Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 2:15

"he answered and said to Arioch the king`s captain, Wherefore is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel." — Daniel 2:15 (ASV)

He answered and said to Arioch, the king’s captain—The word 'captain'—a different word from what occurs in Daniel 2:14, שׁליטא shallı̂yṭa'—denotes one who has rule or dominion, one who is powerful or mighty; and it would be applied only to one who held a post of honor and responsibility. See the use of the word שׁלט shālaṭ—meaning 'to rule'—in Nehemiah 5:15, Ecclesiastes 2:19, Ecclesiastes 6:2, Ecclesiastes 8:9, Esther 9:1, and Psalm 119:133. The word used here is the same one that occurs in Daniel 2:10, where it is translated 'ruler.' It undoubtedly denotes an officer of rank here and designates one with more honorable employment than the word 'executioner' would imply.

It should be said concerning these verses (Daniel 2:14–15), however, that the office of executioner in the East was by no means regarded as a dishonorable one. It was entrusted to those high in rank. Even nobles considered it an honor and often boasted that among their ancestors were those who had been entrusted with executing the commands of their sovereign in this way. Hanway and AbdulKerim both say that this office conferred honor and rank. Tournefort says that in Georgia, 'the executioners are very rich, and men of standing undertake this employment. Far different from what occurs in other parts of the world, in that country this gives a family a title of honor. They boast that among their ancestors there were many who were executioners; and this they base on the sentiment that nothing is more desirable than justice, and that nothing can be more honorable than to be engaged in administering the laws.' (See Rosenmuller, Morgenland, 1079).

Why is the decree from the king so hasty?—This implied that not all possible effort had been made to solve the mystery. The idea is that a decree of such a nature, involving so many in ruin, should not have proceeded from the king without all possible precautions having been taken, and all possible efforts made to find those who might be able to disclose what the king desired. It was a just matter of surprise to Daniel that, after the favor and honor with which he had been received at court (Daniel 1:19–20) and the confidence that had been placed in him, a command like this should have been issued—so comprehensive as to include him and his friends, when they had done nothing to deserve the king's displeasure.

Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. This included the statement about the dream, the king's trouble, the consultation with the magicians, their inability to explain the dream, and the positive command to put all the pretenders to wisdom to death. It is clear that Daniel had not been informed of these things before.