Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
Ver. 19. Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar.] Which name he took no felicity at all in, but the contrary. Nevertheless, for the Chaldeans' sake, in whose tongue he wrote these things, and at whose good he therein aimed, he here addeth it.
Was astonished for an hour.] So was not Nebuchadnezzar, who was the man concerned. Ea fere est improbarum securitas; the godly, who have less cause, are frightened often, when the wicked are hardened. See Habakkuk 3:16. See Trapp on " Hab 3:16 " But they who tremble not in time of threatening, shall be crushed to pieces in time of punishing. a
My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee.] Daniel, after a certain pause makes this mannerly preamble to the interpretation of the dream, which could not be very pleasing. But truth must be spoken, however it be taken. So Philo brings in Joseph prefacing to the interpretation of Pharaoh's baker's dream, Utinam tale somnium non vidisses, &c., I would, sir, you had not so dreamed; but since you have, I mast deal plainly with you.
a Bradford.