Tyndale Open Study NotesDaniel 2

Nebuchadnezzar's dream upset him greatly, so he asked his specially trained advisers for help.

God gave a dream that showed the course of world history over the centuries, and Daniel explained its mysterious images. This dream and its interpretation highlight a key theme of the book—the certain final establishment of the kingdom of God as the ultimate goal of history (Daniel 2:44–45; 7:9–14, 26–27). This chapter also shows that paganism cannot understand the actions and plans of Israel’s God.

This section contains stories and dreams from the experiences of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Daniel used his special gift to understand dreams and showed great skill in the study of literature and science (Daniel 1:17). Chapter 2 provides a broad overview of history until God's kingdom appears (Daniel 2:44–49). Daniel 3–6 describes the fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia. History is moving toward a clear goal. That goal is the everlasting kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44; 4:2–3, 34; 6:26).

second year: If Daniel and his friends' three-year training happened over parts of three calendar years, it might have ended by now (compare Daniel 2:48).

• magicians, enchanters: See study note on Daniel 1:20.

• Sorcerers were priests who used spoken formulas or ritual actions in their work.

• Astrologers studied the stars and planets to understand the times and seasons of important events.

I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious: The king feared that other groups might try to remove him from power, so the dream made him very anxious.

• Aramaic had been established by the Assyrians as the common language used for international communication. The Babylonians continued this practice.

• Tell your servants the dream: The Babylonian wise men needed to know the contents of the dream so that they could look them up in their reference books. They did not depend on divine revelation.

Only someone with power that goes beyond human ability could tell Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed (compare Mark 2:9–12). No human wisdom or skill could reveal the dream without first hearing it.

The Babylonian wise men could explain dreams, but they could not repeat a dream unless someone first told it to them. They also knew that only a divine being could do such a thing (see Daniel 2:17–23, 27–28).

The king was furious because contradicting or refusing his command was an offense punishable by death. eople were expected to treat the king like a god. By saying he was not, they broke the rules of the king’s court.

The king’s sages were also expected to have a connection with the divine, but they admitted they did not. The offense against the king was so severe that he ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be executed. The king’s anger points ahead to the events described in Daniel 11:11–35.

Daniel's ability to visit the king immediately shows his authority and influence. He wisely used gentle words to calm anger at the royal court (compare Proverbs 15:1).

With faith and wisdom, Daniel prayed for God to intervene (compare Philippians 4:6). When God answered his prayer, Daniel praised God for giving him wisdom and knowledge (see Daniel 2:20–21). The God of heaven revealed the dream and its meaning, showing his power over all other gods, including the gods of Babylon.

Daniel asked for God's mercy (see Exodus 34:6–7). God did not have to answer Daniel's prayer, but answering it would fit with God’s character.

Daniel praised Israel's God, the God of his ancestors, as the source of the dream and its meaning (Daniel 2:23).

The dream showed that the Lord rules over all history with complete power and authority (see Daniel 2:29–45).

Daniel's influence with Arioch shows his wisdom and importance in the royal service.

• Babylon held captives from nations other than Judah.

• Daniel, a descendant of Abraham, shared God's revelation with the Babylonian king (see Genesis 12:3).

Are you able to tell me: Nebuchadnezzar was surprised that someone who was not Babylonian had this ability. The Babylonian religion and culture valued their own wise men as "interpreters of the heavens."

Daniel emphasized that no human could accomplish what was needed (compare Daniel 2:10–11; see also Genesis 41:16).

• a God in heaven: Daniel spoke of one true God who rules everything (Daniel 2:20–21), unlike the local gods the Babylonians worshiped. The God of Daniel’s ancestors (Daniel 2:23) is the God in heaven who reveals secrets. The Babylonian gods could not do this.

• what will happen: In ancient times, people often believed dreams revealed the future.

God revealed the future to the king. Nebuchadnezzar was very interested in history. He studied the past and wanted to be part of history's future. God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to understand how history would develop. God may have wanted him to see that Israel’s God, the God of heaven, is the God who rules over all history.

The progression downward shows a decrease in value: from the most valuable, gold (Daniel 2:32), to the least valuable, iron and baked clay (2:33).

• There were different types of gold. Fine gold was the best quality.

• thighs: The area above the knees.

• legs: The area below the knees.

The phrase became a great mountain is implied (compare Daniel 2:35), but is not in the Aramaic text.

filled the whole earth: Compare Genesis 1:28; Exodus 1:7; Matthew 28:18–20. This new kingdom would replace all other kingdoms.

king of kings: Nebuchadnezzar ruled over all other empires and their kings. He was the chosen ruler for that period in history (Jeremiah 25:8–9).

inferior to yours: Silver was worth less than gold, just as the chest is lower than the head. Nebuchadnezzar was a very stable ruler who kept the Neo-Babylonian Empire united. In contrast, Persia often faced internal divisions and instability at its borders.

partly brittle: Feet are necessary for stability. The brittle feet show how fragile the entire image is. They represent earthly kingdoms and their power.

Just as iron and clay do not mix, marriage between different groups could weaken political alliances instead of creating real or lasting unity. This empire would be divided.

• Those kings likely emerged within the fourth kingdom and tried to gain strength through marriage alliances. However, the phrase might refer to all the kings of the statue as God’s kingdom continually influences history.

• will itself stand forever: Only a kingdom with authority and power from God (see John 18:36) can never be destroyed, as all earthly kingdoms eventually fall.

• The Babylonians often pictured the earth as a large mountain or a ziggurat (a tall, stepped temple tower). Because of this, the rock in the dream would be understood as covering or replacing the whole earth.

• The dream is true: The dream was clearly explained through divine revelation, and it came from God.

• its interpretation is trustworthy: God guaranteed that the dream's message would definitely happen.

The Aramaic word segid is sometimes translated as "worshiped," but in this verse, it can also mean "paid him homage or honor." Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan who believed in many gods. He believed that the spirit of the gods was in Daniel (Daniel 4:8; compare 5:11). Because of this, he believed that Daniel’s abilities came from a powerful divine spirit, not from ordinary human skill (compare Genesis 41:38).

God of gods and Lord of kings: Nebuchadnezzar returned the honor Daniel had given him (Daniel 2:37–38). He acknowledged through his words and actions (Daniel 2:46) that God is supreme over all, even over Nebuchadnezzar himself.

Daniel became the ruler of Babylon as the king's deputy (compare Genesis 41:37–46).

Daniel gave the responsibility for governing the province to his three friends. This allowed him to remain in the king’s court and serve as the king’s advisor.