Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 2:4

"Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation." — Daniel 2:4 (ASV)

In Syriac.—Probably a fresh title, indicating to the copyist that the Chaldee portion of the book begins here. It has been conjectured that this portion of the book (Daniel 2:4–7) is a Chaldee translation of an original Hebrew work, but there is no authority for the conjecture. God is about to reveal facts connected with the Gentile world, and therefore a Gentile language is used as the vehicle of the revelation. (See 1 Timothy 2:3–4; Matthew 2:1–2).

Live for ever.—For this common form of salutation, compare Daniel 3:9; Daniel 5:10, etc.