SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:2
Y envió el rey Nabucodonosor a juntar los grandes, los asistentes y capitanes, jueces, tesoreros, los del concejo, presidentes, y a todos los gobernadores de las provincias, para que viniesen a la dedicación de la estatua que el rey Nabucodonosor había levantado.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Daniel 3:2
Verse 2. Sent to gather together the princes] It is not easy to show what these different offices were, as it is difficult to ascertain the meaning of the Chaldee words. Parkhurst analyzes them thus:- The PRINCES] aynprdŤja achashdarpenaiya, from Ťja ACHASH, great or eminent, and rd dar, "to go about freely," and µynp panim, "the presence." Satraps or privy counsellors who had free access to the presence of the king. The GOVERNORS] ayngs signaiya, lieutenants or viceroys, for gs sagan, among the Hebrews, was the name of the high priest's deputy.
The CAPTAINS] atwjp pachavatha, from jp pach, to extend, because set over those provinces that had been annexed to the kingdom by conquest. Pashas-This word and office are still in use in Asiatic countries.
By corruption we pronounce bashaw.
The JUDGES] ayrzgrda adargazeraiya, from rda adar, noble or magnificent, and rzg gazar, to decree. The nobles, the assistants to the king in making laws, statutes, &c. The same probably in Babylon, as the House of Lords in England.
The TREASURERS] ayrbdg gedaberaiya, from zng ganaz, (the z zain being changed into d daleth, according to the custom of the Chaldee,) to treasure up, and rb bar, pure. Those who kept the current coin, or were over the mint; the treasurers of the exchequer in Babylon.
The COUNSELLORS] ayrbtd dethaberaiya, from td dath, a statute, and rb bar, "to declare the meaning of the law;" for in all ages and countries there has been what is termed the glorious uncertainty of the law; and therefore there must be a class of men whose business it is to explain it.
What a pity that law cannot be tendered to the people as other sciences are, in plain, unsophisticated, and intelligible terms, and by persons whose business it is to show what is just and right, and not pervert truth, righteousness, and judgment.
The SHERIFFS] aytpt tiphtaye, from tpt taphath, in Hebrew, tpŤ shaphath, "to set in order." Probably civil magistrates.
And all the rulers of the provinces] All other state or civil officers, not only to grace the solemnity, but to maintain order. My old Bible renders them: Satrapis, or wiise men. Magistratis. Jugis. Duykis, Tyrauntis, or stronge men. Prefectis, and alle the Princes of Cuntreese.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes , etc.] He sent letters, or dispatched messengers, into the several provinces of his empire, and parts of his dominions, to convene all the peers of his realm, and governors of provinces, and all officers, civil, military, and religious, expressed by various names and titles: the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces ; who are particularly and distinctly designed is not easy to say. Jacchiades thinks they answer to the same offices and officers which now obtain in the Turkish empire; princes are the “bashaws”; governors the “beglerbegs”; captains the “agas” of the janizaries; judges the “kadies”; treasurers the “dephterdaries”; the counsellors the “alphakies”; and “zayties the sheriffs”; their chief doctors their “muphties”, as L’Empereur; and the rulers of the provinces the “zangiakies” or “viziers”; but, be they who they will, they were the principal men of the empire, both in things civil, military, and ecclesiastic, who were ordered to come to the dedication of the image, which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up ; for though it was made and set up, it was not a proper object of worship till dedicated; and which was done by burning incense, blowing trumpets, etc. now these great men were gathered together on this occasion, because of the greater honour done hereby to the king and his image; and also by their example to engage the populace the more easily to the worship of it; and likewise as being the representatives of them since they could not all be collected together in one place; and it may be it was done, as some think, to ensnare Daniel and his companions. Philostratus f126 makes mention of an officer at Babylon that had the keeping of the great gate into the city; which some take to be the same with the first sort here mentioned; who first offered the golden statue of the king to be worshipped before he would permit any to enter into the city, which perhaps might take its rise from the worship of this golden image.
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
ונבוכדנצר 5020 מלכא 4430 שׁלח 7972 למכנשׁ 3673 לאחשׁדרפניא 324 סגניא 5460 ופחותא 6347 אדרגזריא 148 גדבריא 1411 דתבריא 1884 תפתיא 8614 וכל 3606 שׁלטני 7984 מדינתא 4083 למתא 858 לחנכת 2597 צלמא 6755 די 1768 הקים 6966 נבוכדנצר 5020 מלכא׃ 4430
