DANIEL SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 2.7
Gleanings
from the Book of Daniel:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
DANIEL
Chapter
Two
The Dream of Nebuchadnezzar
(The Rise and Fall of Empires)
Review
The narrative of King Nebuchadnezzar’s
dream continues. After calling the wisest advisors of his kingdom,
Nebuchadnezzar related to them that his disturbing dream caused him much
anguish. So, they ask of him to describe the dream, and they would provide its
interpretation.
However, Nebuchadnezzar perspicaciously required them to first articulate the dream, and then
stipulate its interpretation. Impetuously, the king ordered a decree stating they
would be generously rewarded for their service. But, on the other hand, their
lives would be at risk if they failed to do so. This would give Nebuchadnezzar assurance
that not only would the substance of the dream be correct, but also its
clarification.
From
this point, the dialogue continues…
(Verse 7)
They answered again and said, Let the king tell
his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
Again, in the same fashion, the
Chaldeans repeated their request. Most likely realizing their dilemma, they
reaffirmed the need to hear the dream first to give its interpretation. By
doing so, they would be able to reference their library of dream manuals.
Dream Books
An important aspect of divination was
dream interpretation. Dream books were an essential part of the diviner’s
craft. Dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, the available literature at the time
contained dream manuals in their libraries. Most famous was the Akkadian Epic of Gilgamesh which contained
numerous accounts of the prophetic power of dreams.
Later, Egypt compiled dream books along
with their interpretations. Most dreams then were sample dreams. They were
simple and dependent upon their symbolism rather than detailed information.
Thus, the succeeding civilizations amassed a wealth of information on the topic
of dreams, historically and systematically arranged for easy reference.
In contemporary times, dream books
continue to be popular, especially in the United States. Mostly, numerical
values are associated with dreams, thus making them an anomaly for participants
in various lotteries throughout the country.
(Verse 8)
The king answered and said, I know of certainty
that ye would gain the time because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Being wise himself,
Nebuchadnezzar ascertained the situation. Rather than meet the Chaldean’s
demands, he made a profound statement by saying, “I know you are just trying to
bargain or stall for time.” In other words, Nebuchadnezzar assumed somehow they
would fabricate the dream’s interpretation.
But the dream was of
great importance to Nebuchadnezzar, and since it had to do with the future of
his Kingdom. He was hesitant and, probably by now, he was exceedingly agitated.
So he repeated his ultimatum by saying, “The thing has gone from me.” In effect,
Nebuchadnezzar is voicing, “The command from me is firm and final.”
(Verse 9)
But if ye will not make known unto me the
dream, there is but one
decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before
me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know
that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
As the discourse advances, now,
Nebuchadnezzar openly reveals his lack of confidence in them, and, at the same
time, refuses to tell the dream. He reminds them again of his decree. But adds,
“If the situation changes and you can tell me the dream, then I will be
satisfied with its interpretation.”
The predicament stays at a standstill.
Ironically, the conversation that once began with a frightened king is now
transferred to frightened advisors to the king.
(Verse 10)
The Chaldeans answered before the king, and
said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter:
therefore there is no
king, lord, nor ruler, that asked
such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Disputatiously answering
for the group, the Chaldeans remark to the king that what he demands of them is
an impossibility. Unable to answer the king’s request, they now attempt to
reason with him. Their line of defense is there is no precedent from any king
or leader on earth, beyond the power of man, to make such an ultimatum. That is
to say, their limitations were reserved for the gods.
The Chaldeans
As a footnote, the
Chaldeans originally were an aggressive Semitic nomadic group from the city of
Accad, a district in Nimrod’s kingdom who eventually migrated into Babylonia. In
His ultimate plan, God had risen up these ethnic people to punish the Jewish
nation.
Habakkuk 1:6 - For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty
nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the
dwellingplaces that are not
theirs.
Additionally, the
Chaldeans were the innovators of astronomy. They kept meticulous records of
their discoveries. Most notably, they are said to have estimated the 365-day
calendar within less than thirty minutes of what modern instruments have
established.
Furthermore, Nabopolassar,
the father of Nebuchadnezzar, was a Chaldean, and the first king of the
Chaldean dynasty – Chaldea being synonymous with Babylonia. Chaldea was also
the birthplace of Abraham, his father Terah, brothers Nahor and Haran, and
nephew Lot (cf. Genesis 11:27-28). However, all the Chaldeans were destroyed by
the Persians in 539 B.C. Later, the term Chaldean
became associated with demons, or demonic spirits (cf. Habakkuk 1:5-10).
Continuing their reasoning
with Nebuchadnezzar’s imposition…
(Verse 11)
And it
is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other
that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with
flesh.
For this reason, the
king’s request was challenged again by the Chaldeans. Having lost their
credibility with Nebuchadnezzar, they relate to him that not only do other
rulers not require such a demand, but also this difficult requirement would
take a revelation from the gods, i.e., the Chaldean pantheon of gods, and not
man.
The Apostle Paul
established this principle for New Testament believers by stating:
1 Corinthians 1:27 - But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world
to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are
mighty.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Hence, the one true
God, in the background, is judiciously setting the stage for a future divine
intervention through His prophet Daniel.
The Sovereignty of God
Albeit not in the
Bible, the word sovereignty speaks of
God being the Creator and Lord of all things in the universe. He is not subject
or answerable to anyone and works in conformity with His will. And, He is free
and has the right to do whatever He wills. In His sovereignty, Therefore, He
has graciously elected to save men from their sin, and its consequences.
As previously stated
(see Daniel study 1.1; 1.8), as God
brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs,
so too (as the book continues), He rose up Daniel to be His prophet and leader
of His people in captivity.
Consider some passages
that substantiate God’s sovereignty:
Romans 9:15-16 - For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it
is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth
mercy.
Romans 13:1 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power
but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Philippians 2:13 – For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Hence, God has total
control and sovereignly rules. Continuing...
1. The Dream
of Daniel (2:1)
2. The
Demands of Nebuchadnezzar (s:2-11)
3. The Decree
of Nebuchadnezzar (2:12-13)
(Verse 12)
For this cause the king was angry and very
furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
By now,
Nebuchadnezzar’s patience is exhausted. The wise men of Babylon are unable to
prove their supernatural powers by revealing his dream, and its interpretation.
And, for this reason, Nebuchadnezzar is impetuously enraged and infuriated.
This temperament is reminiscent of Pharaoh Potiphar of Egypt (cf. Genesis 40:2;
41:10), and seems to be characteristic of the king’s nature (cf. Daniel 3:13,
19).
Anger
Scripture speaks
wisely regarding anger’s repercussions:
Proverbs 29:22 – An angry man stirreth up strife and a furious man aboundeth
in transgression.
Proverbs 14:17 - He that is soon angry dealeth
foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is
hated.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 - Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in
the bosom of fools.
Next, Nebuchadnezzar,
in his fit of rage, reverts to the original edict that had already been
declared (cf. Daniel 2:5) and pronounces the death penalty for the Magi of
Babylon. In today’s vernacular, they would be sentenced to capital punishment.
(Verse 13)
And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they
sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
And so, the death
sentence was pronounced on all the wise men of the empire. Innocent men were
included in this proclamation. Even though Daniel and his companions were not
present, and had just completed their three-year training at the king’s inquiry,
they too were sought of simply being classified, as the wise men of Babylon.
In the following
lesson, the decision Daniel will make, through the captain of the king’s guard,
completely changes the dynamics of the account.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the premise of the king and
wise men’s discussion?
2. What were the two demands of
Nebuchadnezzar?
3. Why were the Chaldeans unable to
foretell the king’s dream?
4. What were the two edicts the king
proclaimed?
5. Who were the Chaldeans?
6. To whom do the wise men name as the
king’s solution?
7. How will God’s sovereignty play an
important role?
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