The Book of Daniel: Chapter 2 Chapter 2:1-2 "In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar". This refers to the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s sole reign. Nebuchadnezzar probably ruled part of his earlier reign conjointly with his father Nabopolassar. If they reigned together for two years, then this would be the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s sole reign. This would be four years after the siege of Jerusalem. This would make this passage follow chronologically the latter part of chapter one where the four Hebrew children have fulfilled their training period of three years. "Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams". The fact that the word dream is plural, could refer to the different parts of the vision or a popular expression of that day where one would say I had strange dreams last night, but actually he might have had only one. The dream that Nebuchadnezzar had disturbed him so that he was troubled in spirit and was unable to sleep. The king called those in his kingdom who should be able to interpret the dream. The time lapse between the kings awakening and calling for the interpreters is not specified, but it appears to be short. Chapter 2:3-11 The wise men ask for the dream, that they might interpret it. They spoke in Syriack. It should be noted that the book is written in the Chaldean beginning with this verse and continuing through chapter seven. "O king, live for ever:". This was the customary greeting or salutation to the king. "The king answered... the thing is gone from me". There is a question concerning the meaning of the phrase "the thing is gone from me". Does this mean that Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten the dream, or does it mean that his command for the interpretation had been given? I prefer the first interpretation for the following reason. First this is the interpretation that comes to ones mind when he first reads it: therefore it is the most obvious. Also, grammatically this interpretation can be shown to be as acceptable as the latter. There is no indication that the king had made a decree prior to this, and so the "thing" would most naturally refer to that under discussion, "the dream". In verse five the king makes known the fact that he not only wants the wise men to give him the interpretation but the dream as well. Some have said that the king remembered the dream, but was only testing his wise men. They suggest that the wise men would have made up an interpretation if he had told them the dream. However if you compare Daniel 4:5-7 you will notice that the king revealed a dream to the wise men, but they could not interpret it, nor did they try to give an interpretation to fool the king and cover up. "Ye shall be cut into pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill". This severe judgment for their inability to tell the king the dream and interpret it, indicates the earnest desire of the king for an interpretation. These punishments were in vogue among the ancient orientals. In verse six the king offers rewards for the interpretation. The wise men again ask the king concerning the dream, but the king replies that they are only trying to stall for time. They want the king to try to remember the dream. This would take time and possibly the king would forget about the matter "till the time be changed". The king’s decree becomes firm. They must give him the dream and the interpretation or else the king will know that they "have prepared lying and corrupt words". "Except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh". The wise men state that only the gods that do not dwell in man could do such a rare thing. Chapter 2:12-16 The king became "angry and very furious". He was worked up to an emotional frenzy that seemed to make him like a raging beast. He commanded that all of the wise men should be put to death. "They sought Daniel and his fellows". This indicates that the four Hebrew children were classified with the wise men. This does not however mean that they had participated in pagan ritual or magical practices. It only shows that the king included them with the wise men and probably because of their worship of Jehovah. It was also probably true that the slayings were not begun, but that they were gathering them together for a public mass murdering. "The wise men of Babylon". This indicates that the decree did not include all of the kingdom of Babylon but rather those who resided in the city of Babylon. "Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel," It is clear that Daniel and his friends had not heard of the kings dream or the wise men’s inability to interpret the dream. This must have happened in a very short time as indicated from the fact that :Daniel and his friends had not yet heard; Daniel asks the question "Why is the kings decree so hasty" and the wise men had not all been gathered together yet even though the kings decree for their execution was urgent. "That he would give him time" Daniel went in and requested of the king that they might have more time. It is not stated that Daniel saw the king. The language could mean that he entered an outer court of the King’s palace and requested that the king’s permission be sought by some of the king’s servants. The fact that Arioch brought Daniel in before the king later and introduces him to the king as one he has found would indicate that Daniel did not see the king at this time. This also does not state whether the king granted Daniel’s request for additional time. Chapter 2:17-23 "Daniel went to his house" Daniel and his friends must have had their own dwelling indicating at least a measure of prosperity for these captives. "That they would desire the mercies of the God of Heaven". Daniel realized that all help that was available would be from God. He asks his friends to beseech God for deliverance. We have an indication of the spiritual life of Daniel, for we see Daniel turning to God in this time of great physical danger. "Should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon". This indicates possibly that the king’s decree would be carried out with the other wise men. They had admitted their inability to resurrect the dream and interpret it. We have no indication from the context that the judgment was stayed upon all the others. The fact of the appearance of wise men later, does not establish that these are the same men. "Revealed unto Daniel in a night vision." The secret was revealed to Daniel. That is the dream and the interpretation. Daniel received the answer to their request of God in a night vision. It is not stated whether Daniel was asleep or awake. There is a contrast here with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which he had received while asleep. "Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven." This would have been the natural expression of a heart filled with praise because of a miraculous deliverance. The word "answered" is used in the sense of to speak or say. Daniel speaks of the power and sovereignty of God and concludes with his thankfulness for God’s answer to his prayer. Chapter 2:24-30 "Destroy not the wise men". This is the statement of Daniel to Arioch who was charged by the king to slay the wise men. It does not state whether any had or had not been slain. Daniel bases his request on his statement, that he will show the king the interpretation of the dream. If the wise men were to be slain because of their failure to interpret the dream, now the requirement would be met and there would be no need to kill the remaining wise men. "In haste", means with great excitement and pictures one who is shaking because of nervous excitement. The question is asked why he was so excited. There are many complicated suggestions given but the most obvious seems to be overlooked. Arioch was a ruler. The wise men were in prominence and possibly included some of his friends. We cannot deprive Arioch of any sense of sympathy for others just because he is not a child of God. "There is a God", Daniel specifically gives the credit for the interpretation to God and acknowledges the fact that no man could do what the king requested. "Latter days", Daniel tells the king that God is making known to him what shall be in the latter days. This phrase refers to future times and especially to the times of the Messiah. "Thy dream and the visions", Daniel refers to the dream and its parts. "What should come to pass hereafter." The indication is that Nebuchadnezzar had been thinking on the subject of the future when he fell asleep. With this basic attitude in him mind, God gave him the dream concerning future events. Daniel disclaims any superior knowledge or ability in his interpreting of the dream. He states that God gave this interpretation because he wanted Nebuchadnezzar to know it. Chapter 2:31-36 "A great image", Daniel describes the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had. It was of a great" image. The greatness indicates the size and material of the image. The head was of fine gold. The breast and arms were of silver. His belly and thighs were of brass. His legs were of iron, and his feet mixed with part iron and part clay. A stone was cut out without hands and it smote the image in the feet and broke the feet into pieces and the rest of the image was likewise broken into a fine dust like chaff and the wind carried it away. The stone became a great mountain that filled the whole earth. Daniel first told the dream to the king. This was part of the requirement by the king. After Daniel revealed what the dream was, he promises the interpretation. Chapter 2:37-45 "King of kings". This phrase speaks of the greatness of Nebuchadnezzars kingdom. It was the greatest of the kingdoms of that time. Daniel mentions the sovereignty of God in placing Nebuchadnezzar upon his throne. "Thou are this head of gold". It is clear what is meant by the head of gold because God revealed to Daniel that Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom represented the head of gold. We know that it is obvious that the king is not literally the head of gold. This head of gold represents the king and his kingdom. We notice that the metals diminish in value as they go down the statue to show that kingdoms and the authority of the monarch decline and become inferior to the head of gold. Nebuchadnezzar was a ruler with nearly absolute power. As one studies the empires that follow, we notice a definite decay in the power of the monarch. "inferior to thee". It is suggested that the kingdoms that follow are inferior because of lower standards of morals. However, this is a theory which would have to be proven. If the feet represent the remnants of the Roman empire which continues on until the Messiah comes to establish His kingdom, then this kingdom which incorporated the early history of the Christian Church could not be proven to be lower in morals than the Babylonian empire. Daniel does not say in what respect the second kingdom and the subsequent ones are inferior. He only uses the comparison of silver to gold to show that the second is inferior to the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar. It might be very possible that they were not inferior in one aspect, but in a total view of each succeeding kingdom we see an overall inferiority in some aspects. "After thee". This indicates that the kingdom designated by the arms and breast of silver represents the Medo-Persian empire. This empire followed the Babylonian empire when Belshazzar was overthrown and Darius became the ruler. The indication seems to be that these empires follow one another. The indication of the phrase "after thee" and the fact that the parts of the image are connected would seem to indicate a continuous succession of kingdoms. "Which shall bear rule over all the earth". This third empire would be the Greek empire which is designated by the belly and thighs of brass. "Strong as iron". This would be the Roman Empire. Historians state that one thing concerning the Roman Empire stands out and that is its strength. They lost battles but they won the wars. It was to break the previous empires into pieces. The fifth kingdom is the "potters" clay and part of iron. It indicates that part of the Roman empire will continue on into this fifth empire. This kingdom is a divided kingdom. It is part of iron and part of clay. The ten toes represent ten parts of the kingdom. Compare Daniel 7:7. There arises a division in the kingdom of Greece which is pictured as the belly and thighs of brass. We read of the Greek empire that it was divided after the death of Alexander. The Roman empire was divided and the kingdom which followed it was further divided into ten toes. "Mingle themselves with the seed of men". The word "men" is used to denote men of an inferior class, the common herd as distinguished from the elevated noble classes. The word as used here would denote a mingling with an inferior race. "in the days of these kings". This refers to the time of the kings represented by the ten toes. "A kingdom". This is a reference to the kingdom established by God. This will be the kingdom of God which will begin with the millennial reign of Christ and never be destroyed or overthrown. All other kingdoms will be overthrown by a greater, but the kingdom of God will continue forever. Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands". This refers to Christ who is called the stone throughout Scripture. Matthew 21:42, Luke 20:18. The stone became a great kingdom and filled the whole earth signifying a world kingdom of Christ. Chapter 2:46-49 "Worshipped Daniel". King Nebuchadnezzar who was steeped in idolatry, somehow was unable to understand, or unwilling to recognize Jehovah. He was willing to praise and even worship Daniel because of what Jehovah had done. This would seem to indicate that the king was impressed but not converted to Jehovah. The king commanded that an "oblation and sweet odours" be brought to Daniel. The word oblation does not need to mean a bloody sacrifice. It can refer to a gift. In that day, incense was used in worship. Whether Daniel received or rejected this act of worship is not stated in the context. However, verse forty-seven seems to indicate that there might have been some statement by Daniel, for the king gave glory unto Daniel's God. "Ruler... chief'. The king rewarded Daniel by making him a ruler and chief over all the wise men of Babylon. This would seem to indicate that if the destruction of the wise men had begun, then it was stayed upon Daniel's request and interpretation of the dream. "Daniel requested ... sat". Daniel did not forget his three friends who had prayed with him. He requested a position of leadership for them. The fact that Daniel sat in the gate indicates that he was to occupy a place with the chief rulers and dignitaries of the land. |