And the decree went forth that the wise should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows from him to be slain.
13. the decree went forth ]Cf. Luke 2:2where the Greek is exactly the same as that of Theodotion’s rendering here ( ).
that the wise men, &c.] and the wise men we were to be slain (VR). See Kautzsch, gramm. 76. 3.
fellows ] companions (RV), ace Dan 2:17. SW Dan 2:18.
Source: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
13 16. Daniel and his three companions of him, being regarded now (cf. Dan 1:17-20) as belonging to the class of ‘wise men,’ and being consequently involved in the condemnation, are in danger of their lives; but Daniel, through Arioch’s intervention, obtains an audience of the king, and promising to tell him his dream of him, gets execution of the sentence deferred.
Source: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain – The original here will bear a somewhat different translation, meaning, the decree went forth, and the wise men were slain; that is, the execution of the sentence was actually commenced. So the Vulgate: Et egressa sententia, sapientes interficiebantur. So also the Greek version: kai hoi sophoi apektennonto – and the wise men were slain. This seems to me to be the more likely interpretation, and better to suit the connection. Then it would mean that they had actually begun to execute the decree, and that in the prosecution of their bloody work they sought out Daniel and his companions from him, and that by his influence from him with Arioch the execution of the sentence was arrested.
And they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain – His three companions Dan 1:6, who probably had not been among those who were summoned to court to explain the matter. Had they been consulted at first, the issuing of the decree would have been prevented, but it seems to have been the design of Providence to give the fairest trial of the ability of these sages, and to allow matters to come to a crisis, in order to show that what was done was wholly beyond human power.
Source: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. They sought Daniel and his fellows]As the decree stated that all the wise men of Babylon should be slain, the four young Hebrews, being reputed among the wisest, were considered as sentenced to death also.
Source: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This was unjust, that Daniel and his fellows should have their share in the punishment, and yet be excluded from the other part which was the reward; the reason why they were not called was because of their youth, which the Chaldeans despised, wherein we have these three things observable.
1. The magicians confessed this, that knowledge and revelation must come from God, and therefore what Daniel did was not by any human strength, but Divine only.
2. That the Lord held the governors hands, so that he did not slay Daniel presently with the first.
3. That Daniel, by his prudence and piety, saved all the magicians lives.
Source: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain,…. Or, “and the wise men were slain” h, as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions render it; and so Saadiah: orders were given by the king to his proper officers, and his edict was published, and his will made known in the usual manner; upon which the wise men, at least some of them, were slain; very probably those who were in the king’s presence, and at court; and the officers were gone out to slay the rest:
and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain; who had the character of wise men, and might be envied at court, and so the officers took this opportunity, having these orders, to slay them: there was, no doubt, a particular providence, that Daniel and his friends should not be at court at this time; both that the vanity of the Chaldean wisdom and arts might be the more manifest and made known, and the divine and superior wisdom and knowledge of Daniel might be more conspicuous, and his fame be spread in Babylon, and in other provinces.
h “et sapientes interficiebantur”, Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Piscator, Michaelis.
Source: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It appears from these words that some of the wise men had been slain, for Daniel at first is not required for slaughter; but when the Magi and Chaldeans were promiscuously dragged out for punishment, Daniel and his companions were in the same danger. And this is clearly expressed thus — widen the edict had gone forth, that is, was published, according to the Latin phrase, and the wise mere were slain, then Daniel was also sought for; because the king would never suffer his decree from him to be despised after it had once been published; for if he had publicly commanded this to be done, and no execution had been added, would not this have been ridiculous? Hence, very probably, the slaughter of the Magi and Chaldeans was extensive. Although the king had no lawful reason for this conduct, yet they deserved their punishment; for, as we said yesterday, they deserved to be exterminated from the world, and the pest must be removed if it could possibly be accomplished. If Nebuchadnezzar had been like David, or Hezekiah, or Josiah, he might most justly have destroyed them all, and have purged the land from such defilements; but as he was only carried away by the fervor of his wrath from him, he was himself in fault. Meanwhile, God justly punishes the Chaldeans, and this admonition ought to profit the whole people. They were hardened in their error, and were doubtless rendered more excuseless by being blinded against such a judgment of God. Because Daniel was condemned to death, though he had not been called by the king, the injustice of the edicts of those kings who do not inquire into the causes of which they are judges, becomes more manifest.
Source: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Because of His Position Daniel Is Involved In What Is Happening. He Seeks God’s Help.
‘So the decree went out, and all the wise men were to be slain. And they sought Daniel and his companions from him that they might be slain.’
A decree was issued to his officers that all the wise men throughout Babylon were to be slain. Whether many had been able to escape the king’s presence we do not know. They would no doubt flee for their lives while the decree was being promulgated, and the soldiers called. But certainly some wise men must have died. And Daniel and his companions of him would not escape, for while they had not been seen as qualified to go before the king as ‘wise men’, they were closely enough connected to them to be counted as within the ambit of the king’s decree.
Source: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 2:13. Daniel and his fellows Companions: Houbigant; and so Dan 2:18.
Source: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows from him to be slain.
See 13. And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain. ]And the wise men were slain, saith the Vulgate; some of them likely were cut off. The end of worldly wisdom is certain destruction.
And they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
]Wicked decrees are wrested to the butchery of the saints; as was that of the six articles here in Henry VIII’s days.
Source: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
fellows = companions.
Source: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 2:13
Dan 2:13 And the decreeH1882 went forthH5312 that the wiseH2445 men should be slain;H6992 and they soughtH1156 DanielH1841 and his fellowsH2269 to be slain.H6992
Dan 2:13
And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
So angry was the king that even Daniel and his companions who had earlier impressed him so much were going to be slain right along with the rest. It should be noted here that Daniel and his companions of him were still quite young with Daniel himself probably being in his mid to late teens. This fact when taken into account makes this event in their lives all the more extraordinary. That Daniel had the conviction, composure and self-possession to accomplish what he did is a testament to this man’s extraordinary character.
Source: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the decree: Dan 6:9-15, Est 3:12-15, Psa 94:20, Pro 28:15-17, Isa 10:1
and they: Dan 1:19, Dan 1:20, Dan 6:12
Reciprocal: Pro 19:12 – king’s Dan 2:24 – Destroy Dan 3:6 – the same Dan 5:19 – whom he would he slew Mat 5:22 – That Mat 20:25 – exercise dominion
Source: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 2:13. Wise men was a term that designated all men who were looked upon as belonging in the group possessing special talents pertaining to the mind. That is why the executioner of the king’s decree sought Daniel and Ms fellows, knowing they had been pronounced even by the king himself as belonging in such a class (chapter 1: 19, 20).
Source: Combined Bible Commentary
2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise should be slain; and they {i} sought Daniel and his fellows from him to be slain.
(i) Which declares that God would not have his servant united in the company of these sorcerers and astrologers, whose arts were wicked, and therefore justly ought to die, even though the king did it upon a rage and not from zeal.