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When they came in and stood before the king, <a href="/nlt/daniel/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, <a href="/esv/daniel/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/bsb/daniel/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, <a href="/kjv/daniel/2.htm">King James Bible</a> Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. <a href="/nkjv/daniel/2.htm">New King James Version</a> Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. <a href="/nasb_/daniel/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then the king gave orders to call in the soothsayer priests, the conjurers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/nasb/daniel/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/nasb77/daniel/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/lsb/daniel/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then the king said to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/amp/daniel/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then the king gave a command to call the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/csb/daniel/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, mediums, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, <a href="/hcsb/daniel/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> So the king gave orders to summon the diviner-priests, mediums, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, <a href="/asv/daniel/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/cev/daniel/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> So he called in his counselors, advisors, magicians, and wise men, <a href="/erv/daniel/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/gwt/daniel/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The king sent for the magicians, psychics, sorcerers, and astrologers so that they could tell him what he had dreamed. So they came to the king. <a href="/gnt/daniel/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> so he sent for his fortunetellers, magicians, sorcerers, and wizards to come and explain the dream to him. When they came and stood before the king, <a href="/isv/daniel/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> So the king gave orders to summon diviners, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to reveal to the king what he had dreamed. When they came and stood before him, <a href="/msb/daniel/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, <a href="/net/daniel/2.htm">NET Bible</a> The king issued an order to summon the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and wise men in order to explain his dreams to him. So they came and awaited the king's instructions. <a href="/nheb/daniel/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <a href="/wbt/daniel/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to show the king his dream. So they came and stood before the king. <a href="/web/daniel/2.htm">World English Bible</a> Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be called to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/daniel/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and the king says to call for enchanters, and for conjurers, and for sorcerers, and for Chaldeans, to declare to the king his dreams. And they come in and stand before the king; <a href="/ylt/daniel/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and the king saith to call for scribes, and for enchanters, and for sorcerers, and for Chaldeans, to declare to the king his dreams. And they come in and stand before the king; <a href="/slt/daniel/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the king will say to call to the sacred scribes, and to the enchanters, and to the sorcerers, and to the Chaldeans, to announce to the king his dreams. And they will come and stand before the king.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/daniel/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Then the king commanded to call together the diviners and the wise men, and the magicians, and the Chaldeans: to declare to the king his dreams: so they came and stood before the king. <a href="/cpdv/daniel/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Yet the king commanded that the seers, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be gathered together to reveal to the king his dreams. When they arrived, they stood in front of the king. <a href="/nabre/daniel/2.htm">New American Bible</a> So he ordered that the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans be summoned to interpret the dream for him. When they came and presented themselves to the king, <a href="/nrsvce/daniel/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> So the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. When they came in and stood before the king,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/daniel/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Then the king commanded to call the magicians and the astrologers and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to show the king his dream. So they came and stood before the king. <a href="/hpbt/daniel/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And the King said to call the Sorcerers and the Enchanters and the Magi and the Chaldeans to show to the King his dream, and they came and they stood before the King<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/daniel/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. <a href="/sep/daniel/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And the king gave orders to call the enchanters, and the magicians, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to declare to the king his dreams. And they came and stood before the king. <a href="/parallel/daniel/2-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/shUZJK-vYxI?start=232" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/daniel/2.htm">Nebuchadnezzar's Dream</a> 1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him. 2<a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: ham·me·leḵ (Art:: N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">So the king</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">gave orders</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: liq·rō (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">to summon</a> <a href="/hebrew/825.htm" title="825: wə·lā·’aš·šā·p̄îm (Conj-w, Prep-l, Art:: N-mp) -- A conjurer, necromancer. From an unused root; a conjurer.">the magicians,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2748.htm" title="2748: la·ḥar·ṭum·mîm (Prep-l, Art:: N-mp) -- An engraver, writer. From the same as cheret; a horoscopist.">enchanters,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3784.htm" title="3784: wə·lam·ḵaš·šə·p̄îm (Conj-w, Prep-l, Art:: V-Piel-Prtcpl-mp) -- To practice sorcery. A primitive root; properly, to whisper a spell, i.e. To inchant or practise magic.">sorcerers,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3778.htm" title="3778: wə·lak·kaś·dîm (Conj-w, Prep-l, Art:: N-proper-mp) -- A region of S. Bab. and its inhab. (occasionally with enclitic) Kasdiymah; towards the Kasdites.">and astrologers</a> <a href="/hebrew/5046.htm" title="5046: lə·hag·gîḏ (Prep-l:: V-Hifil-Inf) -- To be conspicuous. ">to explain</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: lam·me·leḵ (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2472.htm" title="2472: ḥă·lō·mō·ṯāw (N-mpc:: 3ms) -- A dream. Or chalom; from chalam; a dream.">his dreams.</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇō·’ū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">When they came</a> <a href="/hebrew/5975.htm" title="5975: way·ya·‘am·ḏū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To take one's stand, stand. A primitive root; to stand, in various relations.">and stood</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lip̄·nê (Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: ham·me·leḵ (Art:: N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">the king,</a> 3he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand it.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/41-8.htm">Genesis 41:8</a> In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. <a href="/exodus/7-11.htm">Exodus 7:11</a> But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. <a href="/isaiah/47-12.htm">Isaiah 47:12-13</a> So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! / You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate. <a href="/jeremiah/27-9.htm">Jeremiah 27:9</a> But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ <a href="/ezekiel/21-21.htm">Ezekiel 21:21</a> For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver. <a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-11</a> Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. <a href="/acts/16-16.htm">Acts 16:16-18</a> One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. <a href="/2_timothy/3-8.htm">2 Timothy 3:8</a> Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith. <a href="/revelation/18-23.htm">Revelation 18:23</a> The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.” <a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7-8</a> Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. / So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” <a href="/1_kings/22-6.htm">1 Kings 22:6</a> So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” <a href="/2_kings/21-6.htm">2 Kings 21:6</a> He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. <a href="/2_chronicles/33-6.htm">2 Chronicles 33:6</a> He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. <a href="/isaiah/44-25.htm">Isaiah 44:25</a> who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense, <a href="/jeremiah/14-14.htm">Jeremiah 14:14</a> “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.See on ch.<a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Daniel 1:20</a> And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.<a href="/daniel/4-6.htm">Daniel 4:6</a> Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.<a href="/daniel/5-7.htm">Daniel 5:7</a> The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Astrologers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-14.htm">Chaldaeans</a> <a href="/daniel/1-4.htm">Chaldeans</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-14.htm">Chalde'ans</a> <a href="/daniel/1-18.htm">Commanded</a> <a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Conjurers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/40-4.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/jeremiah/29-8.htm">Dream</a> <a href="/daniel/2-1.htm">Dreams</a> <a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Enchanters</a> <a href="/ezekiel/38-10.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Magicians</a> <a href="/daniel/1-3.htm">Orders</a> <a href="/daniel/1-5.htm">Places</a> <a href="/isaiah/24-21.htm">Powers</a> <a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Scribes</a> <a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-11.htm">Shew</a> <a href="/daniel/1-9.htm">Show</a> <a href="/jeremiah/27-9.htm">Sorcerers</a> <a href="/daniel/1-19.htm">Stood</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-22.htm">Summoned</a> <a href="/ezekiel/48-15.htm">Use</a> <a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Users</a> <a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Wonder-Workers</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/daniel/2-27.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/daniel/2-4.htm">Astrologers</a> <a href="/daniel/2-4.htm">Chaldaeans</a> <a href="/daniel/2-4.htm">Chaldeans</a> <a href="/daniel/2-4.htm">Chalde'ans</a> <a href="/daniel/2-12.htm">Commanded</a> <a href="/daniel/2-27.htm">Conjurers</a> <a href="/daniel/2-4.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/daniel/2-3.htm">Dream</a> <a href="/daniel/2-28.htm">Dreams</a> <a href="/daniel/2-27.htm">Enchanters</a> <a href="/daniel/3-29.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/daniel/2-27.htm">Magicians</a> <a href="/daniel/2-12.htm">Orders</a> <a href="/daniel/4-21.htm">Places</a> <a href="/matthew/13-54.htm">Powers</a> <a href="/daniel/4-9.htm">Scribes</a> <a href="/daniel/2-18.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/daniel/2-4.htm">Shew</a> <a href="/daniel/2-4.htm">Show</a> <a href="/micah/5-12.htm">Sorcerers</a> <a href="/daniel/2-31.htm">Stood</a> <a href="/daniel/3-13.htm">Summoned</a> <a href="/daniel/10-3.htm">Use</a> <a href="/daniel/2-27.htm">Users</a> <a href="/daniel/2-27.htm">Wonder-Workers</a><div class="vheading2">Daniel 2</div>1. <a href="/daniel/2-1.htm">Nebuchadnezzar, forgetting his dream, </a> 5. <a href="/daniel/2-5.htm">requires it of the Chaldeans, by promises and threats.</a> 10. <a href="/daniel/2-10.htm">They acknowledging their inability are judged to die.</a> 14. <a href="/daniel/2-14.htm">Daniel obtaining some respite finds the dream.</a> 19. <a href="/daniel/2-19.htm">He blesses God.</a> 24. <a href="/daniel/2-24.htm">He staying the decree is brought to the king.</a> 31. <a href="/daniel/2-31.htm">The dream.</a> 36. <a href="/daniel/2-36.htm">The interpretation.</a> 46. <a href="/daniel/2-46.htm">Daniel's advancement.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/daniel/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/daniel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/daniel/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. In the ancient Near East, dreams were often considered messages from the divine, requiring interpretation by those believed to have special insight. The king, Nebuchadnezzar, sought understanding from his court advisors, who were part of a class of wise men in Babylon. These individuals were thought to possess knowledge of the supernatural and were often consulted in matters of state and personal concern. The inclusion of various types of practitioners—magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers—reflects the diverse religious and cultural influences in Babylon, a center of learning and mysticism. This action underscores the king's desperation and the importance of dreams in ancient royal courts.When they came and stood before the king, The phrase indicates the formal and hierarchical nature of the Babylonian court. The wise men were summoned to appear before the king, highlighting the authority and power of Nebuchadnezzar. This setting also sets the stage for the unfolding drama where Daniel, a Hebrew captive, would later demonstrate the superiority of the God of Israel over the Babylonian deities and their representatives. The scene foreshadows the limitations of human wisdom and the eventual revelation of divine truth through Daniel, pointing to the theme of God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/k/king_nebuchadnezzar.htm">King Nebuchadnezzar</a> The ruler of Babylon who had a troubling dream that needed interpretation. 2. <a href="/topical/m/magicians.htm">Magicians</a> These were wise men or scholars in Babylon who practiced the art of magic and were considered knowledgeable in interpreting dreams. 3. <a href="/topical/e/enchanters.htm">Enchanters</a> Individuals who used incantations or spells, often seen as possessing special knowledge or powers. 4. <a href="/topical/s/sorcerers.htm">Sorcerers</a> Practitioners of sorcery, often involved in the occult and believed to have the ability to communicate with the spiritual realm. 5. <a href="/topical/a/astrologers.htm">Astrologers</a> Those who studied the stars and celestial bodies to predict events and interpret dreams.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_limitations_of_human_wisdom.htm">The Limitations of Human Wisdom</a> The summoning of magicians and astrologers underscores the limitations of human wisdom and the need for divine revelation. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_nations.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Nations</a> Nebuchadnezzar's dream and its interpretation reveal God's control over the rise and fall of empires. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_god's_servants.htm">The Role of God's Servants</a> Like Daniel, believers are called to be vessels of God's wisdom and truth in a world seeking answers. <a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_spiritual_matters.htm">Discernment in Spiritual Matters</a> Christians should exercise discernment and rely on God's Word rather than occult practices for guidance. <a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_adversity.htm">Faithfulness in Adversity</a> Daniel's faithfulness in a foreign land serves as an example of steadfastness in challenging circumstances.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_daniel_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Daniel 2</a> <a href="/q/who_are_the_chaldeans_in_the_bible.htm">Who are the Chaldeans mentioned in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_daniel_interpret_dreams.htm">How does Daniel interpret dreams and visions in Babylon?</a> <a href="/q/how_did_4_captives_outshine_scholars.htm">How could four young captives learn and excel in “all wisdom and knowledge” (Daniel 1:17) beyond experienced Babylonian scholars? </a> <a href="/q/why_does_daniel_11_2_list_only_4_persian_kings.htm">How does Daniel 11:2 reconcile with history when it only mentions four Persian kings, despite records of more?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/daniel/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) Magicians.--Heb. chartummim, so called, most probably, from the pencil or stylus with which they wrote. The word is elsewhere used of the Egyptian magicians. (See Schrader, Keil-Inschriften, p. 26; Records of the Past, vol. 1 p. 131.)Astrologers.--Heb. ashshaphim, a name derived from the whisperings or mutterings made by them while employed in their incantations. They are mentioned by Daniel only.Sorcerers.--Heb. mekashshaphim; are spoken of in the Pentateuch both as male and female, (e.g. <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm" title="There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.">Deuteronomy 18:10</a>). They are mentioned by Isaiah (<a href="/isaiah/47-9.htm" title="But these two things shall come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come on you in their perfection for the multitude of your sorceries, and for the great abundance of your enchantments.">Isaiah 47:9</a>; <a href="/isaiah/47-12.htm" title="Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, wherein you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail.">Isaiah 47:12</a>) as prevalent in the Babylon of his days. Probably the Chaldaeans spoken of in this verse did not form a separate class of magicians, but denoted the priests, such as those mentioned Herod. i. 181, and was contained in the first class of magicians mentioned in the verse. It appears that Daniel excelled (<a href="/daniel/1-17.htm" title="As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.">Daniel 1:17</a>) in all classes of magic learning, whether it required a knowledge of "learning, wisdom, or dreams."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/daniel/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 2. - Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. The Septuagint renders, "And the king commended that the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers of the Chaldeans be brought in to tell the king his dream. And they came and steed before the king." The difference is slight verbally, but very important. Theodotion and the Peshitta agree closely with the Massoretic. The Vulgate renders mecashe-pheem, "sorcerers," malefici, "evil workers." Then the king commanded to call the magicians. The scene seems to stand out before us - the king, excited and sleepless, calling out to his attendants to summon to his presence all the wise men in the capital of his empire. The first that are named are the hartummeem. The name is derived by Gesenius from חֶרֶט (heret), "a stylus," and he supposes them to be sacred scribes. We find the word in <a href="/genesis/41-24.htm">Genesis 41:24</a>. Although the order may have existed among the Egyptians, the name given to them here and in Exodus may quite well have a Semitic origin. The Tel-el-Amarna tablets show us how well the language of Assyria was known in Egypt. Hitzig is quite sure that Nebuchadnezzar "est Abbild des Pharao und zugleich Vorbild des Antiochus Epiphanes." It is a way critics have; they are always quite sure. It may be observed that both the Greek versions have for this word ἐπαοιδούς, "those who use incantations." The Peshitta has harasha, primarily "one who is silent," then "one who mutters," then "one who sings an incantation." Paulus Tellensis has lehasha, "to whisper," and then "to reheat a charm" or "incautation." Jerome renders arioli," foretellers." While the Peshitta interprets hartummeem in Genesis by the same word as that used here, in the Septuagint the word in Genesis is ἐξηγητής instead of ἐ῞παοίδος, and Jerome uses conjectores instead of, as we have seen, arioli In <a href="/exodus/7-11.htm">Exodus 7:11</a> harturameem is translated in the Septuagint ἐπαοιδοί. Jerome renders ipsi, as if the word had not been in his text. if, then, the word hartummeem stood in the text of Daniel when the Greek versions were made, there was an uncertainty as to the meaning to be assigned to it in Egypt. The distinction between the two meanings drawn from the etymology of the word hartummeem, and that derived from the Greek equivalent, is not great. The religion of the Chaldeans was largely a system of incantations that were preserved primarily in the Accadian - a tongue known only to the sacred scribes. Many of the formulae are translated into Assyrian - a language, by the time of Nebuchadnezzar, practically as much restricted to the scribes and learned class as the Accadian. Hence only a scribe could know the proper words to use in an incantation, only he could perpetuate and preserve them. It is difficult to know on what grouted the translators of the Authorized Version selected the word "magicians." The Geneva Bible rendered it "enchanters," which is adopted by the Revisers. Luther is further afield in tendering sternsehers. The name is Assyrian, and apparently derived from harutu, "a staff" (Norris, 'Assyr. Dict.'). This staff was possibly used, as the staff of the Roman augur, to mark off the regions of the heavens, or, it may be, to ward off demons. And the astrologers. The Hebrew word used here is ashshapheem. "In Assyrian the word asep or asipu is used in the sense of diviner. The word was actually borrowed by the Aramaic of Daniel under the form of ashshaph" (Sayce, 'Hibbert Lecture,' p. 51). It is supposed to mean "one who uses enchantments." It is not Hebrew, but really Syriao or Eastern Aramaic. In both Greek versions the equivalent is μάγοι, which Jerome follows. The Peshitta reserves magoeha for the next term. The assertion that this word was really the Greek σοφοί is now abandoned. The Greek σ never rendered by שׁ, which represented a sound not present in Greek at all. The fact that this non-Hellenic sound is doubled makes it utterly impossible that this word could be brought over from the Greek. It is impossible to assign to this word the precise shade of meaning which belongs to it. There is nothing to suggest "astrologers" in the root of the word. And the sorcerers. The Hebrew here is mekash,hepheem. Dr. Robertson Smith, as quoted in Professor Bevan, suggests that the word is derived from כשפ, "to shred or cut to pieces," hence "to prepare magical drugs." This is in agreement with the Greek versions, which render φαρμάκοι. The verb, however, is a Syrian one, and means "to worship" (<a href="/acts/4-31.htm">Acts 4:31</a>; <a href="/philippians/1-4.htm">Philippians 1:4</a>). It occurs in the Hebrew of <a href="/exodus/7-11.htm">Exodus 7:11</a> along with hartummeem; in <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10</a>, in a verse forbidding to the Israelites the use of magical arts; in <a href="/2_chronicles/33-6.htm">2 Chronicles 33:6</a>, in an account of how Manasseh traversed that law. It may be noted that in this last verse the Peshitta renders Chaldea "Chaldeans." Again we have to repeat the remark that we do not know the distinctions involved in these different names. And the Chaldeans. The Hebrew word here is כַשְׂדִים (Kas'deern); both the form Kassatu and Kaldu occur in in-seriptions. The meaning of this word has caused great discussion, and its use in this chapter for a class of magicians has been held as a strong proof that the writer of the book before us lived long after the time in which he places the events he narrates. The use of "Chaldean" for "magician," "astrologer," or "soothsayer" in classic times is well known. The difficulty here is that the name "Chaldean" is used for a particular and limited class in the nation, and at the same time for that nation as a whole. This is not necessarily impossible. In Scotland, although the inhabitants are all called Scots, there is also the clan whose surname is Scott, or, as it was earlier spelt, "Scot." It would not show confusion or iguorance did a writer of the fifteenth century speak in one page of the Kers, the Hepburns, and the Scots (Scotts) as forming one army, and then in the next page proceed to speak of the whole army as the army of the Scots. His use of the name in the one case for the nation and the other for the clan, so far from showing an insufficient acquaintance with the constitution of Scotland, or the history of its affairs, really evidences the accuracy of the writer's knowledge. We cannot conclude that the author therefore made a mistake in speaking - if he does so - of a class of the Babylonian magians being called Chaldeans because the nation bore the same name. We certainly have as yet found no trace of such a usage, but the argumentum e silentio is of strikingly little value in regard to Babylon - her annals are so very incomplete. We retest bear in mind that the text of Daniel is in a very bad state: it has been subjected to various inter-polstions and alterations. It is, therefore, hazardous to rest any stress on single words. It is clear the writer knew perfectly well that the nation were called Chaldeans. According to the Massoretic text, <a href="/daniel/5-30.htm">Daniel 5:30</a> asserts, "In that night was Belshazzar King of the Chaldeans slain;" according to the LXX. version of the same verse it is, "And the kingdom was taken from the Chaldeans and given to the Medea and Persians." If we are sure the writer did make the Chaldeans also a class of magians, the probability is that he knew what he was talking about, and made no explanation because, as a contemporary, he took for granted everybody knew how this was. But is it absolutely certain that the writer of Daniel does make this asset-lion? It is true that in the Massoretic text the Kasdeem are represented as a class of magiaas coordinate with the hartummeem, ashshapheem, and mekashepheem, but in the Septuagint we find the word χαλδαίων in the genitive. Consequently, the sentence reads, "the magicians and the astrologers and the sorcerers of the Chaldeans." If at the time the Massoretic recension was made the name "Chaldean" had gained its later significance of "soothsayer," one can easily understand how natural it would be to insert the copulative before the preposition. The construction of the sentence in the text before the translator of the LXX. Version is certainly irregular, but not unexampled. It is not so easy to imagine the Septuagint translator changing the nominative plural into a genitive, especially when, by the time the translation was made, the osage we have spoken of above was in full force. We may assume, then, that in the original text of Daniel the "Kasdeem" were not spoken of, in this verse at all events, as a class of magicians. As the clause appears in the LXX., Nebuchadnezzar assembled all the magicians of his nationality, the Chaldeans as distinguished from the Babylonians. Perhaps he had more confidence in them. While the change we have suggested would make only the mekashshepheem connected with the Chaldeans, the grammatical structure of the verse has the aspect of a freer rendering than that in Theodotion' hence it might quite well have been that the original Hebrew had the meaning represented by the Greek of the Septuagint. Lenormant sees in the four classes here an exact representation of the four classes of Babylonian soothsayers. We do not feel obliged to maintain that all the different classes should be called in on the occasion of this dream. We do not know precisely the characteristics that separated one class from the other, but it seems little likely that they all devoted themselves to the interpretation of dreams. There were other omens and portents that had to be explained. For to show the king his dreams. The natural sense is that represented by the Greek versions, "to tell the king his dream." The usual reason for these officials being called was to declare to the king the interpretation of the dream; but here it was to declare the dream its. If. Yet if they could foretell the future, could they not much more easily tell what had happened? They professed to know what was coming; they could - so Nebuchadnezzar might argue - readily enough reason back from the future they knew to the sign of the future, the dream which had been given to him. So they came and stood before the king. We can imagine the long ranks of the principal classes of Chaldean soothsayers in Babylon hastening into the royal presence. All the soothsayers, we see, were not summoned, for Daniel and his friends were not, and they were not singular, else the writer would have given some reason for this omission. The writer assumes that his readers know so much about the habits of Bah;Ionian wise men and their schools, as to be aware that certain individuals might nominally be summoned to the court; and yet it might be some time before they were summoned on any critical occasion. The absence of the four Hebrews might be explained in two ways: either only the Chaldean magicians were in this case summoned, and, as Daniel and his friends were not Chaldeans, they were omitted; or they were not summoned he-cause their training was not yet complete. <a href="/commentaries/daniel/2-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>So the king הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> A king gave orders וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say to summon לִקְרֹ֨א (liq·rō) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> To call, proclaim, read the magicians, וְלָֽאַשָּׁפִ֗ים (wə·lā·’aš·šā·p̄îm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_825.htm">Strong's 825: </a> A conjurer, necromancer enchanters, לַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֜ים (la·ḥar·ṭum·mîm) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2748.htm">Strong's 2748: </a> An engraver, writer sorcerers, וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִים֙ (wə·lam·ḵaš·šə·p̄îm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3784.htm">Strong's 3784: </a> To whisper a, spell, to inchant, practise magic and astrologers וְלַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (wə·lak·kaś·dîm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> Chaldeans -- a region of southern Babylon and its inhab to explain לְהַגִּ֥יד (lə·hag·gîḏ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5046.htm">Strong's 5046: </a> To be conspicuous his dreams. חֲלֹמֹתָ֑יו (ḥă·lō·mō·ṯāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2472.htm">Strong's 2472: </a> A dream When they came וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go and stood וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ (way·ya·‘am·ḏū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5975.htm">Strong's 5975: </a> To stand, in various relations before לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> The face the king, הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> A king <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/daniel/2-2.htm">Daniel 2:2 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/daniel/2-2.htm">OT Prophets: Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call (Dan. 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