Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 2:12

"For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon." — Daniel 2:12 (ASV)

For this cause the king was angry — because they failed in explaining the subject that 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.

As an arbitrary sovereign, unaccustomed to restraining his anger or inquiring into the exact justice of matters that excited his indignation, it was not unnatural for him to 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 well-known denomination of “wise men,” or “sages.” He had called that class before him (Daniel 2:2); he had demanded of them an explanation of his dream; and he had been assured by the leading men among them, the Chaldeans (Daniel 2:10–11), that they could not recall his dream. Since 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 for some reason he had not been summoned before the king with the others. This was likely because, although he had shown himself to be eminently endowed with wisdom (Daniel 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 wisdom and knowledge he had displayed (Daniel 1:18–20) was remembered. The executioners of the sentence therefore supposed that he 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 Eastern despotisms and the cruelty that absolute sovereigns, when overcome by passion, have often displayed, it is not improbable to suppose that the command included the whole realm. It is probable, however, that most of this class would be found in the capital.