Bible Commentaries

In the second year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar, troubled by dreams and unable to sleep, called together his enchanters and sorcerers to explain his dreams one of which troubled him especially. Their difficulty was that the king could not recall the dream. It had left an impression on his mind, but none of the details remained in his memory. Of course, his demand was the unreasonable one of a despot, and yet the claims these men made, if true, ought to have enabled them to discover the dream as well as to interpret it. Such was the king's opinion, and he made it a test case, declaring that if they were unable to do what he asked, he would know that they were lying and corrupt. They failed, Nebuchadnezzar was furious, and commanded the destruction of them all. In this decree the Hebrew youths were involved.

Daniel, through the king's captain, sought and obtained an interview with the king, asking for time, and promising to interpret the dream. The request being granted, he at once gathered his friends together, and they betook themselves to prayer. In answer the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision at night, and in his gratitude he praised the name of Jehovah in what was practically a psalm full of beauty. He then charged the king's captain, Arioch, not to destroy the wise men, as he was able to interpret the king's dream.

Daniel was immediately brought into the king's presence, and first, in language full of confidence and dignity, ascribed to God the glory of the interpretation he was about to give. He exonerated the wise men from any blame for their inability to interpret the dream, and declared the truth concerning the God of heaven, who was able to reveal secrets, and who by this dream intended to make known to the king the course of events in the history of his people. He then vividly described the image of the king's dream, and proceeded to interpret its meaning, Tracing the progress of events through the successive kingdoms of Babylon, Media, and Persia, Greece, Rome, the ten kingdoms, and the final setting up of the Kingdom of Heaven, he showed how there would be a process of deterioration, which would merge into the establishment of the new order. This interpretation convinced Nebuchadnezzar, who at once recognized the supremacy of God, and rewarded Daniel by setting him over the province and the wise men.