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Selected Verse: Daniel 2:12 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Da 2:12	Strong Concordance	For [06903] this [01836] cause [03606] the king [04430] was angry [01149] and very [07690] furious [07108], and commanded [0560] to destroy [07] all [03606] the wise [02445] men of Babylon [0895].
	King James	For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Daniel and his companions do not seem to have been actually numbered among the Magi or Chaldeans, and so were not summoned before the king. Providence ordered it so that all mere human wisdom should be shown vain before His divine power, through His servant, was put forth. Dan 2:24 shows that the decree for slaying the wise men had not been actually executed when Daniel interposed.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Daniel and his companions do not seem to have been actually numbered among the Magi or Chaldeans, and so were not summoned before the king. Providence ordered it so that all mere human wisdom should be shown vain before His divine power, through His servant, was put forth. Dan 2:24 shows that the decree for slaying the wise men had not been actually executed when Daniel interposed.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For this cause the king was angry - Because they failed in explaining the subject which had been referred to them. It is true that his anger was unjust, for their profession did not imply that they would undertake to explain what he demanded, but his wrath was not unnatural. His mind was alarmed, and he was troubled. He believed that what he had seen in his dream foreboded some important events, and, as an arbitrary sovereign, unaccustomed to restrain his anger or to inquire into the exact jusrice of matters which excited Iris indignation, it was not unnatural that he should resolve to wreak his vengeance on all who made any pretensions to the arts of divining. And very furious - Wrought up to the highest degree of passion. Chaldee, "Much enraged." It was not a calm and settled purpose to execute his threat, but a purpose attended with a high degree of excitement. And commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon - That is, all who made pretensions to this kind of wisdom; all who came under the wellknown denomination of "wise men," or "sages." He had called that class before him Dan 2:2; he had demanded of them an explanation of his dream; he had been assured by the leading men among them, the Chaldeans Dan 2:10-11, that they could not recall his dream; and, as he supposed that all who could be relied on in such a case had failed, he resolved to cut them off as impostors. Where Daniel was at this time is not known. It would seem, however, that from some reason he had not been summoned before the king with the others, probably because, although he had shown himself to be eminently endowed with wisdom Dan 1:20, he had not yet made any pretensions to this kind of knowledge, and was not numbered with the Magi, or Chaldeans. When, however, the decree went forth that "all" the "wise men of Babylon" should be slain, the exhibition of wisdom and knowledge made by him Dan 1:18-20 was recollected, and the executioners of the sentence supposed that tie and his companions were included in the general instructions. Whether the word "Babylon" here relates to the city of Babylon, or to the whole realm, there is no certain way of determining. Considering, however, the character of Oriental despotisms, and the cruelty to which absolute sovereigns have usually been transported in their passion, there would be no improbability in supposing that the command included the whole realm, though it is probable that most of this class would be found in the capital.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For this cause the king was angry - Because they failed in explaining the subject which had been referred to them. It is true that his anger was unjust, for their profession did not imply that they would undertake to explain what he demanded, but his wrath was not unnatural. His mind was alarmed, and he was troubled. He believed that what he had seen in his dream foreboded some important events, and, as an arbitrary sovereign, unaccustomed to restrain his anger or to inquire into the exact jusrice of matters which excited Iris indignation, it was not unnatural that he should resolve to wreak his vengeance on all who made any pretensions to the arts of divining.

And very furious - Wrought up to the highest degree of passion. Chaldee, "Much enraged." It was not a calm and settled purpose to execute his threat, but a purpose attended with a high degree of excitement.

And commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon - That is, all who made pretensions to this kind of wisdom; all who came under the wellknown denomination of "wise men," or "sages." He had called that class before him Dan 2:2; he had demanded of them an explanation of his dream; he had been assured by the leading men among them, the Chaldeans Dan 2:10-11, that they could not recall his dream; and, as he supposed that all who could be relied on in such a case had failed, he resolved to cut them off as impostors.

Where Daniel was at this time is not known. It would seem, however, that from some reason he had not been summoned before the king with the others, probably because, although he had shown himself to be eminently endowed with wisdom Dan 1:20, he had not yet made any pretensions to this kind of knowledge, and was not numbered with the Magi, or Chaldeans. When, however, the decree went forth that "all" the "wise men of Babylon" should be slain, the exhibition of wisdom and knowledge made by him Dan 1:18-20 was recollected, and the executioners of the sentence supposed that tie and his companions were included in the general instructions. Whether the word "Babylon" here relates to the city of Babylon, or to the whole realm, there is no certain way of determining. Considering, however, the character of Oriental despotisms, and the cruelty to which absolute sovereigns have usually been transported in their passion, there would be no improbability in supposing that the command included the whole realm, though it is probable that most of this class would be found in the capital.

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²⁴ Therefore [03606] [06903] [01836] Daniel [01841] went in [05954] unto [05922] Arioch [0746], whom the king [04430] had ordained [04483] to destroy [07] the wise [02445] men of Babylon [0895]: he went [0236] and said [0560] thus [03652] unto him; Destroy [07] not [0409] the wise [02445] men of Babylon [0895]: bring me in [05954] before [06925] the king [04430], and I will shew [02324] unto the king [04430] the interpretation [06591].

¹⁸ Now at the end [07117] of the days [03117] that the king [04428] had said [0559] he should bring [0935] them in, then the prince [08269] of the eunuchs [05631] brought [0935] them in before [06440] Nebuchadnezzar [05019].
¹⁹ And the king [04428] communed [01696] with them; and among them all was found [04672] none like Daniel [01840], Hananiah [02608], Mishael [04332], and Azariah [05838]: therefore stood [05975] they before [06440] the king [04428].
²⁰ And in all matters [01697] of wisdom [02451] and understanding [0998], that the king [04428] enquired [01245] of them, he found [04672] them ten times [06235] better [03027] than all the magicians [02748] and astrologers [0825] that were in all his realm [04438].

²⁰ And in all matters [01697] of wisdom [02451] and understanding [0998], that the king [04428] enquired [01245] of them, he found [04672] them ten times [06235] better [03027] than all the magicians [02748] and astrologers [0825] that were in all his realm [04438].

¹⁰ The Chaldeans [03779] answered [06032] before [06925] the king [04430], and said [0560], There is [0383] not [03809] a man [0606] upon [05922] the earth [03007] that can [03202] shew [02324] the king's [04430] matter [04406]: therefore [06903] [01768] there is no [03809] king [04430], lord [07229], nor ruler [07990], that asked [07593] such [01836] things [04406] at any [03606] magician [02749], or astrologer [0826], or Chaldean [03779].
¹¹ And it is a rare [03358] thing [04406] that the king [04430] requireth [07593], and there is [0383] none [03809] other [0321] that can shew [02324] it before [06925] the king [04430], except [03861] the gods [0426], whose dwelling [04070] is [0383] not [03809] with [05974] flesh [01321].

² Then the king [04428] commanded [0559] to call [07121] the magicians [02748], and the astrologers [0825], and the sorcerers [03784], and the Chaldeans [03778], for to shew [05046] the king [04428] his dreams [02472]. So they came [0935] and stood [05975] before [06440] the king [04428].