Daniel 2:14-24 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Daniel Volunteers to Explain the Dream. To save the magicians from their doom, Daniel offers to tell the king his dream and prays to God to make the thing clear to him.

Daniel 2:14. Arioch: Eri-Aku (Servant of the Moon-god, see on Daniel 2:17), an old Sumerian (p. 51) name which, according to Sayce, was not in use in the time of Nebuchadnezzar. It occurs in Genesis 14:1, whence many scholars think our author derived it. captain of the guard: lit. captain of the slaughterers or butchers. The same expression occurs in Genesis 37:36; Genesis 39:1; 2 Kings 25:8; Jeremiah 39:9.

Daniel 2:18. the God of heaven: this title for God is often found in post-exilic literature, especially in Ezra and Nehemiah. It indicates, as Charles suggests, the growing transcendence of Jewish thought concerning God.

Daniel 2:20-23. Daniel's hymn of praise. This hymn emphasizes (a) the might, (b) the wisdom of God, especially the latter. The might of God is illustrated in Daniel 2:21 by His influence in history. He changeth times and seasons, i.e. the course of history does not run smoothly. There are constant crises and changes, empires are overthrown, new forces arise, and all these are due to the intervention of God.

Daniel 2:21 b - Daniel 2:23 describes the wisdom of God. God is the source of all light and knowledge, and it is because of this that he has made clear to Daniel the king's dream.

Related Commentaries of Daniel 2:14

Daniel 2:14-24

14 Then Daniel answeredd with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

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.

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.

17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

18 That they would desire mercies of the Gode of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

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:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

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.

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.