¶ 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.
Therefore {H3606}{H6903}{H1836} Daniel {H1841} went in {H5954} unto {H5922} Arioch {H746}, whom the king {H4430} had ordained {H4483} to destroy {H7} the wise {H2445} men of Babylon {H895}: he went {H236} and said {H560} thus {H3652} unto him; Destroy {H7} not {H409} the wise {H2445} men of Babylon {H895}: bring me in {H5954} before {H6925} the king {H4430}, and I will shew {H2324} unto the king {H4430} the interpretation {H6591}.
So Dani'el went to see Aryokh, whom the king had charged with destroying the sages of Bavel, and said to him, "Don't destroy the sages of Bavel! Bring me before the king, and I will give the king the interpretation."
Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”
Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had appointed 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 show unto the king the interpretation.
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Acts 27:24
Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. -
Daniel 2:12
For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon. -
Daniel 2:14
¶ Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise [men] of Babylon:
Daniel 2:24 KJV Commentary: Daniel's Intervention and Divine Wisdom
Context of Daniel 2:24
This pivotal verse in the Book of Daniel marks a critical turning point in a crisis initiated by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The king had a disturbing dream and demanded that his wise men not only interpret it but also reveal the dream itself, under penalty of death. When they failed, the king issued a decree to execute all the wise men of Babylon, which included Daniel and his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). Hearing of this dire situation, Daniel, filled with divine wisdom and courage, approached Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who was tasked with carrying out the execution. Daniel's bold request in this verse demonstrates his faith and initiative, having already received the dream and its interpretation from God (Daniel 2:19).
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The term for "wise men" in this context is from the Aramaic ḥakkîmîn (חַכִּימִין), which refers to various classes of learned individuals, including magicians, astrologers, and Chaldeans, who were considered the intellectual elite of Babylon. Daniel's intervention saves this entire class, not just his immediate circle. The word for "interpretation" is pəshar (פְּשַׁר), meaning a solution or explanation, specifically of dreams or riddles, underscoring the unique nature of the divine insight Daniel possessed.
Practical Application
Daniel 2:24 offers several timeless lessons for believers today: