---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "And . Thus linking on this chapter of momentous prophecy with Daniel 1:0 , which is pure history.  the second year: 495 B.C. (Daniel"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/daniel/2"
---

**And** . Thus linking on this chapter of momentous prophecy with [Daniel 1](../../../kjv/daniel/1) , which is pure history.
**the second year:** 495 B.C. (Daniel's eighteenth year). Therefore Jehoiakim's fifth year, the year of the burning of the roll which marked the official rejection of Jehovah. Hence Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Daniel was in Babylon, and writes from that standpoint. The supposed difficulty is a proof of genuineness; for the writer would have been a fool as well as a forger to have left it unexplained.
**Nebuchadnezzar.** See note on [Daniel 1:1](../../../kjv/daniel/1/1) .
**spirit** . Hebrew. *ruach.* App-9 .
**brake from** = had been upon: i.e. had now gone from.

**to call, &c** . = to send for. This tells us of the religious system of Babylonia, of which subsequent Jewish commentators and Greek translators would know little or nothing. There were six classes of the Chaldean priesthood.
**magicians** . Hebrew. *chartummim.* Connected with the *kharutu* (the sceptre) or rod of office of those who repelled demons and evil spirits by incantations, &c.
**astrologers** . Hebrew. *'ashshaphim =* in Babylonian, asipi, prophets who assumed to announce the will of heaven and predict the future. These were a class apart from the others. The inscriptions speak of *bab* - 4 *ssaput* = the gate of the oracle; also of *bit Assaput* = the house of the oracle.
**sorcerers** . Hebrew. *m* ekashsh phim = wizard ([Exodus 7:11](../../../kjv/exodus/7/11) ; [Exodus 22:18](../../../kjv/exodus/22/18) , feminine; [Deuteronomy 18:10](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/18/10) , feminine; [Malachi 3:5](../../../kjv/malachi/3/5) , feminine)
**Chaldeans** . Hebrew. *Kasdim.* See note on [Daniel 1:4](../../../kjv/daniel/1/4) .

**I have dreamed** . Contrast this with Daniel's vision, in the Structure on p. 1178; and note the other recorded dreams ([Genesis 20:3](../../../kjv/genesis/20/3) ).
**was** = is.

**in Syriack** . Hebrew. *'aramith =* Aramaic. The insertion of this word here is to call our attention to the fact that what follows is written not in Hebrew, but in Aramaic, as far as the end of [Daniel 7](../../../kjv/daniel/7) . See note on the Structure, p. 1178; and note the other Aramaic portions ([Ezra 4:8](../../../kjv/ezra/4/8) [Ezra 6:18](../../../kjv/ezra/6/18) with [Ezra 7:12-26](../../../kjv/ezra/7/12-26) ; also [Jeremiah 10:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/10/11) . The Syriac and Chaldee are properly Western and Eastern Aramaic.
**O king** . This is the first Aramaic word so written. Compare [Daniel 3:9](../../../kjv/daniel/3/9) ; [Daniel 5:10](../../../kjv/daniel/5/10) ; [Daniel 6:6](../../../kjv/daniel/6/6) , [Daniel 6:21](../../../kjv/daniel/6/21) .[Nehemiah 2:3](../../../kjv/nehemiah/2/3) .

**thing.** The dream.
**gone from me** . Referring to the forgotten dream.
**cut . . . made a dunghill** . Compare [Daniel 3:29](../../../kjv/daniel/3/29) . [Ezra 6:11](../../../kjv/ezra/6/11) . A further mode of punishment, from the Medo-Persians, in [Daniel 6:7](../../../kjv/daniel/6/7) .

**rewards** . Chaldee. *nebizbah* = a present.

**gain the time** = gain time. It may have reference to that day being an unlucky day. Compare [Esther 3:7](../../../kjv/esther/3/7) .

**earth.** Chaldee. *beshta' =* dry ground.

**not.** Is emphatic. They held that there were gods who dwelt in men. But these were beyond mortal men altogether

**wise men:** i.e. the members of all the classes collectively, mentioned in [Daniel 2:2](../../../kjv/daniel/2/2) above. Chaldee. *chakam,* denoting acquired wisdom.

**fellows** = companions.

**counsel and wisdom** = prudence and discretion.
**Arioch** . An ancient Babylonian name, preserved and handed down from [Genesis 14:1](../../../kjv/genesis/14/1) = *Iri* - *Aku* .
**guard** = executioners. Compare [Genesis 37:36](../../../kjv/genesis/37/36) ; [Genesis 39:1](../../../kjv/genesis/39/1) ; [Genesis 40:3](../../../kjv/genesis/40/3) . [2 Kings 25:8](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/8) . [Jeremiah 39:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/9) .

**give him time** = appoint him a time.

**Hananiah, &c** . See note on [Daniel 1:6](../../../kjv/daniel/1/6) .

**mercies** = great mercy. Figure of speech *Heterosis* (of Number), App-6 .
**of** = from before.
**the God of heaven.** See note on [2 Chronicles 36:23](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/23) .
**secret** . Chaldee. *raz,* which the Septuagint renders *musterion.* Occurs in O.T. only here, in verses: [Daniel 2:18](../../../kjv/daniel/2/18) , [Daniel 2:19](../../../kjv/daniel/2/19) , [Daniel 2:27](../../../kjv/daniel/2/27) , Dan 18:28 , Dan 18:29 , Dan 18:30 , Dan 18:47 , Dan 18:47 , and [Daniel 4:9](../../../kjv/daniel/4/9) . Not the same word as in [Daniel 2:22](../../../kjv/daniel/2/22) .

**answered and said** . See note on [Deuteronomy 1:41](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/1/41) .
**for ever and ever** = from age to age. See App-151 .

**He changeth, &c** . Compare [Daniel 2:9](../../../kjv/daniel/2/9) ; [Daniel 7:25](../../../kjv/daniel/7/25) . [1 Chronicles 29:30](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/29/30) . [Job 34:24-29](../../../kjv/job/34/24-29) . [Psalms 31:14](../../../kjv/psalms/31/14) , [Psalms 31:15](../../../kjv/psalms/31/15) .[Ecclesiastes 3:1-8](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/1-8) . [Jeremiah 27:5-7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27/5-7) .
**secret** = hidden. Chaldee. *sathar.* Not the same word as in [Daniel 2:18](../../../kjv/daniel/2/18) , &c.
**and the light, &c** . Compare [Daniel 5:11](../../../kjv/daniel/5/11) , [Daniel 5:14](../../../kjv/daniel/5/14) .[Psalms 36:9](../../../kjv/psalms/36/9) ; [2 John 1:9](../../../kjv/2-john/1/9); [2 John 1:9](../../../kjv/2-john/1/9) ; [John 8:12](../../../kjv/john/8/12) ; [John 12:45](../../../kjv/john/12/45) , [John 12:46](../../../kjv/john/12/46) ; [1 Timothy 6:16](../../../kjv/1-timothy/6/16) . [James 1:17](../../../kjv/james/1/17) . [1 John 1:5](../../../kjv/1-john/1/5) .

**Belteshazzar** . See note on [Daniel 1:7](../../../kjv/daniel/1/7) .

**maketh** = hath made. Compare [Daniel 2:29](../../../kjv/daniel/2/29) .
**in the latter days** . Reference to Pentateuch ([Genesis 49:1](../../../kjv/genesis/49/1) .[Numbers 24:14](../../../kjv/numbers/24/14) .[Deuteronomy 4:30](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/4/30) ; [Deuteronomy 32:29](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/29) ). App-92 .

**came** = came up.

**for their sakes . . . interpretation** = to the intent that the interpretation.
**shall** = should.

**sawest** = wast looking.
**form** = appearance.

**head** . Note the five parts: (1) the head; (2) the breast and arms; (3) the belly and the thighs; (4) the legs; (5) the feet. These five are preserved distinct throughout. Compare: [Daniel 2:34-35](../../../kjv/daniel/2/34-35) , and [Daniel 2:38-44](../../../kjv/daniel/2/38-44) , and [Daniel 2:45](../../../kjv/daniel/2/45) .
**gold . . . clay** ([Daniel 2:33](../../../kjv/daniel/2/33) ). Note that the most precious metal, and the highest specific gravity was at the top, decreasing with its descent: (1) gold = Dan 19:3 ; (2) silver = Dan 10:51 ; (3) brass = [Daniel 8:5](../../../kjv/daniel/8/5) ; (4) iron = [Daniel 7:6](../../../kjv/daniel/7/6) ; (5) clay = [Daniel 1:9](../../../kjv/daniel/1/9) , so that it was top-heavy from the first.

**a stone** . See note on [Psalms 118:22](../../../kjv/psalms/118/22) .
**without hands** . An expression always emphasizing the absence of all human instrumentality and the act of God alone. See [Daniel 2:45](../../../kjv/daniel/2/45) ; [Daniel 8:25](../../../kjv/daniel/8/25) .[Job 34:20](../../../kjv/job/34/20) . [Lamentations 4:6](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/6) . Compare [Acts 7:48](../../../kjv/acts/7/48) ; [Acts 17:24](../../../kjv/acts/17/24) , [Acts 17:25](../../../kjv/acts/17/25) ; [Acts 19:26](../../../kjv/acts/19/26) . [2 Corinthians 5:1](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/5/1) .[Ephesians 2:11](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/11); [1 Chronicles 2:11](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/2/11)[1 Chronicles 2:11](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/2/11) .[Hebrews 9:11](../../../kjv/hebrews/9/11) , [Hebrews 9:21](../../../kjv/hebrews/9/21) .
**feet:** i.e. the fifth kingdom. Not the fourth, which was represented by the "legs of iron".
**brake them to pieces:** or, they were beaten small.
**brake** = beat small. Chaldee. *dekak.* Compare verses: [Daniel 2:34](../../../kjv/daniel/2/34) , [Daniel 2:35](../../../kjv/daniel/2/35) , [Daniel 2:40](../../../kjv/daniel/2/40) , Dan 34:41 , Dan 34:44 , Dan 34:45 .

**iron, the clay, &c** . Note the order differently given to distinguish the five (not the four), answering to the five parts of the image in [Daniel 2:32](../../../kjv/daniel/2/32) , and the five kingdoms, verses:
[Daniel 2:32](../../../kjv/daniel/2/32) *, [Daniel 2:33](../../../kjv/daniel/2/33)* *. [Daniel 2:35](../../../kjv/daniel/2/35)* *. [Daniel 2:45](../../../kjv/daniel/2/45)* *.* gold, iron, iron, silver, clay, brass, brass, brass, clay, iron, silver, silver, iron and clay, gold, gold.
**together** . As united at the time of the end (forming the *sixth* power), the kingdom of the "Beast" ([Revelation 13](../../../kjv/revelation/13) ).
**wind** . Hebrew. *ruach.* App-9 .
**filled the whole earth** . Thus marking the *seventh* kingdom, that of Messiah.

**a kingdom.** The O.T. is not designed to be a compendium of "ancient history". It is the history of Jehovah's People, Israel; and other nations are referred to only as, and in so far as, they come into connection with Israel. Babylon was the most ancient of kingdoms ([Genesis 10:10](../../../kjv/genesis/10/10) ). Compare [Deuteronomy 32:8](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/8) . Nebuchadnezzar was not the first king; but he was the "head" or beginning of Gentile dominion in the earth when Israel had been "removed" (according to [Jeremiah 15:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/15/4) ; [Jeremiah 24:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/24/9) ; [Jeremiah 29:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/18) ). These successive kingdoms are reckoned only as they obtained possession of Jerusalem. They existed before that; and each, in turn, was absorbed in the one that succeeded.

**children** = sons.
**hath He given** . According to His word ([Jeremiah 27:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27/6) , [Jeremiah 27:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27/7) ; [Jeremiah 28:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/28/14) , &c. Compare [Daniel 1:2](../../../kjv/daniel/1/2) and [Ezekiel 26:7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/26/7) .
**Thou** . Nebuchadnezzar.
**art** = art represented by. Figure of speech *Metaphor.* App-6 .
**head** : i.e. the first of these five kingdoms, not the first king of Babylon. See note on [Daniel 2:37](../../../kjv/daniel/2/37) .
**of** . Genitive of Material. App-17 .

**arise** = stand up. Chaldee. *kum* = to begin to exist. See note on [Exodus 1:8](../../../kjv/exodus/1/8) .
**another** . The kingdom of Medo-Persia, which succeeded Babylon by occupying Jerusalem ([2 Chronicles 36:22](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/22) ).
**inferior** . As silver is inferior to gold, in value and in specific gravity (see note on [Daniel 2:32](../../../kjv/daniel/2/32) ) so the second kingdom was inferior to the first. The successive kingdoms are marked by evolution (or rather, devolution). In the first (Babylon) the king possessed absolute power ("whom he would he slew", &c, [Daniel 5:19](../../../kjv/daniel/5/19) ); the second [Medo-Persian] was a government by law which was superior to the king ([Daniel 6:1](../../../kjv/daniel/6/1) , [Daniel 6:14](../../../kjv/daniel/6/14) , &c).
**third kingdom** . This again was "inferior", as being less despotic.

**the fourth:** i.e. Rome ([Luke 2](../../../kjv/luke/2) and [Luke 3](../../../kjv/luke/3) ). Observe that it does not say there were "four, and no more", as alleged; but "the fourth". An *ordinal* number, not *cardinal.* The Chaldee is *rebi aya* ' (text), or *rebi a'ah* (margin) = fourth, as in [Daniel 3:25](../../../kjv/daniel/3/25) ; [Daniel 7:7](../../../kjv/daniel/7/7) , [Daniel 7:19](../../../kjv/daniel/7/19) , [Daniel 7:23](../../../kjv/daniel/7/23) . Not ' *arba* ', which = four. The *fifth* is revealed in verses: [Daniel 2:41-43](../../../kjv/daniel/2/41-43) . The power which was to succeed Rome in the possession of Jerusalem was to be the Mohammedan power, which was still future when our Lord referred to it in [Luke 21:24](../../../kjv/luke/21/24) ; but the Lord does not *name* it, because the condition of [Acts 3:18-26](../../../kjv/acts/3/18-26) could not be anticipated, assumed, or forestalled.
**strong** = hard. This was the character of Rome, both royal, imperial, and republican.
**subdueth** = crusheth.
**breaketh** = dasheth, or bringeth to ruin. Chaldee. *r* e' *a* '. Not the same word as in verses: [Daniel 2:1](../../../kjv/daniel/2/1) , [Daniel 2:34](../../../kjv/daniel/2/34) , [Daniel 2:35](../../../kjv/daniel/2/35) , Dan 1:42 , Dan 1:44 , Dan 1:45 .
**bruise** = bring to ruin. Chaldee. *r* e' *a* '. App-44 . The same word as "breaketh" earlier in the verse.

**And whereas, &c** . The fifth power is now to be described (the "feet and toes"). It came into possession of Jerusalem in A.D. 636 (Rome having held the city for 666 years: namely, from the battle of Actium 31 B.C. - A.D. 636). Its character as described in [Daniel 2:41](../../../kjv/daniel/2/41) is exact; and, as represented by the "feet", Jerusalem has indeed been "trodden down" ([Luke 21:24](../../../kjv/luke/21/24) ) as was never done by any of the other four powers.
**strength** = hardness.
**miry** = muddy. Chaldee. *tin* . Same as Hebrew. *tit.* Occurances in [2 Samuel 22:43](../../../kjv/2-samuel/22/43) .[Job 41:30](../../../kjv/job/41/30) (Hebrew, verse 22). [Psalms 18:42](../../../kjv/psalms/18/42) (Hebrew, verse 43); Dan 40:2 (Hebrew, verse 3); Dan 69:14 (Hebrew, verse 15). [Isaiah 41:25](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/25) ; [Isaiah 57:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/20) . [Jeremiah 38:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/38/6) . [Micah 7:10](../../../kjv/micah/7/10) . [Nahum 3:14](../../../kjv/nahum/3/14) .[Zechariah 9:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/9/3) ; [Zechariah 10:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/10/5) . Not the same as that rendered "broken" (= brittle), [Daniel 2:42](../../../kjv/daniel/2/42) , as stated by some commentators.

**part** = a portion [of them], or some of them. Chaldee. *min* .
**partly** = in part, or at the end. Chaldee. *ketzath,* as in [Daniel 4:29](../../../kjv/daniel/4/29) (Hebrew, verse 26), [Daniel 4:34](../../../kjv/daniel/4/34) (Hebrew, verse 31). Occurs only in these three places. Compare the Hebrew *kezath* ([Daniel 1:2](../../../kjv/daniel/1/2) with [Daniel 1:5](../../../kjv/daniel/1/5) , [Daniel 1:15](../../../kjv/daniel/1/15) , [Daniel 1:18](../../../kjv/daniel/1/18) ).
**partly broken** = part [of it shall be] broken.
**broken** = fragile, easily broken. Chaldee. *tebar.* Occurs only here.

**they:** i.e. the toes.
**is not mixed** = mingleth not.

**these kings** . Represented by the ten toes: i.e. in their days, at the end of the time of the *fifth* power. Compare [Revelation 17:12-18](../../../kjv/revelation/17/12-18) . That is the moment of the great stone, and of the coming of Messiah.
**for ever** = to the ages. See App-151 .

**oblation** = a gift offering. App-43 .

**is** = He [is].
**Lord** . Chaldee Adonai. App-4 .

**made Daniel a great man** = exalted Daniel.
**governors** = prefects, or nobles. Chaldee. *signin.* Occurs in Dan. only here, [Daniel 3:2](../../../kjv/daniel/3/2) , [Daniel 3:3](../../../kjv/daniel/3/3) , [Daniel 3:27](../../../kjv/daniel/3/27) ; and [Daniel 6:7](../../../kjv/daniel/6/7) .

**Shadrach, &c** . See note on [Daniel 1:7](../../../kjv/daniel/1/7) .
**but Daniel sat in the gate, &c.** See note on [Esther 2:19](../../../kjv/esther/2/19) .

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