Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 2:5

5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me : if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof , ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill .

This was of God that these impostors should be made infamous, by detecting their ignorance, and their arrogance, and that this should be a step to Daniels honour for knowing the Kings dream, and interpreting of it, neither of which the Chaldeans could do.

If they do not both saith the King.

This was a usual punishment in those parts of the World, thus Samuel cut Agag in pieces, 1 Sam. 15.33. 1 Chron. 20.3. Thus David dealt with the Ammonites. And the like was in making houses a dunghill, the like we have chap. 3.29. and thus they did to the house of Baal, made it a draught house to this day by Iehu's Command, 2 Kings 10.27. The like did Darius threaten to them that would alter his decree for building the house of God. Ezra 6.11. This commination argued the Kings wrath to be excessive and furious in punishing for not doing what was above their humane strength, and which the Chaldeans never arrogated to themselves, yet was this a just reward to these men, that were so presumptuous.

Marginal references: chap. 3.29.; Chald. made pieces.; Ezra 6.11.