers, enchanters, or entrails-cookers, can show unto the king; let not the king therefore consult them anymore.”
28) Read: (Daniel 2:28); 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; KJV
28) Explanation: (Daniel 2:28); in verse twenty-eight; Note, The insufficiency of creatures should drive us to the all-sufficiency of the Creator. There is a God in heaven (and it is well for us there is) who can do that for us, and make known that to us, which none on earth can, particularly the secret history of the work of redemption and the secret designs of God’s love to us therein, and this mystery which was hidden from ages and generations; a divine revelation to helps us out where human reason leaves us quite at a loss, and makes known that, not only to kings, but to the poor of this world. Which none of the philosophers or politicians of the heathens, with all their oracles and arts; of divination to help them, could ever pretend to give us any light into, (Romans 16:25-26).
28) Comments: (Daniel 2:28); in verse twenty-eight; here Daniel confirmed the king in his opinion that the dream he was thus solicitous to recover the idea of was really well worth enquiring after. It was of great value and of vast consequence, and it was not a common dream. But the dream was a divine discovery, a ray of light darted into his mind from the upper world, relating to the great affairs and revolutions of this lower world. God in this dream made known to the king of what should be in the latter days in (verse 28). Now that was, in the times that were to come, reaching as far as the setting up of Christ’s kingdom in the world, which was to be in the latter days, (Hebrews 1:1).
29) Read: (Daniel 2:29); 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. KJV
29) Explanation: (Daniel 2:29); in verse twenty-nine; here is the idea of Daniel’s statement is to let the King know that this dream and its interpretation is of tremendous important and the reason for the King being so troubled as to know what it was and the meaning also. Now Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was a divinely; intended prophetic view of the future.
29) Comments: (Daniel 2:29); in verse twenty-nine “The thoughts which came into thy mind were not the repetitions of what had been before, as our dreams usually are”. “But they were predictions of what should come to pass hereafter, which he that reveals secrets makes known unto thee; and therefore thou art in the right in taking the hint and pursuing it. Note, Things that are to come to pass hereafter are secret things, which God only can reveal; and what he has revealed of those things, especially with reference to the last days of all, and to the end of time. Now they ought to be very seriously and diligently enquired into and considered by every one of us. Some think that the thoughts which are said to have come into the king’s mind upon his bed, are what should come to pass hereafter, were his own thoughts when he was awake. Just before he fell asleep, and dreamed this dream, he was musing in his own mind what would be the issue of his growing greatness, and what his kingdom would hereafter come to; and so the dream was an answer to those thoughts. What discoveries God intends to make He thus prepares men for.
30) Read: (Daniel 2:30); 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. KJV
30) Explanation: (Daniel 2:30); in verse thirty; now Daniel gave all the glory to the Lord God. Now in all of this the Lord took pity on these heathen sages! We should remember that our God has much mercy. Also God knows the thoughts of our heart.
30) Comments: (Daniel 2:30); in verse thirty; Daniel said, “But, as for me, this secret is not found
out by me, but is revealed to me, and that not for any wisdom that I have more than any living, to qualify me for the receiving of such a discovery.” Note, It well becomes those whom God has highly favored and honored to be very humble and low in their own eyes, to lay aside all opinion of their own wisdom and worthiness, that God alone may have all the praise of the good they are, and have, and do, and that all may be attributed to the freeness of his good-will towards them and the fullness of his good work in them. The secret was made known to him not for his own sake.
30) First, but Daniel said it is for the sake of his people, for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king. And that is, for the sake of his brethren and companions in tribulation, who had by their prayers helped him to obtain this discovery, and so might be said to make known the interpretation so that their lives might be spared. That they might come into favor and be preferred, and all the people of the Jews might fare the better, in their captivity, for their sakes. Note, humble men will be always ready to think that what God does for them and by them is more for the sake of others than for their own.
30) Second, for the sake of his prince; and some read the former clause in this sense, “Not for any wisdom of mine. But that the king may know the interpretation, and that thou mightiest know the thoughts of thy heart, that thou mightiest have satisfaction given thee as to what thou was before considering, and thereby instruction given thee how to behave towards the church of God.” God revealed this thing to Daniel that he might make it known to the king. Prophets receive that they may give, that the discoveries made to them may not be lodged with themselves, but communicated to the persons that are concerned.
31) Read: (Daniel 2:31); 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. KJV
31) Explanation: (Daniel 2:31); in verse thirty-one; in this verse here, the two words, “excellent and terrible.” Both are characterize the history of the Gentile power from the days of Nebuchadnezzar and also the continuing on to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with his Saints. Now these two words of excellent and terrible things often exist side by side. Now when Jesus Christ sets up His Millennial Kingdom, only which is excellent will exist. Now the “great image” will portray all the World Empires for the future, at least they will relate to Israel.
31) Comments: (Daniel 2:31); in verse thirty-one; the dream itself in these verses; that the King dreamed of; were confusing to him. But Nebuchadnezzar perhaps was an admirer of statues, and had his palace and gardens adorned with them; however, he was a worshipper of images, and now behold a great image is set before him in a dream, which might intimate to him what the images were which he bestowed so much cost upon, and paid such respect to; they were mere dreams. The creatures of fancy might do as well to please the fancy. By the power of imagination he might shut his eyes, and represent to himself what forms he thought fit, and beautify them at his pleasure, without the expense and trouble of sculpture. This was the image of a man erect: It stood before him, as a living man; and, because those monarchies which were designed to be represented by it were admirable in the eyes of their friends, the brightness of this image was excellent; and because they were formidable to their enemies, and dreaded by all about them, The form of this image is said to be terrible; both the features of the face and the postures of the body made it so.
32) Read: (Daniel 2:32); This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, KJV
32) Explanation: (Daniel 2:32); in verse thirty-two; in this sections of the image are said to represent kingdoms. The head of gold is specifically stated to picture King Nebuchadnezzar, or his kingdom Babylon. The arms of silver represent the kingdoms of Media and Persia. The belly and thighs of brass or bronze represent Greece. The legs of iron is the fore-shadow of the Roman Empire.
32) Comments: (Daniel 2:32); in verse thirty-two; Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream outlines the further history of Gentile world power. The four metals of which the image was made represented four successive empires, each with the power to possess the whole inhabited earth, though each stopped short of that. They were: (1) Babylon, (Jeremiah 51:7), (2) Medo-Persia, (3) Greece under Alexander, (4) Rome. The latter power was divided first into the two legs, corresponding to the eastern and western Roman empires, and then (after a very long time apparently) into the ten toes, a confederacy made up largely of European nations this is prophecy in (Daniel 7:24-27).
33) Read:(Daniel 2:33); His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. KJV
33) Explanation:(Daniel 2:33); in verse thirty-three; The Holy Spirit outlines the successive kingdoms by a representation of precious metals, iron, and clay.
33) Comments: (Daniel 2:33); in verse thirty-three; now here the legs of iron were still baser of metals, and lastly the feet part of iron and part of clay. We see what the things of this world are; the further we go in them the less valuable they appear. In the life of a man youth is a head of gold, but it grows less and less worthy of our esteem; and old age is half clay; a man is then as good as dead. It is so with the world; later ages degenerate. The first age of the Christian church, of the reformation, was a head of gold; but we live in an age that is iron and clay. Some allude to this in the description of a hypocrite, whose practice is not agreeable to his knowledge. He has a head of gold, but feet of iron and clay: he knows his duty, but does it not. Some observe that in Daniel’s visions the monarchies were represented by four beasts in (chapter 7). Now for he looked upon that wisdom from beneath, by which they were turned to be earthly and sensual, and a tyrannical power, to have more in it of the beast than of the man, and so the vision agreed with his notions of the thing. But to Nebuchadnezzar, a heathen prince, they were represented by a gay and pompous image of a man, for he was an admirer of the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them. To him the sight was so charming that he was impatient to see it again.
34) Read: (Daniel 2:34); 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. KJV
34) Explanation: (Daniel 2:34); in verse thirty-four; the “Stone” is the Lord Jesus Christ, and symbolizes His Second Coming. “Without hands, is an expression emphasizing the absence of all human instrumentality the act of God alone? This destroys the popular belief that Christianity will take over the world, with the Gospel gradually conquering all of mankind. Actually, Bible Christianity ultimately will cover the entirety of the Earth, but only after the Second Coming, even as this verse proclaims.
34) Comments: (Daniel 2:34); in verse thirty-four; the eternal kingdom of God, the Messianic kingdom, will extend over “the whole earth,” and all who reject Jesus, the Messiah, the Stone, will be crushed. See also (Psalms 118:22-23); (Isaiah 8:14); (Matthew 21:44); (Luke 2:34); (Luke 20:18); (I Peter 2:3-8). (Read these verses below).
A) (Psalms 118:22); the stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
B) (Psalms 118:22-23); this is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
C) (Matthew 21:44); and whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
D) (I Peter 2:4); to whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
E) (I Peter 2:5); ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, and holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
F) (I Peter 2:6); Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion, a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
G) (I Peter 2:7); unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
H) (I Peter 2:8); And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
35) Read: (Daniel 2:35); 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 threshing floors; 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 earth.
35) Explanation: (Daniel 2:35); in verse thirty-five; this portrays the Second Coming of the Lord and the destruction of all Gentile powers, meaning that never again will Gentile power hold sway, for that time is forever ended. After the Second Coming, Christ will set up His Kingdom of Righteousness, with Israel then being the predominant nation in the world, and remaining that way forever: Hence, the promises made to the Patriarchs and Prophets of old will be fulfilled in totality.
35) Comments: (Daniel 2:35); in verse thirty-five the next part of the dream shows it to us calcined, and brought to nothing. He saw a stone cut out of the quarry by an unseen power, without hands, and this stone fell upon the feet of the image, that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces; and then the image must fall of course, and so the gold, and silver, and brass, and iron, were all broken to pieces together, and beaten so small that they became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors. And there were not to be found any the least remains of them; but the stone cut out of the mountain became itself a great mountain, and filled the earth. We see how God can bring about great effects by weak and unlikely causes; when he pleases a little one shall become a thousand. Perhaps the destruction of this image of gold, and silver, and brass, and iron, might be intended to signify the abolishing of idolatry out of the world in due time. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, as this image was, and they shall perish from off the earth and from under these heavens, (Jeremiah 10:11); (Isaiah 2:18). And whatever power destroys idolatry is in the ready way to magnify and exalt itself, as this stone, when it had broken the image to pieces, became a great mountain.
XIII) (The Interpretation of the Head of Gold is Babylon)
36) Read: (Daniel 2:36); this is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. KJV
36) Explanation: (Daniel 2:36); in verse thirty-six; Daniel the Prophet simply tells the interpretation of the dream to the king for his God had reveal this secret mystery to him.
36) Comments: (Daniel 2:36); in verse thirty-six; the interpretation of this dream. Let us now see what is the meaning of this?
It was from God, and therefore from him it is fit that we take the explication of it. It should seem, Daniel had his fellows with him, and speaks for them as well as for himself, when he says, we will tell the interpretation, of the dream in verse 36.
37) Read: (Daniel 2:37); Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. KJV
37) Explanation: (Daniel 2:37); in verse thirty-seven; this confirms the statement that Daniel made in verse 21, that God does remove Kings, and sets up Kings over Kingdoms.
37) Comments: (Daniel 2:37); in verse thirty-seven this image represented the kingdoms of the earth that should successively bear rule among the nations and have influence on the affairs of the Jewish church. The four monarchies were not represented by four distinct statues, but by one image, because they were all of one and the same spirit and genius, and all more or less against the church. It was the same power, only lodged in four different nations, the two former lying eastward of Judea, the two latter westward.
38) Read: (Daniel 2:38); and where so ever 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. KJV
38) Explanation: (Daniel 2:38); in verse thirty-eight; Now this head of gold represented the Babylonian Empire, which was the grandest of all, at least as far as splendor and glory were concerned).
38) Comments: (Daniel 2:38); in verse thirty-eight; the head of gold signified the Chaldean monarchy, which was now in being (verses 37 and 38): Thou, O king! Art (or rather, shalt be) a king of kings, a universal monarch, to whom many kings and kingdoms shall be tributaries; or, Thou art the highest of kings on earth at this time (as a servant of servants is the meanest servant); thou dost outshine all other kings. But let him not attribute his elevation to his own politics or fortitude. No; it is the God of heaven that has given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory, a kingdom that exercises great authority, stands firmly, and shines brightly, acts by a puissant army with an arbitrary power. We should remember that the greatest of princes have no power, but what is given them from above and that would be from God Himself.
38) Extra Comments: (Daniel 2:38); in verse thirty-eight the extent of his dominion is set forth (verse 38), that where so ever the children of men dwell, in all the nations of that part of the world, he was ruler over them all, over them and all that belonged to them, all their cattle, not only those which they had a property in, but those that were fear nature wild, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven. He was lord of all the woods, forests, and chases, and none were allowed to hunt or fowl without his leave. Thus “thou art the head of gold; thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, for seventy years.” Compare this with (Jeremiah 25:9-11), especially (Jeremiah 27:5-7). There were other powerful kingdoms in the world at this time, as that of the Scythians; but it was the kingdom of Babylon that reigned over the Jews, and that began the government which continued in the succession here described till Christ’s time. It is called a head, for its wisdom, eminency, and absolute power, a head of gold for its wealth (Isaiah 14:4); it was a golden city. Some make this monarchy to begin in Nimrod, and so bring into it all the Assyrian kings, about fifty monarchs in all. And compute that it lasted above 1600 years. But it had not been so long a monarchy of such vast extent and power as is here described, nor anything like it; therefore others make only Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-Merodach, and Belshazzar, to belong to this head of gold; and a glorious high throne they had, and perhaps exercised a more despotic power than any of the kings that went before them. Nebuchadnezzar reigned forty-five years current, Evil-Merodach; twenty-three years current, and Belshazzar three. Babylon was their metropolis, and Daniel was with them upon the spot during the seventy years.
XIV) (Breast and Arms of Silver: Medo-Persia; Belly and Thighs of Brass: Grecia).
39) Read: (Daniel 2:39); and after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. KJV
39) Explanation: (Daniel 2:39); in verse thirty-nine; The first kingdom (after Babylon) is the “Medo-Persian Empire,” which would replace the Babylonian Empire, and which would come up in a few years. Now it would be “inferior” only in grandness and glory, not in strength. The third kingdom mentioned here is the Greacian Empire, which will proclaim the rise of Alexander the Great. Now this would come about in a little over 200 hundred years from this time.
39) Comments: (Daniel 2:39); in verse thirty-nine; the breast and arms of silver signified the monarchy of the Medes and Persians, of which the king is told no more than this, There shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee (verse 39), not so rich, powerful, or victorious. This kingdom was founded by Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian, in alliance with each other, and therefore represented by two arms, meeting in the breast. Now Cyrus was himself a Persian by his father, a Mede by his mother. Some reckon that this second monarchy lasted 130 years, others 204 years. The former computation agrees best with the scripture chronology.
40) Read: (Daniel 2:40); 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. KJV
40) Explanation: (Daniel 2:40); in verse forty; “fourth kingdom is the Roman Empire, and it is represented by the “legs of iron. It would be the strongest of all!
40) Comments: (Daniel 2:40); in verse forty; the legs and feet of iron signified the Roman monarchy. Some make this to signify the latter part of the Grecian monarchy, the two empires of Syria and Egypt, are the former governed by the family of the Seleucidae, from Seleucus, the latter by that of the Lagidae, from Ptolemaeus Lagus; these they make the two legs and feet of this image: Grotius, and Junius, and Broughton, go this way. But it has been the more received opinion that it is the Roman monarchy that is here intended, because it was in the time of that monarchy, and when it was at its height, that the kingdom of Christ was set up in the world by the preaching of the everlasting gospel. The Roman kingdom was strong as iron (verse 40), witness the prevalence of that kingdom against all that contended with it for many ages.
41) Read: (Daniel 2:41); 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. KJV
41) Explanation: (Daniel 2:41); in verse forty-one; Here all that we have previously studied represents Empires that have come and gone; however, the “feet” and “toes” of this statue of iron and clay represent that which is yet to come.
41) Comments: (Daniel 2:41); in verse forty-one; here the ten toes of the statue represent the ten kings that will rule simultaneously over the region of the former Roman dominion. It was in 364 B.C., that Emperor Valentina, divided the Roman Empire into east and west. Even today, the world is largely divided between East and West and will remain so until the Antichrist sets up a united government of ten kings (toes) just before the kingdom age begins and Christ returns. Also the ten toes correspond to the ten horns of the “fourth beast” in (Daniel 7:23-24).
42) Read: (Daniel 2:42); 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. KJV
42) Explanation: (Daniel 2:42); in verse forty-two; this verse represents the ten-nation confederation, with the “toes of the feet” symbolic of this confederation, which will greatly oppose Israel in the very near future.
42) Comments: (Daniel 2:42); in verse forty-two; that kingdom broke in pieces the Grecian empire and afterwards quite destroyed the nation of the Jews. Towards the latter end of the Roman monarchy it grew very weak, and branched into ten kingdoms, which were as the toes of these feet. Some of these were weak as clay, others strong as iron, verse 42.
43) Read: (Daniel 2:43); 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. KJV
43) Explanation: (Daniel 2:43); in verse forty-three; they shall mingle themselves in the seed of men for they will not hold together for two such elements can never harmonize together. Now their
confederation will not succeed, because of the “miry clay”, which expresses that some of the kingdoms are weak and this will take place in the near future.
43) Comments: (Daniel 2:43); in verse forty-three; now many have tried to guess what the ten toes might mean. But I believe that there will be a ten kingdom confederacy that rules with the Antichrist during the end times.
44) Read: (Daniel 2:44); in verse forty-four; 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. KJV
44) Explanation: (Daniel 2:44); in verse forty-four; this verse is basically the same as verses 34 and 35 in this chapter. They portrays the “Coming of the Lord”, and the “Millennial Kingdom” which God will bring about.
44) Comments: (Daniel 2:44); in verse forty-four; this Empire divided the government for a long time between the senate and the people, the nobles and the commons, but they did not entirely coalesce. There were civil wars between Marius and Sylla, Caesar and Pompey, whose parties were as iron and clay. Some refer this to the declining times of that empire, when, for the strengthening of the empire against the irruptions of the barbarous nations, the branches of the royal family intermarried. But the politics had not the desired effect, when the day of the fall of that empire came.
45) Read: (Daniel 2:45); 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 thereof sure. KJV
45) Explanation: (Daniel 2:45); in verse forty-five; the dream is certain and the interpretation of it is surely to come in the future, for the King has seen all of this in his dream. Now the King has no excuse to continue worshipping his dead idols; but he should worship the “Great God” who has made known to the King of what will come to pass hereafter. But in verse 45; just as you saw that the Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter. The dream is certain and the interpretation of it is sure.
45) Comments: (Daniel 2:45); in verse forty-five; the stone cut out without hands represented the kingdom of Jesus Christ, which should be set up in the world in the time of the Roman Empire, and upon the ruins of Satan’s kingdom in the kingdoms of the world. This is the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, for it should be neither raised nor supported by human power or policy; no visible hand should act in the setting of it up, but it should be done invisibly the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. This was the stone which the builders refused, because it was not cut out by their hands, but it has now become the head-stone of the corner. Please read the next two paragraphs.
1) The gospel-church is a kingdom, which Christ is the sole and sovereign monarch of, in which he rules by his word and Spirit, to which he gives protection and law, and from which he receives homage and tribute. It is a kingdom not of this world, and yet set up in it; it is the kingdom of God among men.
2) The God of heaven was to set up this kingdom, to give authority to Christ to execute judgment, to set him as King upon his holy hill of Zion, and to bring into obedience to him a willing people. Being set up by the God of heaven, it is often in the New Testament called the kingdom of heaven, for its original is from above and its tendency is upwards.
46) Read: (Daniel 2:46); then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. KJV
46) Explanation: (Daniel 2:46); in verse forty-six; Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and paid homage to Daniel (as a great prophet of the highest God). And King ordered that an offering and incense should be offered up to Daniel; (in honor of his God). But there is no indication that Daniel accepted this kind of worship.
46) Comments: (Daniel 2:46); in verse forty-six; he was ready to look upon Daniel as a little god. Though he saw him to be a man, yet from this wonderful discovery which he had made both of his secret thoughts, in telling him the dream, and of things to come, in telling him the interpretation of it, he concluded that he had certainly a divinity lodged in him, worthy his adoration; and therefore he fell upon his face and worshipped Daniel, verse 46. It was the custom of the country by prostration to give honor to kings, because they have something of a divine power in them (I have said, You are gods); and therefore this king, who had often received such generation from others, now paid the like to Daniel, whom he supposed to have in him a divine knowledge, which he was so struck with an admiration of that he could not contain himself, but forgot both that Daniel was a man and that himself was a king. Thus did God magnify divine revelation and make it honorable, extorting from a proud potentate such a generation but for one glimpse of it. He worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation to him, and burn incense. Here in he cannot be justified, but may in some measure be excused, when Cornelius was thus ready to worship Peter, and John the angel, who both knew better. But, though it is not here mentioned, yet we have reason to think that Daniel refused these honors that he paid him, and said, as Peter to Cornelius, Stand up, I myself also am a man, or, as the angel to St. John, See thou do it not; for it is not said that the oblation was offered unto him, though the king commanded it, or rather said it, for so the word is. He said, in his haste, Let an oblation be offered to him. And that Daniel did say something to him which turned his eyes and thoughts another way is intimated in what follows (verse 47), the king answered Daniel.
46) Note, it is possible for those to express a great honor for the ministers of God’s word who yet have no true love for the word. Herod feared John, and heard him gladly, and yet went on in his sins, (Mark 6:20).
47) Read: (Daniel 2:47); 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. KJV
47) Explanation: (Daniel 2:47); in verse forty-seven; here the word “answered” supports the conviction that Daniel refused that Divine honors and directed the King away from himself to God. Here the King concedes that Daniel’s God “Jehovah” is the greatest and true God and a Revealer of secret mysteries, and seeing that Daniel’s God could reveal this secret mystery to him.
47) Comments: (Daniel 2:47); in verse forty-seven; he readily acknowledged the God of Daniel to be the great God, the true God, the only living and true God. If Daniel will not suffer himself to be worshipped, he will (as Daniel, it is likely, directed him) worship God, by confessing (verse 47). Of a truth your God is a God of gods, such a God as there is no other, above all gods in dignity, over all gods in dominion. He is a Lord of kings, from whom they derive their power and to whom they are accountable; and he is both a discoverer and a revealer of secrets; what is most secret he sees and can reveal, and what he has revealed is what was secret and which none but himself could reveal, in (I Corinthians 2:10).
48) Read: (Daniel 2:48); 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. KJV
48) Explanation: (Daniel 2:48); in verse forty-eight; the King made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon and he was to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. Now next to the King, Daniel was the most powerful man in the world. He was also looked at as the wisest man in the world, and rightly so.
48) Comments: (Daniel 2:48); in verse forty-eight; he preferred Daniel, and made him a great man, in verse 48. God made him a great man indeed when he took him into communion with himself, a greater man than Nebuchadnezzar could make him; but, because God had magnified him, therefore the king magnified him. Does wealth make men great? The king gave him many great gifts; and he had no reason to refuse them, when they all put him into so much the greater capacity of doing well to his brethren in captivity. These gifts were grateful returns for the good services he had done, and not aimed at, nor bargained for, by him, as the rewards of divination were by Balaam. Does power make a man great? He made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, which no doubt had great influence upon the other provinces. He made him likewise chancellor of the university, chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon, to instruct those whom he had thus outdone; and, since they could not do what the king would have them do, they shall be obliged to do what Daniel would have them do. Thus it is fit that the fool should be servant to the wise in heart. Seeing Daniel could reveal this secret (verse 47), the king thus advanced him.
48) Note, it is the wisdom of princes to advance and employ those who receive divine revelation, and are much conversant with it, who, as Daniel here, show themselves to be well acquainted with the kingdom of heaven. Joseph, like Daniel here, was advanced in the court of the king of Egypt for his interpreting his dreams; and he called him Zaphnath-paaneah a revealer of secrets, as the king of Babylon here calls Daniel. So that the preambles to their patents of honor are the same; for, and in consideration of, their good services; done to the crown in revealing secrets.
49) Read: (Daniel 2:49); 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. KJV
49) Explanation: (Daniel 2:49); in verse forty-nine; and Daniel requested of the king that he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel would sat at the gate of the king. Now this meant that Daniel was appointed Prime Minister, the most powerful position in the world in that day other than the King himself. Now the “gate” means that was the door to the King, otherwise a person had to see Daniel and then get his permission to enter the king’s court.
49) Comments: (Daniel 2:49); in verse forty-nine; He preferred his companions for his sake, and upon his special instance and request, verse 49. Daniel himself sat in the gate of the king, as president of the council, chief-justice, or prime-minister of state, or perhaps chamberlain of the household; but he used his interest for his friends as became a good man, and procured places in the government for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Those that helped him with their prayers shall share with him in his honors, such a grateful sense had he even of that service. The preferring of them would be a great stay and help to Daniel in his place and business. And these pious Jews, being thus preferred in Babylon, had great opportunity of serving their brethren in captivity, and of doing them many good offices, which no doubt they were ready to do. Thus, sometimes, before God brings his people into trouble, he prepares it, that it may be easy to them.
A) Now this concludes our Bible Study on chapter two of the Book of Daniel. Next week we will continue our lesson studies in the chapter three of the Book of Daniel. Please be much in prayer for me as I try to teach this great book of the Bible.
B) We have a choice and that is to call upon the name of Jesus Christ and ask Him to come into your life and save you. Then you are on your way to a place called Heaven because of what Jesus done for all mankind on the Cross. He paid the price by shedding His Precious Blood and dying there so that all mankind could go free.
C) Now all you have to do is just sincerely pray a simple prayer like this one here. “Please God, I confess to you my sins and need Jesus in my life right now. I will turn away from my sins and place my Faith in your Son Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen.”
D) Then you should share your Faith in Jesus Christ with other Christian friends or a pastor. Now by becoming a Christian, this is your first step on that long life’s road of a Spiritual growth and your service to sharing God. The second step is to follow Jesus Christ in a believer’s baptism by immersion in water and joining a local church that teaches the true Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember what Jesus said to Thomas in (John 14:6); I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
E) Now I have just finish reading the two scriptures in the book of (Matthew 28:19-20). Most people that are Christians go to church on Sunday morning and then go out to eat lunch or a late dinner. But I would like to ask everyone a few questions about whose job it is to tell the “Good News” or the “Gospel”? Most Christians believe that this is the job of the pastor because that why we pay him for. But then there are the other type of Christians that believe that this job belongs to the Deacon in the church. Well, guess what, I believe that telling the Gospel is my job and every born again believers that has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
F) Yes that means all of us are commanded to go, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, which is Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19); Remember time is running out for all those that are not saved. Also I believe that we are living in those last days right now and we as Christians have very little time left to tell our love ones and those who may not be saved about our Lord Jesus Salvation Plan. And that plan is called the “Gospel” or the “Good News,” this is the job of every born again believer that calls Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior.
Frank Rose