Hippolytus of Rome : And so, the dream which was seen by the king was not earthly, that it might be interpreted by the wise men of the world, but it was heavenly, according to the plan and foreknowledge of God, which is fulfilled in their own times. And on account of this it was concealed from men who comprehend earthly things, so that to those who seek heavenly things, the heavenly mysteries may be revealed. For also in Egypt it happened similarly to Pharaoh. For he, seeing dreams, related them to all the interpreters of Egypt, and there was no one who declared them to Pharaoh. But when the blessed Joseph was present, the dreams, which were not apprehended by others, were in good time, unveiled. And on account of this the king, having been astonished, answered all his slaves, saying, "Have we ever found such a man, in whom is the Spirit of God?" [Genesis 41:38] Therefore, Scripture is indicating that no one will be able to describe the heavenly mysteries, unless he should interpret them as a partner of the Holy Spirit. — Commentary on Daniel 2.2 Jerome : Verse 2. "Wherefore the king commanded that the soothsayers, the magi, the charmers, and the Chaldeans show the king his dream. And when they came, they stood in the presence of the king." Those whom we have translated as "soothsayers" (harioli) others have rendered as epaoidoi, that is, "enchanters." Well then, it seems to me that enchanters are people who perform a thing by means of words; magi are those who pursue individual lines of philosophic enquiry; charmers are those who employ blood and animal sacrifices and often have contact with corpses. Furthermore the term "astrologers" among the Chaldeans signifies, I believe, what the common people call mathematicians. But common usage and ordinary conversation understands the term magi as wicked enchanters . Yet they were regarded differently among their own nation, inasmuch as they were the philosophers of the Chaldeans, and even the kings and princes of this same nation do all they can to acquire a knowledge of this science. Wherefore also it was they who first at the nativity of our Lord and Savior learned of his birth, and who came to holy Bethlehem and adored the child, under the guidance of the star which shone above them (Matthew 2:1-12). — St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER TWO Theodoret of Cyrus : The providential plan is unveiled to the wise. The dream was made known to the prophet and so making evident that which he willed to be accomplished, that in turn [the prophet's] good and saving counsel would be readily received. The king was frightened by the dream, and yet he also feared that he would forget the dream. That which the God of all foreknows is made known to those who are faithful, as is likewise the foolishness of the king. For surely it is foolish to ask others to recall the dream. — COMMENTARY ON Daniel 2:2