Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 2:15
He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why [is] the decree [so] hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
15. so hasty ] harsh (Bevan). R.V. urgent, as A.V. itself has in Dan 3:22. This is not, however, strong enough: in Syriac and the Targums the word and its cognates express the idea of bold, shameless, insolent. Cf. Theod. here, (LXX. ).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He answered and said to Arioch the kings captain – The word captain – a different word from what occurs in Dan 2:14, shallyta’ – denotes one who has rule or dominion; one who is powerful or mighty; and it would be applied only to one who sustained a post of honor and responsibility. See the use of the word shalat, as meaning to rule, in Neh 5:15; Ecc 2:19; Ecc 6:2; Ecc 8:9; Est 9:1; Psa 119:133. The word here used is the same which occurs in Dan 2:10, where it is rendered ruler. It doubtless denotes here an officer of rank, and designates one of more honorable employment than would be denoted by the word executioner. It should be said on these verses Dan 2:14-15, however, that the office of executioner in the East was by no means regarded as a dishonorable office. It was entrusted to those high in rank, and even nobles considered it an honor, and often boasted of it as such, that among their ancestors there were those who had in this way been entrusted with executing the commands of their sovereign. Hanway and AbdulKerim both say that this office conferred honor and rank. Tournefort says, that in Georgia the executioners are very rich, and men of standing undertake this employment; far different from what occurs in other parts of the world, in that country this gives to a family a title of honor. They boast that among their ancestors there were many who were executioners; and this they base on the sentiment, that nothing is more desirable than justice, and that nothing can be more honorable than to be engaged in administering the laws. See Rosenmuller, Morgenland, 1079.
Why is the decree so hasty from the king? – Implying that all the effort had not been made which it was possible to make to solve the mystery. The idea is, that a decree of such a nature, involving so many in ruin, ought not to have proceeded from the king without having taken all possible precautions, and having made all possible efforts to find those who might be able to disclose what the king desired. It was to Daniel a just matter of surprise that, after the favor and honor with which he had been received at court Dan 1:19-20, and the confidence which had been reposed in him, a command like this should have been issued. so comprehensive as to embrace him and his friends, when they had done nothing to deserve the displeasure of the king.
Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel – The statement respecting the dream; the trouble of the king; the consultation of the magicians; their inability to explain the dream, and the positive command to put all the pretenders to wisdom to death. It is clear that Daniel had not before been informed of these things.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
So hasty; so precipitate, to slay the innocent who were never called, who knew nothing of it-this appears plainly from these words,
Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel, Dan 2:15, which was this, that the king had dreamed a strange dream that troubled him, that he had forgotten it, that he called all his wise men to show both the dream and interpretation, but they could not; therefore the king decreed the death of all the wise men in Babylon, and Daniel with his fellows among them, without saving the life of one of them, and he, viz. Arioch, had received command to execute it presently. Thus there was but a step between him and death.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. Why is the decree so hastyWhywere not all of us consulted before the decree for the execution ofall was issued?
the thingthe agitationof the king as to his dream, and his abortive consultation of theChaldeans. It is plain from this that Daniel was till now ignorant ofthe whole matter.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain,…. Or governor m; over the persons before mentioned; either the king’s guard or militia, or cooks or executioners: before, the manner in which Daniel answered is observed; here, the matter of it, as follows:
why is the decree so hasty from the King? or, “why this rash”, hasty, or cruel (as the Vulgate Latin version) decree from the king? for so it was: what is the cause and reason of it?
then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel; who before was ignorant of it; he was not with the wise men before the king; either they did not care he should go with them, and therefore called him not; or he did not choose to go himself, being under no temptation by the rewards offered, and especially having no summons from the king himself: this being his case, Arioch informs him of the whole affair; how that the king had dreamed a dream, and forgot it; and had sent for the wise men to tell him both it and the interpretation; but they not being able to do it, and declaring also that it was impossible to be done, the king had given orders to slay all of that character.
m “dominatori”, Junius &, Tremellius, Piscator, Broughtonus,
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Daniel also had said, Whither does the edict haste from before the king? It seems by these words, that Daniel obliquely blames the king’s anger and ingratitude, because he did not inquire with sufficient diligence before he rushed forward to that cruel punishment. Then he seems to mark his ingratitude, since he is now undeservedly doomed to death without being sent for, though the king might have known what was in him. As he refers to haste, I do not doubt his expostulating with the king, since he was neither called for nor listened to, and yet was to be slain with the rest, as if he were guilty of the same fault as the Chaldeans. The conclusion is, — there was no reason for such haste, since the king would probably find what he desired, if he inquired more diligently. It is afterwards added, Arioch explained the matter to Daniel. Whence it appears that Daniel was formerly ignorant of the whole matter; and hence we may conjecture the amount of the terror which seized upon the pious man. For he had known nothing about it, and was led to punishment suddenly and unexpectedly, as if he had been guilty. Hence, it was necessary for him to be divinely strengthened, that he might with composure seek the proper time from both the prefect and the king, for relating the dream and adding its interpretation. Daniel’s power of acting so composedly, arose from God’s singular gift, since terror would otherwise have seized on his mind; for we are aware that in sudden events, we become deprived of all plan, and lose our presence of mind. Since nothing of this kind was perceived in Daniel, it becomes clear that his mind was governed by God’s Spirit. It is afterwards added-
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) So hasty.Literally, why is this severe decree of the king? By this question Daniel wished Arioch to understand that after all the matter was not impossible, as the wise men had stated it to be.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘He answered and said to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so pressing from the king?” Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and desired of the king that he would give him time, and he would show the king the interpretation.’
It was presumably because the captain had had to read out the decree before carrying out the sentence, that Daniel was given time to question him on the matter. So Daniel, who would not have known the full reason for what was happening, asked what pressing matter was causing these summary executions. When informed of the reasons he no doubt asked Arioch to take him to the king, which explains why he was able to obtain access to him. And once there he asked for time so that he could find the answer for him. Nebuchadnezzar clearly accepted the genuineness of his promise for the time was allowed.
‘The king’s captain.’ Literally ‘the king’s captain of slaughterers’ (of animals). This may be derogatory suggesting that the captain was acting like a cattle slaughterer, or perhaps the title had attached itself to the captain of the king’s guard in some way, just as through history men have been called ‘the Butcher’.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 2:15. Why is the decree so hasty Why is this dreadful decree gone forth from the king? Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 2:15 He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why [is] the decree [so] hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
Ver. 15. Why is the decree so hasty from the king? ] Daniel, though now in danger of his life, forgetteth not his old freedom of speech; and God so wrought, that the king, who was stiff to the magicians, was tractable to Daniel. Dan 2:16
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
made: Dan 2:9
Reciprocal: Dan 2:24 – Arioch Joh 13:27 – That
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 2:15. So far the executioner had only announced to Daniel the decree of death with which he was provided as he contacted him and his three companions. Hasty is from ciiatsaph and Strong defines it, A primitive root; properly to shear or cut close; figuratively to be severe. This is what shows Daniels good judgment in his speech to the captain. He did not raise any question as to the authority of the king, nor as to whether none of the socalled wise men were guilty of death. He only asked why the decree was so severe or sweeping In its decision to slay all the wise men. This question induced the executioner to tell Daniel the particulars of the situation that ended with the wholesale death sentence from the king.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Dan 2:15-16. Why is the decree so hasty from the king? So precipitate, or, as Wintle renders it, so urgent, to slay the innocent, who were never called, and knew nothing of the matter? The word , here used, signifies both hasty and pressing. So the Syriac. The LXX. render it, , shameful; the Vulgate translates the verse thus: He (namely, Daniel) asked him who had received authority from the king, for what reason so cruel a sentence had gone forth from the presence of the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel Acquainted him with the whole affair, of which, it is evident, he knew nothing before. Then Daniel went in Or, went up, as properly signifies; that is, either to the palace or throne of the king; and desired of the king that he would give him time, &c. The kings anger was now abated; and withal the providence of God was visible, in inclining the kings heart to allow Daniel that favour which he had before denied to the magicians; and that he would show the king the interpretation Daniel promised this, in confidence that God, to whom he intended to make application by prayer, would discover to him both the dream and its interpretation. Doubtless God inspired him with a persuasion to this purpose.