DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 2.39

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)

 

 

Preface

Previously, Daniel began the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The king dreamed of a colossal statue depicting a man having five parts, and consisting of four different metals. From the head downward was gold, silver, brass, or bronze, and iron (cf. Daniel 2:31-33a). This human image of Daniel 2 parallels the four-beast-vision of Daniel 7. Afterward, Daniel identifies the golden head and says to the king, “Thou art this head of gold.”

 

 

Daniel continues his interpretation…

(Verse 39a)

And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee.

 

Daniel reveals to Nebuchadnezzar another kingdom inferior to his that will succeed in Babylon. In this passage, Daniel does not mention the kingdom’s name. However, other Scriptures confirm Media and Persia as his successors:

2 Chronicles 36:20 - And them that had escaped from the sword carried he (Nebuchadnezzar) away to Babylon; where they (the Jews) were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia.

 

Daniel 5:28 - Thy (Babylonian) kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

 

Later…

Daniel 5:31 - And Darius the Median took the (Babylonian) kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

 

Therefore, attested to by Daniel, and historical events, the Medo-Persian Empire replaced the Babylonian.

 

Inferior

The word inferior [Chaldean, ăraʻ (Strong’s H772)] is translated as lower or determination, not by power, but in the form of governmental quality, wealth, luxury, and glory. Additionally, their metal representation was inferior. Silver was less valuable than gold. On the other hand, not only had the Medes and the Persians increased their empire’s land acquisition, but also their power. And, the subsequent kingdoms followed suit.

 

Media and Persia

At the height of the Babylonian Empire, two separate armies merged and ascended to power, the Medes and the Persians – The chest and arms of the image depicted in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The Medes (modern-day Kurds) consisted of a conglomerate of tribes from the northwestern part of present Iran, whereas the Persians occupied most of the southern part of Iran, including the territory of Afghanistan.

 

Under the control of Cyrus the Great, the Medo-Persian Empire was consolidated. Amid Cyrus’ rule, Babylonia was overthrown without a battle in June 539 B.C. (details provided in Daniel 5 studies). Amazingly, Isaiah predicted Cyrus the Great was to rule and restore Jerusalem, and its Temple be rebuilt almost 100 years earlier.

Isaiah 44:28 - That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the Temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

 

So, as Nebuchadnezzar once captured the Jews (cf. Jeremiah 25), the armies of Cyrus liberated and returned them to their homeland (cf. Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5; Ezra 6:3-5). It is noteworthy that Daniel became third in power, chief  

administrator of the Persian Empire. Through the God of Heaven and Daniel’s influence, Cyrus became evangelized. The Silver Empire lasted about 200 years.

 

Silver

Silver characterized the Medo–Persian Empire. More silver was coined in this kingdom than in any other. According to Greek historian Herodotus, silver became the standard value of exchange for extensive taxation (cf. Ezra 4:13). Furthermore, it financed and fielded an army and navy between one to two million men, used especially for the war effort against the Greeks.

 

Law

Under Babylonian law, whatever the king said was authoritative. He was able to change the law even at his whim (cf. Daniel 2:5; 3:29). Nevertheless, the king’s authority was limited in the Medo-Persian Empire. The law became the supreme authority. Once it was enacted, the king in no way was able to alter the law.

 

 

(Verse 39b)

And another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

 

The third kingdom is also not mentioned in Daniel’s interpretation. But historical accounts and Scripture confirm the Grecian Empire as its successor:

Daniel 8:21a - And the rough goat is the king of Grecia.

 

Daniel 11:3 - And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

 

So, the Greek Empire, under Alexander the Great received authority from his father, Phillip II of Macedon. As king, he destroyed the Medo-Persian Empire in 330 B.C. During his 12-year campaign, Alexander instituted Koine (common) Greek language throughout the Empire, which led to the language of the New Testament. Territorially, the third empire embraced both the East and West.

 

Alexander the Great was notorious for moving swiftly across the land with his armies. Desertion came upon the army of Darius I without much ado. His kingdom had been conquered, his treasure seized, and his family reduced to captivity. Unfortunately, Darius, I was brutally slain, and his bloody corpse lay visible in a crude cart.

 

The third empire was characterized earlier by bronze. Interestingly, ‘The Age of Bronze’ characterizes this period in history.

 

Military Attire

In observing a Persian soldier, he was garbed with a white turban, white tunic, and pants with silver threads embroidered throughout his outfit. Contrasted to Grecian soldiers, they had brass helmets, breastplates,  shields, and wielded brass swords.

 

Alexander the Great

At a young age, Alexander the Great was trained in music, science, liberal arts, sports, and most of all, the art of war. After studying under Aristotle, he took charge of the Grecian army at age 20 and became one of history’s most prolific military geniuses. As the Empire’s leader, he employed hand-to-hand combat and small-group fighting. These tactics allowed Alexander to swiftly conquer the Asian continent, even reaching parts of India. He fought more than 100 battles and acquired almost as many scars. But, his military exploits lasted only 12 years.                                                                  

 

At the age of almost 33 years old, Alexander was sitting one day on the banks of the Euphrates River in Babylon and cried out he had no more worlds to conquer. After a drunken stupor, he died 12 days later with a fever at the age of 32 and 8 months in June 323 B.C.

 

Upon his death, the Empire was divided into four parts to his four generals:

1. Lagos Ptolemy, ruling from Alexandria, had control over Egypt, Cyrenaica, and Palestine. Eventfully, Cleopatra came from this line

 

2. Seleucus I (Nicator), ruling from Antioch, had control over Asia (Syria and Persia). It was from this region came the notorious Antiochus Epiphanes (discussed later)

 

 

3. Lysimachus, ruling from Pergamos, had control over Thrace and Asia Minor

 

4. Cassander, ruling from Pella, had control over Macedonia and Greece

 

 

 Consequently, this four-part division allowed the Greek Empire to weaken.

 

 

(Verse 40)

 

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

 

There is a specific unidentified fourth kingdom. Depicted in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream are two legs of iron representing the empire that overcame the Grecian Empire, i.e., the Old Roman Empire. This Empire encompassed the Iron Age.

 

The Roman Kingdom

Rome’s origins are uncertain. Many references accede to those peasant shepherds living on the banks of the Tiber River who eventually moved to one of its seven hills and a city evolved. The traditional date for the founding of Rome is April 21, 753 B.C.

 

Ancient Rome soon became a Kingdom and was ruled by monarchs. Much of the Kingdom’s history has been lost and its existence is based on tradition.

 

The Roman Republic

The Kingdom was overthrown in 509 B.C. And, for the first one hundred years, the Romans introduced a new system of government, namely the Roman Republic which allowed its citizens to elect their officials. At this time, they enlisted Roman citizens to fight in wars mainly to protect their investments and properties. As the Empire grew, the conscription of captured slaves was a common practice.

 

Military genius, statesman, and conqueror of Gaul, Gaius Julius Caesar became dictator. Once he entered the scene, the Empire was put on a path to greatness. Besides, he also set the stage for the ministry of Jesus Christ. Caesar was assassinated by two Roman senators, Brutus and Cassius on March 15, 44 B.C. [the Ides of March].  Furthermore, Julius has deemed a god after his death.  

 

The Roman Empire

After the death of Julius Caesar, a period of civil wars, chaos, and decadence ensued, almost leaving the government in shambles. Octavian Augustus Caesar, a nephew to Julius, took the reign as emperor and brought about 'Pax Romana’ which lasted roughly 200 years. The life of Christ transpired during this interval of Roman Peace.

 

Two legs of Iron typify the divided Empire: Rome to the West, and Constantinople (Byzantium) to the East. Also, there was a linguistic division between the East and West, Koine (common) Greek and Latin.

For further historical information, reference: History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, or The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire: Life, Liberty, and the Death of the Republic by Barry Linton

 

Iron

As to its importance, the word iron is referenced 14 times in Chapter 2 alone. Biblically, iron is emblematic of authority, strength, power, destructibility, and judgment. For instance:

Psalm 2:9 – Thou (pointing to the Messiah) shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

 

Ezekiel 20:33 – As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty (Strong, mighty, iron fist) hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you.

 

Revelation 19:15 - And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

Likening iron to this empire, Daniel cites three characteristics of the Roman Empire in this passage:

1. Iron depicted Roman strength

2. Iron breaketh (shatters) everything in pieces

3. Iron subdueth (crushes) all things

 

And like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others

And that is exactly how the Empire of Greece was overtaken. Roman legions were notorious for crushing all enemy opposition.  The fourth kingdom receives more attention in Scripture than the previous kingdoms.

 

In the succeeding study, the ten toes of the statue are examined.

 

 

 QUESTIONS:

1. What metals, thus far, typify the four empires?

2. What is meant by the term inferior?

3. Who was the ruler of Medo-Persia when Babylon fell?

4. Why was the Greek army so successful?

5. After Alexander’s death, who ruled the Greek Empire?

6. What were the three stages of Roman government?

7. Why is iron so significant?

 

 

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