Clarke's Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:48
Verse 48. Made Daniel a great man] By, 1. Giving him many rich gifts. 2. By making him governor over the whole province of Babylon. And, 3.
By making him the chief or president over all the wise men.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 48. Then the king made Daniel a great man , etc.] Advanced him to posts of great honour and dignity he was a great man before in spiritual things, in which he was made great by the Lord; and now he was made a great man in worldly things, through the providence of God; those that honour him he will honour: and gave him many great gifts : gifts great in value, and many in number; rich garments, gold, silver, precious stones, and large estates to support his honour and grandeur; and which Daniel accepted of, not merely for his own use, but to do good with to his poor brethren the Jews in captivity: and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon ; the whole monarchy was divided into several provinces, over each of which was a deputy governor; this of Babylon was the chief of them, Babylon being the metropolis of the empire; the whole government of which, and all belonging to it, was given to Daniel; a proof of the king’s high esteem for him: and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon ; here was an university consisting of several colleges, over each of which there was a governor, and Daniel was the president of them all; or the principal or chancellor of the university: this office he might accept of, that he might have an opportunity of inculcating true knowledge, and of checking and correcting what was impious and unlawful.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar's dream. (Dan. 2:1-13) It is revealed to Daniel. (Dan 2:14-23) He obtains admission to the king. (Dan. 2:24-30) The dream an the interpretation. (Dan. 2:31-45) Honours to Daniel and his friends (Dan. 2:46-49)
Dan. 2:1-13 The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet and sound. We know not the uneasiness of man who live in great pomp, and, as others vainly think, in pleasure also The king said that his learned men must tell him the dream itself, or they should all be put to death as deceivers. Men are more eager to as as to future events, than to learn the way of salvation or the path of duty; yet foreknowledge of future events increases anxiety and trouble Those who deceived, by pretending to do what they could not do, wer sentenced to death, for not being able to do what they did not preten to.
Dan. 2:14-23 Daniel humbly prayed that God would discover to him the king's dream, and the meaning of it. Praying friends are valuabl friends; and it well becomes the greatest and best men to desire the prayers of others. Let us show that we value our friends, and their prayers. They were particular in prayer. And whatever we pray for, we can expect nothing but as the gift of God's mercies. God gives us leav in prayer to tell our wants and burdens. Their plea with God was, the peril they were in. The mercy Daniel and his fellows prayed for, wa bestowed. The fervent prayers of righteous men avail much. Daniel wa thankful to God for making known that to him, which saved the lives of himself and his fellows. How much more should we be thankful to God for making known the great salvation of the soul to those who are no among the worldly wise and prudent!
Dan. 2:24-30 Daniel takes away the king's opinion of his magicians an soothsayers. The insufficiency of creatures should drive us to the all-sufficiency of the Creator. There is One who can do that for us and make known that to us, which none on earth can, particularly the work of redemption, and the secret designs of God's love to us therein Daniel confirmed the king in his opinion, that the dream was of grea consequence, relating to the affairs and changes of this lower world Let those whom God has highly favoured and honoured, lay aside all opinion of their own wisdom and worthiness, that the Lord alone may be praised for the good they have and do.
Dan. 2:31-45 This image represented the kingdoms of the earth, tha should successively rule the nations, and influence the affairs of the Jewish church. 1. The head of gold signified the Chaldean empire, the in being. 2. The breast and arms of silver signified the empire of the Medes and Persians. 3. The belly and thighs of brass signified the Grecian empire, founded by Alexander. 4. The legs and feet of iro signified the Roman empire. The Roman empire branched into te kingdoms, as the toes of these feet. Some were weak as clay, other strong as iron. Endeavours have often been used to unite them, for strengthening the empire, but in vain. The stone cut out without hands represented the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, which should be se up in the kingdoms of the world, upon the ruins of Satan's kingdom in them. This was the Stone which the builders refused, because it was no cut out by their hands, but it is become the head stone of the corner Of the increase of Christ's government and peace there shall be no end The Lord shall reign, not only to the end of time, but when time an days shall be no more. As far as events have gone, the fulfilling thi prophetic vision has been most exact and undeniable; future ages shal witness this Stone destroying the image, and filling the whole earth.
Dan. 2:46-49 It is our business to direct attention to the Lord, as the Author and Giver of every good gift. Many have thoughts of the Divin power and majesty, who do not think of serving God themselves. But all should strive, that God may be glorified, and the best interests of mankind furthered __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
אדין 116 מלכא 4430 לדניאל 1841 רבי 7236 ומתנן 4978 רברבן 7260 שׂגיאן 7690 יהב 3052 לה והשׁלטה 7981 על 5922 כל 3606 מדינת 4083 בבל 895 ורב 7229 סגנין 5460 על 5922 כל 3606 חכימי 2445 בבל׃ 895
