DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 4.4

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Four

                           The Second Dream of Nebuchadnezzar:

The Tree Dream

(The Humbling of Nebuchadnezzar)

 

 

Introduction

Nearing the autumn of his life, and after the fiery furnace ordeal of Chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon issued an official royal salutatory greeting to his subjects. It included an honourable praise to the Most High God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He acknowledged the God Israel was far superior to his gods via signs and wonders. Additionally, the King included that their God was from everlasting to everlasting (v. 3).

 

In the subsequent passages of the narrative, he will reveal the circumstances leading up to his infamous dream. This will be the second time a revelation by God was given to Nebuchadnezzar by way of a dream. The new visions, however, would cause him egregious apprehension.

 

 

1. The salutation of the King to his empire (Vv. 1-3)

2. The encapsulation of the King’s court (Vv. 4-8)

(Verse 4)

 

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace.

 

The Author

The opening word begins with the first-person singular pronoun “I” in Nebuchadnezzar’s account. Extremely unusual in the biblical canon of Scripture, it appears the King is actually writing a part of the Bible. No doubt, his commentary was composed by him. Nevertheless, Nebuchadnezzar likely enlisted the help of Daniel, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to prepare the decree so that it would be intelligible to the Babylonians and the Israelites as well.

 

I…was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace.

Contentedly, Nebuchadnezzar's opening remarks set the premise factoring his mood and behaviours:

A. Two locations the King enjoyed:

1. Nebuchadnezzar’s house

2. Nebuchadnezzar’s palace

 

B. Two conditions the King experienced:

1. Nebuchadnezzar was resting

2. Nebuchadnezzar was flourishing

 

The Golden Years of a Monarchy

One day, Nebuchadnezzar was resting (Strong’s 7954, shᵉlâh, i.e., secure, contented, and at peace) in his private residence. Indeed, he was reflecting on some, among many, accomplishments and unrivaled conquests listed: 

1. He had subdued the Egyptians (588 – 587 B.C.)

2 Kings 24:7 - And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

 

Jeremiah 46:2 - Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

 

2. He had subordinated Jerusalem (586 B.C.)

Daniel 1:1 - In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

 

3. He had sieged the Phoenician city of Tyre (573 B.C.)

Ezekiel 26:7 - For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.

 

While relaxing, Nebuchadnezzar also contemplated how he was flourishing (Strong’s 7487, raʻănan, i.e., from an Aramaic word meaning green, or lush). As he gazed over the City, the King esteemed the wonder of the hanging gardens he made for his wife.

 

From a cuneiform inscription, Nebuchadnezzar’s favorite trees were from Lebanon. Some 2,000 years old, he had these huge cedar trees transported to Babylon, along with numerous varieties of foliage.

 

Besides, Lebanon’s cedar trees are referenced many times throughout Scripture, for instance:

Psalm 104:16 - The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted;

 

Wherefore, Nebuchadnezzar was very contented as he looked upon his prosperity.

 

 

 (Verse 5)

 

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

 

Unexpectedly, Nebuchadnezzar had another dream. By the way, the text reads, I saw a dream. However, what the King saw was a representation made to him via a dream from God. Grasping its relevance, he continued the explanation by adding some additional details. Whilst he was at his home, asleep on his bed his thoughts, and the visions he saw repeatedly occurred as the Aramaic language indicates.

This caused some terrified reactions:

1. He became afraid (frightened)

2. He became troubled (alarmed, angst)

 

Notice the comparison, Nebuchadnezzar’s outcomes almost replicated his first dream:

Daniel 2:1b, 3 – Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams,  wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him…And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

 

 

(Verse 6)

 

Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

 

Therefore, King Nebuchadnezzar issued another royal order to have Babylon’s wise court advisors summoned. Also notice, the King intended that they might give the interpretation of his dream. This time, however, he did not withhold the dream’s content.

 

 

(Verse 7)

 

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

 

As did once before (cf. 2:10-11) and without avail, they proved their inability, even though Nebuchadnezzar told them the nature of the dream.

 

 

(Verse 8)

 

But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

 

After each of the wise men had failed to interpret the King’s dream, finally, Daniel who was appointed chief of governors of all the wise men of Babylon (2:48), was once again allowed to stand before the King. Recall, God had endued Daniel, not only with wisdom but also in understanding visions and dreams (1:7).

 

Nebuchadnezzar addressed Daniel (God is my judge) by his Babylonian name Belteshazzar (may Bel protect his life). Bel, Baal, or Bel-Marduk (used interchangeably) was the national or chief patron god of Babylon with whom Nebuchadnezzar was associated.

 

Interestingly, although the name Daniel is recorded over 50 times in the book of Daniel, his Babylonian name is only referred to 8 times. Moreover, the citizens of the Babylonian Empire would have easily recognized him by his Chaldean name when the edict went forth, not by Daniel.

 

Daniel... in whom is the spirit of the holy gods

Nebuchadnezzar esteemed Daniel as having the spirit of the holy gods within him. Gods, in Aramaic, is Ĕlâhh (Strong’s 426) referring to a plurality of gods or a God. Holy simply means a set apart holy one (qâdôwsh, Strong’s 6918). The King, at this point, is still polytheistic, even though he had admitted God’s sovereignty prior (cf. 2:17; 3:28-29). But, he realized the manifestation of a spirit and character of a higher God that dwelt in Daniel.

 

And before him I told the dream, saying

So, as Daniel stood before the Babylonian King, in the first person singular (I), Nebuchadnezzar admitted he told Daniel the dream proper.

 

 

4. The Narration of the King’s Dream

(Verse 9)

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

 

In a monarchal fashion, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Empire, begins his dialogue with Daniel by articulating him as Belteshazzar, master of the magicians. From the King’s prior experience (2:46-48), he ascribes Daniel in two ways:

1. Daniel has a Spirit of God within him

Nebuchadnezzar reiterates that Daniel possesses a Spirit of God.

Note: Most of the Philologists agree that the text employs an indefinite article “a” rather than the definite article “the,” i.e., a God, and not the Gods. Nebuchadnezzar had not been converted at this juncture.

 

2. Daniel has no mystery withheld from him

In effect, Daniel has no difficulty explaining secrets or dreams.

 

 Tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof

The Aramaic and Greek versions render this clause: I will tell you the dream and you tell me its interpretation. Furthermore, this explanation appears to be more reasonable, since Nebuchadnezzar begins to tell his dream in the following verses.   

 

Forthcoming is the content of King Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream (the Tree Dream). Daniel will provide its harrowing interpretation.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. At this time, what was the state of affairs in Babylon?

2. What is biblically unusual in Daniel 4?

3. Where was the King when he was dreaming?

4. What was the effectiveness of the wise men?

5. How was Daniel addressed by the King?

6. What is the meaning of Belteshazzar?

7. How did Nebuchadnezzar praise Daniel?

 

 

If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing to others.

SAVE AND FORWARD THIS LINK

http://breadoflifeministriesassoc.blogspot.com/