The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers. He calls for the Chaldean soothsayers, who more than once had been detected in imposture. He neglects God, and Daniel, whose fame as an interpreter was then well established. The world wishes to be deceived, and shuts its eyes against the light (Calvin). The Hebrews think the words were Chaldee, but in the old Hebrew character (like that now in the Samaritan Pentateuch).
Whosoever shall read this writing ... shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. The first place was given to the Whosoever shall read this writing ... shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. The first place was given to the king; the second to the son of the king, or of the queen; the third to the chief of the satraps.