Daniel 2

Daniel 2:1-23

Clarke - Such secrets of God are revealed to them (His prophets), that they may inform the people; that, by repentance and conversion, they may avoid the evil, and, by walking closely with God, secure the continuance of His favour. Difficult (03358)(yaqqir) has diverse meanings of honorable or as here, difficult. The Lxx translates it with the adjective barus which means "weighty, heavy (figuratively of rules and regulations difficult to obey - burdensome, oppressive - 2Cor 10:10; Acts 20:29 = "savage")." Disciple's Study Bible - God's ability to reveal the mysteries of the future to His servant shows He is the only God. Belief in one true God is not simply a dogmatic statement of faith. It is a valid interpretation of the experiences of history. (Disciple's Study Bible) Gods (0426)(elah) is used here of gods with a little "g," but is used most often in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel of the true and living God (95x in 78v - Ezra 4:24; 5:1f, 5, 8, 11ff; 6:3, 5, 7ff, 12, 14, 16ff; 7:12, 14ff, 23ff; Jer 10:11; Dan 2:11, 18ff, 23, 28, 37, 44f, 47; 3:12, 14f, 17f, 25f, 28f; 4:2, 8f, 18; 5:3f, 11, 14, 18, 21, 23, 26; 6:5, 7, 10ff, 16, 20, 22f, 26 - Usage: God - 74, god - 6, gods -15). Gods… whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh - Their belief that the gods did not live among men was true. Why? Because their gods didn't even exist! People today chose to believe in "gods" which don't exist, because those "gods" of their own imagination allow they to live anyway they desire with no fear of judgment and condemnation (but also with no hope of salvation!) ESV Study Bible on whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh - Their (Ed: the Babylonian counselors, the "wise men") own words reveal the power of Israel’s God, who does exactly what they say is impossible. Israel’s God is not only the high and holy God whose glory fills the heavens, but also the God who dwells with those of a humble and contrite spirit (Isa. 57:15). God by answering Daniel shows that he is the true God, and anticipates the time when God’s dwelling will be in the flesh (John 1:14-note). Ray Pritchard - Historians tell us that the Babylonians wrote books about how to interpret dreams but they were utterly unable to retrieve the dream itself. In the words of Joseph Seiss, “If these men failed, it was the laying prostrate of all the wisdom, power, and art of man.” (quoted from Voices from Babylon : or, The records of Daniel the prophet) Write over their failure the verdict of Ecclesiastes, “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.” (The World According to God) Daniel 2:12 Because of this the king became indignant and very furious and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. Da 3:13 Job 5:2 Ps 76:10 Pr 16:14 Pr 19:12 Pr 20:2 Pr 27:3,4 Pr 29:22 Mt 2:16 Mt 5:22 Daniel Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Job 5:2 “For vexation slays the foolish man, And anger kills the simple. Because of this (for this reason) - What reason? The fact that now the king realizes his wise men weren't so wise! The rationalization and excuses of the wise men provoked the ire of the king. Indignant and very furious (cf. Ge 40:2; 41:10; Dal 3:13, 19).- Septuagint (Lxx) (TH) has thumos and orge respectively. One description wasn't enough to express his boiling anger!. Very furious signifies he was “in a furious rage, implying anger to a very great degree.” (Swanson) Remember this is his response to the wise men who tried to explain the impossibility of the king's request! To contradict or refuse the king's command was an offense punishable by death. This would not be the last time we encounter Nebuchadnezzar's anger management problem… Dan 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. Proverbs speaks to a monarch's propensity toward anger… Pr 16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it. Pr 19:12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass. Pr 20:2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. NET Note - Aram “was angry and very furious.” The expression is a hendiadys (two words or phrases expressing a single idea). To destroy - execute, slay, kill. Compare Daniel 5:19 where Daniel addresses King Belshazzar… Dan 5:19 “And because of the grandeur which He (God) bestowed on him (referring to King Nebuchadnezzar), all the peoples, nations, and men of every language feared and trembled before him; whomever he wished he killed, and whomever he wished he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated, and whomever he wished he humbled. Comment: Only God has the final say on life and death. In First Samuel we read "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up." (1Sa 2:6) Wise men - This would include the four classes that were before the king as well as all others such as Daniel and his companions who had been given wisdom and understanding (Da 1:20 = "the king consulted them"). Daniel 2:13 So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them. decree: Da 6:9-15 Esther 3:12, 13, 14, 15 Ps 94:20 Pr 28:15, 16, 17 Isa 10:1 and they: Da 1:19,20 6:12 Daniel Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE HERO OF THE PLAY So - See discussion of terms of conclusion The decree went forth - It is interesting that the exact Greek phrase (to dogma exelthe in Theodotion's Lxx) is used by Luke in Lk 2:1 (Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.) Should be slain - The NKJV translation reads "they began killing the wise men." This reading implies the killing had begun. In fact some writers suggest the carnage had begun, but most commentaries and translations do not favor this interpretation. For example the NET Bible translation reads "about to be executed" with the explanatory note that "The Aramaic participle is used here to express the imminent future." Campbell - The abject confession of the "wise men" is striking and set the stage for Daniel who is "a man upon the earth to tell the king's matter," a man in touch with the true God in heaven who will reveal the dream and its interpretation to His servant. But the humiliation of the king's advisers is also the humiliation of human wisdom. Dr. Joseph A. Seiss rightly observes that the failure of the wise men shows "the incompetence of all mere human resources, learning and power to ascertain the mind and will of God apart from His own revelations." In an astute survey of the history of human thought, Seiss asserts, "Here was a full grown heathenism of more than a thousand years. Here were the combined strength and wisdom of the most noted schools in the highest acme of their glory… If these men failed, it was the laying prostrate of all the wisdom, power, and art of man… It proves to me, one brief utterance, that all the religions, arts, sciences, philosophies, attainments, and powers of man, apart from God's inspired prophets and all-glorious Christ, are but emptiness and vanity as regards any true and adequate knowledge of the purposes and will of Jehovah or of the destinies of man… It is to the modest Daniels and the humble Nazarenes, after all, that the proud world must come to find out His mind and purposes" (Borrow Voices from Babylon : or, The records of Daniel the prophet 1879], 47-49). (Daniel: God's Man in a Secular Society - borrow same book different title Daniel, decoder of dreams) Daniel 2:14 Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king's bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon; with: 2Sa 20:16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 21, 22 Ec 9:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 captain of Ge 37:36 Jer 39:9 52:12,14 Daniel Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THEN DANIEL: < DANIEL STEPS UP! (DANIEL'S GOD STEPS IN) Then Daniel - Praise God for these words "then Daniel" (same phrase in Da 2:17, 19), for God had prepared and equipped (2Ti 2:21-note) His choice servant for such a time as this (Da 1:9-note, Da 1:17-note, cp Esther 4:14-16-note). As an aside when you are reading and studying Scripture (especially prophetic passages) be alert for the conjunction "then" as this marks the sequence of events and helps organize the chronology of the passages you are studying. See discussion of the importance of expressions of time. CRISIS OF FAITH Campbell - It has been said that the true character of a person is revealed in a time of crisis. Daniel faced a great crisis when the royal executioner stood at his door to carry out the decree of the king! The response of Daniel is an example of how God's children in any time should react to crisis. In addition, he is clearly shown to be a man of sterling character who has learned how to trust God. (Daniel: God's Man in a Secular Society - borrow same book different title Daniel, decoder of dreams) Note what Daniel did not do - He did not panic! He did not overreact! He did not become "paralyzed" by fear! He was young in years but wise in the ways of God (yes, there is hope for godly teens today!), and recognized that a humanly impossible situation could only be resolved by divine intervention! Our obstacles are God's opportunities to show Himself great and mighty in our behalf! Therefore… DON'T PANIC! We see Daniel responding with discretion and discernment in Da 1:10-14-note, but recall that Daniel's response was based on God's provision of favor and compassion in the sight of the Babylonian official (Da 1:9-note), which followed the Daniel's dramatic decision to not be defiled! (Daniel 1:8-note) Discretion (Prudent counsel = NET; Prudence = ESV, RSV; Tact = CSB) (05843) (etah) is a feminine noun indicating counsel, discretion. It refers to the manner in which someone replies or acts with discernment, prudence, and wisdom. This is the only use of this Aramaic word in Scripture. The Lxx translates discretion (etah) with boule which means to resolve to do something as a result of inner deliberation. NET Note on discretion and discernment - Aramaic = "returned prudence and counsel." The expression is a Hendiadys. (a Latinized form of the Greek phrase [hèn dià duoîn = "one through two"] which is a figure of speech used for emphasis — "The substitution of a conjunction for a subordination". The basic idea is to use two words linked by the conjunction "and" instead of the one modifying the other.) (Or see Webster) Discretion (Webster 1828) = Prudence, or knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution; nice discernment and judgment, directed by circumspection, and primarily regarding one’s own conduct. Liberty or power of acting without other control than one’s own judgment; as, the management of affairs was left to the, discretion of the prince; he is left to his own discretion Hence, To surrender at discretion, is to surrender without stipulation or terms, and commit one’s self entirely to the power of the conqueror. Prudence (Webster 1828) = Prudence implies caution in deliberating and consulting on the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes and the exercise of sagacity in discerning and selecting them. Prudence differs from wisdom in this, that prudence implies more caution and reserve than wisdom, or is exercised more in foreseeing and avoiding evil, than in devising and executing that which is good. It is sometimes mere caution or circumspection. Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, season and method of doing or not doing. Discernment (Discretion = ESV, CSB, RSV, NLT)(02942)(teem) is literally taste, and so figuratively describes the faculty which discriminates and selects what is suitable for a given occasion. Baker adds it is "An Aramaic masculine noun meaning taste, judgment, command, flavor. Belshazzar held a great feast and tasted wine from the consecrated vessels of God’s Temple (Dan. 5:2). When used figuratively, the word has the meaning of judgment or discretion, such as Daniel’s counsel and wisdom to Nebuchadnezzar’s chief guard (Da. 2:14). This word is also used in relaying a command of God, such as the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 6:14), or of a person, as in the decree to worship the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar (Da 3:10)." (Complete Word Study Dictionary- Old Testament) Lxx translates with gnome = describes the mind as the instrument of knowing and then a "way of thinking" (BDAG) Teem - 29x in 27v in NAS - Ezra 4:8f, 17, 19, 21; 5:3, 5, 9, 13, 17; 6:1, 3, 8, 11f, 14; 7:13, 21, 23; Dan 2:14; 3:10, 12, 29; 4:6; 5:2; 6:2, 26. NAS translates as accountable(1), command(1), commanded*(1), commander*(3), decree(18), discernment(1), disregarded*(1), orders(1), report(1), tasted(1). This description of Daniel is reminiscent of Pr 15:1 (A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.) and Col 4:5, 6 (gracious speech - see notes). THOUGHT - Once again Daniel was tactful, tasteful and wise in his approach to the very man who had been assigned to take his life (cp Da 1:11, 12, 13). If you find yourself in a humanly impossible situation like Daniel, remember Daniel 2. Don't reflexively react, don't panic, don't be brash or argumentative, but be like Daniel, discreet and discerning. Campbell - When under such conditions he (Daniel) might have said unwise and inappropriate things, he had the grace to guard his speech (Ed: cp Ps 141:3, Col 4:5-6) and inquire discreetly as to why the king's decree was so harsh. (Daniel: God's Man in a Secular Society - borrow same book different title Daniel, decoder of dreams) As an aside, while there is no mention of the Holy Spirit, a survey of the NT demonstrates that one of the aspects of a person's actions which are controlled (when the person is surrendered to the Spirit) is speech (e.g., note the first verb in both English and the original Greek in Eph 5:19 after Paul commands us to be filled with the Spirit in Eph 5:18!). The fact that Daniel responds with "discretion and discernment" and not panic, not compliant, not anger, etc, strongly suggests his gracious speech was controlled by the Holy Spirit. (see more comments in next verse). Daniel could have easily become frightened, for after all this was truly a real life or death circumstance. He manifested the truth of the proverb which teaches the principle that… The fear of man (We fear man's criticism, rejection, being left alone) brings a snare (the trap is to become a man pleaser and try to do whatever it takes to make men like us), but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted (Click discussion of this great Hebrew word "sagab" - this same verb is used in Pr 18:10 translated in NAS as "safe" - the idea being lifted up and out of danger). (Pr 29:25) Discretion: Source of: 1 Ch 22:12; Pr 1:1–4; 8:12 Persons endowed with: 2 Ch 2:12; Da 2:14 (cf. Pr 26:16) Benefits of: Pr 2:11; 19:11 Exhortation concerning: Pr 3:21; 5:2 Lack of: Pr 11:22 In Christian women’s dress: 1Ti 2:9 Captain of the king's bodyguard - The chief of the executioners. Robert Dean - Daniel 2 also gives us the contrast between the misery, the unhappiness, the turmoil in the unbeliever’s soul in the midst of a crisis and how a believer… a believer who understands the promises of God and who applies them regularly,… a believer is completely dominated in his soul by divine viewpoint thinking, and we’re going to see that even when the executioners come and pound on his door to arrest him and haul him off to the execution block, he has stability, he has strength, he has poise under pressure and he responds to the crisis with a very cool head and applies doctrine. And so there’s a contrast between the most powerful man and one of his servants; the most powerful man who has no doctrine and is in turmoil and his servant Daniel, one of the administrators of the kingdom, who is about to lose his life but has tremendous cool and calm under pressure. (Ibid) Daniel 2:15 he said to Arioch, the king's commander, "For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. Daniel Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DANIEL'S REMARKABLE FAITH Then Arioch - Note that this was to be a "date" with an executioner, not a time for conversation. That Arioch would respect Daniel's query and take time to inform this one who was condemned to death speaks of Arioch's regard which in turn takes us back to Da 1:9 (cp Joseph Ge 39:21-23) and the good hand of the Lord upon this young man who had chosen the uncompromising path (Da 1:8, cp Ezra 7:9-10). Campbell observes that Daniel "showed wisdom and discretion (Da 2:14-15). When under such conditions he might have said unwise and inappropriate things, he had the grace to guard his speech and inquire discreetly as to why the king's decree was so harsh." (Daniel: God's Man in a Secular Society - borrow same book different title Daniel, decoder of dreams) Urgent (severe) (hasap) is an Aramaic verb used only here and in Da 3:22 where it describes "the king’s command (as) urgent." Leon Wood - Whatever the reason, Arioch now took time to inform them. For this he must be commended, for many rough men would have cared little whether their intended victims knew the reasons for their being killed or not. (Commentary on Daniel- Leon Wood borrow his related book Daniel : Bible study commentary) Daniel 2:16 So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king. ( Requested - Da 2:9, 10, 11 , 1:18,19 Daniel Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BOLD REQUEST FOR STAY OF EXECUTION So Daniel went in - How is this possible? He wasn't even called in the first gathering of wise men. And yet here he enters the king's presence, the very one who had just angrily ordered his death! Is this not another manifestation of the good hand of the LORD upon His choice vessel of honor (2Ti 2:21) granting him favor and compassion in the sight of his conquering captors? (cp Da 1:9, cp Solomon's prayer 1Ki 8:50 "make them [Daniel and the boys in this case!] objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive [In this case it was Nebuchadnezzar!], that they may have compassion on them" -- 300 years before Daniel 2 -- have you ever considered that prayers you make now might be answered long after you leave this earth? Clearly prayer transcends time and enters into eternity in a way we cannot fully understand! [cp Rev 8:3-4-note] Does this truth not motivate us to be more faithful in our prayer life during our short time on earth?!) As Pr 29:25 attests the best "antidote" for the snare brought by the fear of man is trust in Yahweh (such trust includes reverential awe - fear of God - Indeed it is a axiom that if fear God, you have no need to fear man!) Donald Campbell says that in addition to demonstrating discretion and discernment Daniel "demonstrated great boldness (Ed: "the righteous are bold as a lion." - Pr 28:1) and faith (Da 2:16). He was able to persuade Arioch, captain of the king's guard, to get him an audience with the king during which Daniel asked for a delay in execution and promised in time to tell the king what be wanted to know-the dream and its meaning. What audacity or what faith! Which is it? If Daniel failed to produce what he promised, who can imagine his fate?" Sir Wilfred Grenfell also demonstrated a robust faith in a time of crisis. In the course of his work as a medical missionary in Labrador, he set out on a sick call with his dog team. Traveling over the frozen water of an ocean bay, he found himself isolated with his team on an island of ice that as drifting out to sea. Mercifully putting his dogs to death, made a coat for himself out of the hides, hoisted a distress flag-and then lay down and slept! After he was rescued, someone asked him how he could sleep under such frightening conditions. He answered, "There was nothing to fear. I had done all I could. Certainly I had done all that was humanly possible. The rest lay in God's hands. What, then, was there to be afraid of ?" (They Met At Philippi- Carroll E. Simcox [New York: Oxford University Press, 1958], 155ff). (Daniel: God's Man in a Secular Society - borrow same book different title Daniel, decoder of dreams) Thus clearly Daniel's "regal request" demonstrated boldness as well as faith. While his actions could have been based on the truth of Da 1:17 ("Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams"), we are not told that Daniel was actually aware of this supernatural gift at this time. In any even, his actions demonstrate faith in his God. To be sure faith is an "action verb", for when you truly know and believe what Jehovah alone is the LORD and there is no other (Isa 45:5), then you are prepared to display strength and take action (Da 11:32b). Archer - Interestingly, Daniel asks the king for time to seek an interpretation for the dream (Da 2:16), when previously the king accused the wise men of stall tactics (Da 2:8). Daniel is most persuasive with the king, but we are given no details as to the exchange between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar. We can only assume that Daniel’s request for a stay of execution of the wise men is granted because he assures the king that “his God, Yahweh, could reveal the dream and its interpretation to him within a reasonable interval” (Miller, 85). Clearly, God continues to bestow favor on the Hebrew captive Daniel in his encounters with his Babylonian overlords (cf. Seow, 40) (Ed: See Da 1:9 and compare with another "captive" Joseph - Ge 39:3-4, 21, 23, 41:39). As a wise man Daniel has great power (Pr 24:5a), and thus he is able to appease the king’s wrath (Pr 16:14). (Expositor's Bible) Tony