was astonied] Both in regard of the sad interpretation, and also because it lay on his part to expound it to the King, whose peace was profitable both to Daniel, and the people of the Jews, for which they were commanded to pray, Jeremiah 29:7. so the Prophets used on the one part to denounce Gods judgements, for the zeal they bare to his glory; and on the other part, to have compassion upon man, and also to consider that they should be subject to Gods judgements, if they did not regard them with pity. the king spake] The King perceived Daniel was not troubled for want of knowledge of the interpretation, but because somewhat was to befall the king. My Lord] When Gods messengers are to deal with great men, they must do it wisely, as Daniel did here with the King, and so did Nathan with David, by a parable bringing his fault to his minde. 2 Samuel 12. to them that hate thee] That is, would to God the sense of this dream might be directed against thine enemies, rather then against thee: A kinde of protestation, to shew that in the interpretation thereof he was not prepossessed with any hatred or passion against the King.