Daniel 2:12-22

12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Bavel.

13 So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniyel and his companions to be slain.

14 Then Daniyel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Aryokh the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Bavel;

15 he answered Aryokh the king's captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Aryokh made the thing known to Daniyel.

16 Daniyel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.

17 Then Daniyel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananyah, Misha'el, and `Azaryah, his companions:

18 that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniyel and his companions should nor perish with the rest of the wise men of Bavel.

19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniyel in a vision of the night. Then Daniyel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniyel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.

21 He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22 he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

Daniel 2:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIAL 2

The subject of this chapter is a dream which Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed, but had forgot; upon which he calls his magicians and astrologers together, to tell him it, and the interpretation of it; threatening them with death if they did not, and promising them great rewards and honour if they did, Da 2:1-6, they urge the unreasonableness of the demand, and the impossibility of the thing; which so highly incensed the king, that he ordered their immediate destruction, Da 2:7-13, Daniel and his companions being in danger, he goes in to the king, and desires time, and he would show him what he had dreamed; which being granted, he spent it in prayer to God, Da 2:14-18, and the thing being revealed to him, he gave thanks to God, Da 2:19-23, and being introduced to the king, he both told him his dream, and the interpretation of it; which concerned the four monarchies of the world, and the everlasting kingdom of the Messiah, Da 2:24-45, upon which he was highly honoured, and greatly promoted by the king, Da 2:46-49.