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Commentary on Daniel 2 verses 14–23
When the king sent for his wise men to tell them his dream, and the interpretation of it (Dan 2:2), Daniel, it seems, was not summoned to appear among them; the king, though he was highly pleased with him when he examined him, and thought him ten times wiser than the rest of his wise men, yet forgot him when he had most occasion for him; and no wonder, when all was done in a heat, and nothing with a cool and deliberate thought. But Providence so ordered it; that the magicians being nonplussed might be the more taken notice of, and so the more glory might redound to the God of Daniel. But, though Daniel had not the honour to be consulted with the rest of the wise men, contrary to all law and justice, by an undistinguishing sentence, he stands condemned with them, and till he has notice brought him to prepare for execution he knows nothing of the matter. How miserable is the case of those who live under arbitrary government, as this of Nebuchadnezzar's! How happy are we, whose lives are under the protection of the law and methods of justice, and lie not thus at the mercy of a peevish and capricious prince!
We have found already, in Ezekiel, that Daniel was famous both for prudence and prayer; as a prince he had power with God and by man; by prayer he had power with God, by prudence he had power with man, and in both he prevailed. Thus did he find favour and good understanding in the sight of both, and in these verses we have a remarkable instance of both.
I. Daniel by prudence knew how to deal with men, and he prevailed with them. When Arioch, the captain of the guard, that was appointed to slay all the wise men of Babylon, the whole college of them, seized Daniel (for the sword of tyranny, like the sword of war, devours one as well as another), he answered with counsel and wisdom (Dan 2:14); 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? Dan 2:15. 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, Dan 2:16. 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 (Dan 2:14): Then Daniel returned, and stayed the counsel and edict, through Arioch, the king's provost-marshal.
II. Daniel knew how by prayer to converse with God, and he found favour with him, both in petition and in thanksgiving, which are the two principal parts of prayer. Observe,
1.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. Observe, (1.) 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, Dan 2:17, Dan 2:18. Though Daniel was probably their senior, and every way excelled them, yet he engaged them as partners with him in this matter, Vis unita fortior - The union of forces produces greater force. See Est 4:16. 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. St. 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. (2.) 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, Dan 2:18. 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 recompence for our merits, but all as the gift of God's mercies. They desired mercy concerning this secret. Note, Whatever 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. (3.) 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, Act 12:5. (4.) The mercy which Daniel and his fellows prayed for was bestowed. The secret was revealed unto Daniel in a night-vision, Dan 2:19. 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, 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.
2.His grateful thanksgiving for this mercy when he had received it: Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven, Dan 2:19. 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. Observe,
(1.)The honour 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 for ever 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. [1.] 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. [2.] 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 every thing 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 honour God with it and make it our business to know him. [3.] He gives him the glory of this particular discovery. He praises him, First, For that he could make such a discovery (Dan 2:22): 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 28:27, Job 28:28); 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. He knows what is in the darkness, and what is done in the darkness, for that hides not from him, Psa 139:11, Psa 139:12. The light dwells with him, and he dwells in the light (Ti1 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, Dan 2:23. 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 honour 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.
(2.)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 them (heurēka, heurēka - 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 honour God puts upon us we should be willing that our brethren may share with us in.
"Arioch, the captain of the king's guard" (literally, "the chief slaughterer or cook"). For as the cook slays all animals and cooks them, of a similar nature was his occupation. And the rulers of the world slay men, butchering them like brute beasts.
Verses 16, 17. "Therefore when Arioch had explained the matter to Daniel, Daniel entered in and asked the king to grant him some time for the disclosure of the solution to the king. And he entered his home and disclosed the affair to his comrades, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah..." Daniel requested time, not that he might investigate secret things by the clever application of his intellect, but that he might beseech the Lord of Secrets. And for that reason he engaged Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to join with him in supplication, to avoid the appearance of presuming upon his own merit alone, and to the end that those involved in a common danger might engage in common prayer.
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SUMMARY
Daniel 2:16 marks a pivotal moment in the unfolding drama of King Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream and the impending execution of Babylon's wise men. In this verse, Daniel, a young Jewish exile, demonstrates remarkable faith and courage by stepping forward to confront the king's decree. Rather than despairing, he boldly requests a specific period of time from the furious monarch, confidently promising to reveal both the king's dream and its divine interpretation, thereby setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention and the profound demonstration of His sovereign wisdom over all human knowledge and power.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to heighten its impact. Contrast is immediately evident, setting Daniel's calm, confident, and faith-filled approach against the backdrop of the other wise men's despair, fear, and utter inability to meet the king's demand. Daniel's singular, decisive action stands out dramatically amidst the general panic and impending doom. Foreshadowing is also powerfully present, as Daniel's bold promise to "shew the king the interpretation" anticipates the miraculous divine revelation that swiftly follows in Daniel 2:19-23. The very act of "going in" to the king's presence can be interpreted as Symbolism of Daniel's role as God's chosen vessel, a divinely empowered mediator of truth in a pagan and hostile court, much like Joseph's role in Egypt. The narrative tension created by the king's death decree and Daniel's audacious, yet calm, request also builds significant Suspense, drawing the reader into the unfolding drama and anticipating the divine intervention that is sure to follow.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 2:16 is a profound testament to the power of faith, divine access, and God's unique ability to reveal what is hidden, illustrating that true wisdom and deliverance come from God alone. Daniel's bold request, made in the face of certain death, underscores the biblical principle that in moments of human impossibility, God's omnipotence and omniscience are magnified. His confidence was not in his own intellect or skill, but in the God who "reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him" (Daniel 2:22). This episode sets the stage for the dramatic demonstration of God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and His unique ability to unveil the future, establishing a foundational theme for the entire book of Daniel and its overarching prophetic messages regarding God's control over human history.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 2:16 serves as an enduring and powerful model for believers facing seemingly insurmountable challenges and impossible situations. When confronted with circumstances far beyond human capacity, Daniel did not succumb to despair, nor did he rely on worldly wisdom or cunning. Instead, he demonstrated profound courage rooted deeply in his faith, directly approaching the highest earthly authority with a strategic request for time, confident that God would provide the answer. This teaches us the vital importance of seeking God's intervention first and foremost, even when the path forward is unclear, fraught with danger, or appears to lead to certain failure. Daniel's willingness to step out in faith, promising an interpretation he did not yet possess, reminds us that our ultimate confidence should be in God's boundless ability to work through us, not in our own limited resources, intellect, or strength. It calls us to cultivate a life of deep trust and unwavering dependence on God, acknowledging Him as the ultimate source of all wisdom, revelation, and deliverance in every circumstance, no matter how dire.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the significance of Daniel asking for "time"?
Answer: Daniel's request for "time" (Aramaic: zᵉmân, H2166) was highly significant and strategic. It was not a plea for delay out of fear or an attempt to buy time for human strategizing or manipulation. Instead, it was a deliberate and faith-filled request for an appointed period during which he and his friends could specifically seek revelation from God. This "time" allowed for a concerted prayer effort, as meticulously described in Daniel 2:17-18, demonstrating unequivocally that the solution would come through divine intervention, not human ingenuity, divination, or political maneuvering. It underscored Daniel's profound confidence that God would indeed "shew" the mystery within a specific, divinely ordained window of opportunity.
How did Daniel gain access to the king, given the king's rage and the death decree?
Answer: The biblical text does not explicitly detail the precise mechanics of how Daniel gained immediate access to King Nebuchadnezzar, especially given the king's furious rage and the standing death decree against all wise men. However, it strongly implies his standing as one of the "wise men" who had been personally appointed and favored by the king earlier in the narrative (Daniel 1:19-20). It is highly probable that Daniel, known for his exceptional wisdom and integrity, was able to secure an audience through the chief of the king's guard, Arioch, who was tasked with executing the wise men (Daniel 2:14-15). Daniel's calm, wise, and respectful approach to Arioch, coupled with his established reputation, likely facilitated his direct appeal to Nebuchadnezzar, highlighting his exceptional courage and God-given favor in the midst of a life-threatening crisis.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 2:16, with Daniel's audacious approach to the furious king and his confident promise to reveal the interpretation of the hidden mystery, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate revelation and mediation found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as Daniel stood as a unique intercessor, courageously bridging the gap between a wrathful earthly king and the condemned wise men, so Christ stands as the ultimate and sole Mediator between a holy God and a condemned humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Daniel's ability to "shew the king the interpretation" points directly to Jesus, who is the very embodiment of divine wisdom and the ultimate revealer of God's profound mysteries. He is the one through whom all things were made, and in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). Furthermore, Daniel's courageous faith in the face of a death decree prefigures Christ's own unwavering obedience to the Father, even unto death on the cross, thereby securing salvation and revealing God's ultimate redemptive plan for humanity (Philippians 2:8). In Christ, the "time" of waiting for ultimate revelation is fully realized, as He is the complete and final word from God (Hebrews 1:1-2), making known the Father's will and providing the true and eternal interpretation of God's redemptive purposes for all eternity.