Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 2:7
They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.
7. again ] the second time (R.V.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
7 12. The wise men profess their willingness to interpret the king’s dream: but protest that his demand that they should tell him what his dream was is an extravagant one. Nebuchadnezzar, however, adheres to his original demand: and as they are unable to comply with it, commands them to be put to death.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They answered again, and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it – Certainly not an unreasonable request, in any circumstances, and especially in theirs. They did not profess, evidently, to be able to recal a dream that was forgotten, but the extent of their profession on this subject appears to have been, that they were able to explain what was commonly regarded as a prognostic of a future event.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
But this the king could not do; they could not tell the dream, and the king could not, yet both require impossibilities.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
They answered again, and said,…. Or, a “second” e time; repeating the same words, having nothing more to say:
let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation thereof; the first part was but right and reasonable, though the latter was mere boasting and arrogancy.
e , Sept.; “secundo”, Pagninus, Montanus, Junius Tremellius, Piscator so Ar.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the excuse of the Magi is narrated. They state the truth that their art only enabled them to discover the interpretation of a dream; but the king wished to know the dream itself. Whence he appears again to have been seized with prodigious fury and became quite implacable. Kings sometimes grow warm, but are appeased by a single admonition, and hence this sentiment is very true, — anger is assuaged by mild language. But since the fair reply of the Magi did not mitigate the king’s wrath, he was quite hurried away by diabolical vehemence. And all this, as I have said, was governed by God’s secret counsel, that Daniel’s explanation might be more noticed. They next ask the king — to relate his dream, and then they promise as before to interpret it directly. And even this was too great a boast, as we have said, and they ought to have corrected their own conceit and foolish boasting when in such a difficulty. But since they persist in that foolish and fallacious self-conceit, it shews us how they were blinded by the devil, just as those who have become entangled by superstitious deceptions confidently defend their own madness. Such an example we have in the Magi, who always claimed the power of interpreting dreams.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
b. DILEMMA OF THE DIVINERS
TEXT: Dan. 2:7-11
7
They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
8
The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9
But if ye make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.
10
The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the kings matter, forasmuch as no king, lord, or ruler, hath asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean,
11
And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other than can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
QUERIES
a.
Why was Nebuchadnezzar suspicious of their stalling?
b.
Why was the kings demand such a rare thing?
c.
Which gods did the Chaldeans have in mind?
PARAPHRASE
The Chaldeans replied again, If the king please, only tell his humble servants what he dreamed and we will most gladly show him its interpretation. But the king retorted, I can see very plainly that you are only stalling for time, because you are aware that my mind is made up to punish you severely if you do not tell me the dream. And, you are correct, for if you do not tell me what I dreamed there is only one consequence you may expectthe punishment which I have decreed. I know what you are up toyou have agreed with one another to try to deceive me with words hoping that the passing of time will bring a change in my demands. I am wise to your scheme. Tell me the dreamonly then will I believe that you can show me the true interpretation. The Chaldeans pleaded with the king, saying, You are asking the impossiblethere is not a man on the earth who can tell the king what he has dreamed. No great king, lord or ruler such as yourself has ever asked such an impossible thing of any mortal magician, enchanter or Chaldean such as we. What you have asked is so difficult there is no human being who could ever reveal to the king what he dreamed. Only the gods could do this and they do not dwell on earth with mortals.
COMMENT
Dan. 2:7 . . . LET THE KING TELL HIS SERVANTS THE DREAM . . . Notice the subtle flattery here. The Chaldeans berate themselves as servants. They must find out what the dream was and so they insistbut they insist politely.
Dan. 2:8 . . . I KNOW . . . THAT YE WOULD GAIN TIME, BECAUSE . . . THE THING IS GONE FROM ME . . . They are not fooling the king. He knows they are stalling for time and he knows whythey are aware of his resolute determination that they shall either tell him what he dreamed or they shall be punished severely. It is the immutability of the kings decree that is meant by the phrase because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Dan. 2:9 . . . YE HAVE PREPARED LYING AND CORRUPT WORDS TO SPEAK BEFORE ME, TILL THE TIME BE CHANGED . . . Nebuchadnezzar seems to be fully cognizant of their scheme to hide their insufficiency. He senses that there is some kind of collaboration between them to speak words of deception and legerdemain until, they hoped, circumstances would change; perhaps the kings ugly mood will change with time if they can only stall the matter by talk, But the king sees through their scheme, If they do not with haste make known to the king what he dreamed as well as the interpretation, he has determined their fate by royal decree and that decree cannot be changed.
Dan. 2:10-11 . . . THERE IS NOT A MAN UPON THE EARTH THAT CAN SHOW THE KINGS MATTER . . . EXCEPT THE GODS, WHOSE DWELLING IS NOT WITH FLESH . . . These Chaldeans face a terrifying dilemma. On the one hand there is a desperate attempt not to say anything that might further irritate or offend the despot; on the other hand they must convey to the king the idea that his demand is unreasonable and impossible. Their first statement is a frank admission of their impotency in the matter demanded. Then they hastily add another subtle innuendo of flattery, No great king or ruler has ever asked such an impossible thing from such lowly magicians and enchanters as we. They are trying to convey to the king that the gods have not given these priests of the national religion the power to reveal the dreamthey have power only to interpret the dream. Their statement is that only the gods could produce what the king has demanded and the gods do not dwell among men. There seems to be in their consciousness an admission of higher, superhuman beings, but their concepts are so saturated with ignorance and moral depravity they are thoroughly polytheistic. The enchanters specify that the gods do not dwell with men in order to specify that they have no way of being instructed with the superior knowledge of the gods.
QUIZ
1.
How do the Chaldeans use flattery to try to learn the kings dream?
2.
What does the king accuse them of attempting to do?
3.
What advantage did the Chaldeans think time would bring them?
4.
How did the Chaldeans frankly declare their inability to tell his dream?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(7) Let the king tell.The request was reasonable enough, according to the principles of Babylonian sorcery. Nebuchadnezzars doubts, however, were awakened, and he was not sure of the veracity of his magicians. He speaks with great common sense (Dan. 2:9), If you can tell me the dream, I shall be sure that your interpretation is correct.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘They answered the second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” ’
They were in a quandary and boldly held up their end. What else could they say? They could not believe that he quite meant what he said. So they repeated what they had previously said, no doubt with their hearts in their mouths. They recognised his fury and intensity, and probably wished that his father was still alive. He had never been so unreasonable. They said that if the king would but tell them the dream then they would give its interpretation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
Ver. 7. They answered again and said, Let the king, &c. ] Thus these proud boasters vaunt of a false gift, and become like “clouds without rain,” as Solomon hath it. Pro 25:14 See Dan 2:4 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 2:7
Dan 2:7 They answeredH6032 againH8579 and said,H560 Let the kingH4430 tellH560 his servantsH5649 the dream,H2493 and we will shewH2324 the interpretationH6591 of it.
Dan 2:7
They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
They have no idea what Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was. And how could they? Such a thing is not within the scope of mortal man without divine intervention. They knew they were in trouble and their lives were hanging in the balance and they knew it. One can only speculate on their anxiety and consternation as they stood before the king of Babylon.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Let: Dan 2:4, Dan 2:9, Ecc 10:4
Reciprocal: Gen 41:41 – General Dan 4:7 – but Dan 4:18 – forasmuch
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 2:7. The men could only repeat their statement of verse 4.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Dan 2:7-8. They answered, Let the king tell his servants the dream But this the king could not do; and yet, unless he could do it, they could not proceed one step toward the gratifying of his desires. The king said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time You only want to protract the time, either that the dream may return, or that my uneasiness may be dissipated, and that, occupied in other affairs, I may think no more of the dream. But I will have from you immediately a positive answer, and a precise explication. However tyrannical this may appear in the king, his reasoning must be allowed to be very just and right: for if the astrologers could obtain from their gods the knowledge of future events by the explication of a dream, certainly the same gods could have made known to them what the dream was. The original expression means, to buy, or redeem, time, and may be properly applied to mens using their utmost endeavours to free themselves out of some imminent danger, or difficulty, gaining time being of considerable advantage to that purpose.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell {h} his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
(h) In this appears their ignorance, that despite their braggings, yet they were not able to tell the dream, unless he told them of it. And if he did tell them, they would pretend knowledge where there was but mere ignorance, and so as deluders of the people they were worthy to die.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The repetition of the wise men’s request reinforced it. This is frequently the intent of the biblical writers in repeating something. Repetition assures the reader that something is very important or absolutely certain. This is especially true in prophetic revelations such as the ones that follow in this book (cf. Gen 41:32).