Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

A NINE STAR CHAPTER

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Daniel 2

What should I learn from this chapter?

• The culture of the Babylonian Kingdom under Nebuchadnezzar
• The relationship Daniel has with God
• The Dateline of events in 605 and 603 BC
• The viciousness of Nebuchadnezzer to get what he wants
• The secrets of God hidden in the darkness
• Types of Babylonian “wise men”
• The comparison of kingdoms in various symbolism
• The correlation between wisdom and might

Daniel 2:¹ Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.

• Click on date: 603 BC from BC Timeline which is the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. Note BC Dates are reverse from AD dates. The bigger the number, the farther past that date is.

Daniel 2:² Then the king gave the command to call (wise men) to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

• The Wise Men come under the headings of magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans. Those who study such things are all considered to be under the influence of Satan according to scripture, as well as those who call up the dead.

• Daniel, on the other hand will not use Demonic insight which always leads to destruction. Daniel will appeal to God.
• God is speaking to Nebuchadnezzar through a dream. Satan’s tools will not work to interpret a dream given by God any more than man’s spiritual problems can be fixed with secular answers.

Daniel 2:³ And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know (Or understand) the dream.”

Daniel 2:⁴ Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic,

“O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”

Daniel 2:⁵ The king answered and said to the Chaldeans (wise men), “My decision (The command) is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, AND its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.

• The king Nebuchadnezzar demands they not only interrupt his dream, but also tell him what his dream was. He is making sure they are not just making up any interpretation. This is a dream like no other.

Daniel 2:⁶ However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

• Daniel will not only give the king his dream, he will also interpret it. He will receive gifts, rewards, and GREAT honor. BUT Daniel points out it is the one and only God of Heaven who has not only given the dream AND the interpretation.

Daniel 2:⁷ They (the Babylonia Chaldeans) answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and (THEN!) we will give its interpretation.”

• They know they cannot interpret a dream when they don’t know what it is. The king’s request is utter madness.

Daniel 2:⁸ The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm (Literally: the thing is gone from me):

Daniel 2:⁹ if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time (situation) has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me (Or declare to me) its interpretation.”

Daniel 2:¹⁰ The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.

• The wise men are begging…no one has ever asked such a thing or done such a thing. A nice way to say his demand is preposterous and impossible. They are begging for their very lives.

Daniel 2:¹¹ It is a difficult (Or rare) thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

• In other words, they cannot get their ‘gods” to reveal his dream.

Daniel 2:¹² For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

• As crazy as the request was, the king meant it.

Daniel 2:¹³ So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.

• How many of the so-called wise men were killed before they came to kill Daniel?

• How long does it take a natural man to come to the end before he seeks God?

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Daniel 2:¹⁴ Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;

Daniel 2:¹⁵ he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent (Or harsh)?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.

• Personal application: Before panicking, ask questions. Perhaps the king gave Daniel more time with his request while others were refused and killed.

Daniel 2:¹⁶ So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.

• The king gave Daniel time (but did not give the others time) because Daniel promised that through the Lord of Heaven he could reveal the dream to him.

Daniel 2:¹⁷ Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,

• Daniel’s friends had not yet been killed either.
• Personal Application: Seek counsel from a team of wise men.

Daniel 2:¹⁸ that they might seek mercies from the God (‘ĕlâ) of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

• Subject: Notice the name of God is ‘ĕlâ – the root meaning comes from H352 ‘ayil
  See Pop Up ‘ĕlâ, ‘ĕlôha, ‘ēl, ‘ayil

• Subject– “God’s Secrets”in a Personal Application: God’s treasures of secrets are found in a place of darkness, secrets that only God’s Light can reveal. This is wisdom.

Daniel 2:¹⁹ Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel 2:²⁰ Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God (‘ĕlâ) forever and ever,
For wisdom and might (strength) are His.

• Personal Application: The joy of the Lord is in His strength. When pain enters our lives, in our relationships, in our politics, in our school system, in our government, we can go to the Lord and rely on His strength to deliver us and give us joy. God will take care of all of the above even when it seems hopeless!

• Nehemiah 8:10, Ezra 6:22, Psalm 21:1, Psalm 81:1, Colossians 1:11

• Jesus, the Son of God, is a Mighty King. Other people in scripture who have approached the King with hopeless pleas are Esther and Nehemiah. We need to approach our King with our hopeless pleas and wait for His answers buried in darkness and waiting to be revealed by the Light!

• Daniel associates the Name of God with Wisdom and Might in Daniel 2:20
  
  • Side Note: “Wisdom is Jesus’ 1st Advent (the crucifixion). Might is Jesus’ 2nd Advent (Jesus’ Return to reign)” ~ Barbara Grover

Daniel 2:²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons;

• There is a time for everything under the sun. See the book of Ecclesiastics.
• The coming Antichrist of the Seven Year Tribulation also will change times, mimicking the authentic God of Heaven.
  • Daniel 7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

He removes kings and raises up kings;

• He will remove Babylon and raise up The Medes and the Persians, He will remove the Persians and raise up Greece, He will remove Greece and raise up Rome, He will remove Rome and raise up a Monstrous Kingdom, He will destroy the Monstrous Kingdom and He will raise up His Son to rule over the earth.

He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.

• He does not give wisdom to a fool because the fool will refuse or abuse it. He does not give knowledge to the ignorant, because they will ignore it. Those who have will get more. Those who do not have will have less.
  • Matthew 13:12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
  • Matthew 25:29 The Parable of the Talents ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Daniel 2:²² He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.

“Darkness” is where one finds things, ideas, secrets and knowledge that is unknown to men – unless God reveals it. Sin also hides in the darkness. Answers and Sin are revealed by the Light : God is Light.

Barbara Grover

• God has a “treasure chest” of wisdom, knowledge, might, ideas, solutions, riches, etc. When a man or woman seeks God for help, then God goes to this person’s “place of darkness”, pulls out understanding, and gives it to him or her.

Daniel 2:²³ “I thank You and praise You,
O God (‘ĕlâ) of my fathers (the Hebrews);
You have given me wisdom and might (strength),

• Strength comes from wisdom.

And have now made known to me what we asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s demand (Lit. word) .”

• God gave Daniel wisdom and strength because Daniel was already wise.
  
  • Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
  • Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  • Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
  • Matthew 13:12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
  • Matthew 25:29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Daniel Explains the Dream

Daniel 2:²⁴ Therefore Daniel went to Arioch (the captain of the guards), whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”

• Daniel’s relationship with God save many of the wise men.

Daniel 2:²⁵ Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the captives (Lit. sons of the captivity) of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”

Daniel 2:²⁶ The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar (Babylonian name given to Daniel), “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”

Daniel 2:²⁷ Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king.

Daniel 2:²⁸ But there is a God (‘ĕlâ) in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days (the end of of days). Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:

• (Note: This is the End of the original writing in Arabic in chapter two and the beginning of Hebrew)

God is revealing it for the sake of the Jews

Daniel 2:²⁹ As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.

• The future of men is God’s secret kept from men, until He reveals it with His own Light.

Daniel 2:³⁰ But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know (understand) the thoughts of your heart.

Daniel 2:³¹ “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.

Daniel 2:³² This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs (Or sides) of bronze,

Daniel 2:³³ its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay (Or baked clay-like pottery, also verses 34, 35, 42).

Daniel 2:³⁴ You watched while a stone was cut out without hands (supernatural), which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

• The stone cut out without hands is a supernatural stone. It comes from heaven and strikes the image (statue) on its feet.

Daniel 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone (the Son of God) that struck the image became a great mountain (kingdom) and filled the whole earth.

• The Gold head is the Babylonian kingdom. The Silver arms and chest are the Medes and Persians who conquer Babylonia. The Bronze torso represents Alexander’s Greece and his four generals. Alexander conquers the Medes and Persians. The legs of Iron are the Roman empire. This kingdom conquers the kingdoms of Alexander’s Greece beginning when Rome confronted Antiochus IV and drew a line in the sand forcing the Syrian king to stand down. The Roman empire has continued to present beginning with the Caesars, then the Holy Roman empire, and finally the pope being the titular head of the Holy Roman empire. The Roman empire will mingle with an empire of clay which will not adhere to the present day laws and structures becoming the time of the seven year tribulation.

• The supernatural stone is Jesus who will return to earth at the end of these gentile kingdoms, take them all and rule over them. This stone grows into a mountain. Mountains are symbolic of kingdoms and His kingdom covers the earth.

• NOTE: The statue is top-heavy (unstable). When the “Rock” cut out without hands hits the statue on the feet, it topples, turns to chaff, and is blown away by the winds of time.

• Moral of the story: When you are on your knees you are stable. When you stand up and puff out your chest in arrogance and pride, you will topple. Pride comes before the fall Proverbs 16:18.

Daniel 2:³⁶ “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.

• “We” must be Daniel and his God: The Lord of Heaven.

Daniel 2:³⁷ You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God (‘ĕlâ) of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;

Daniel 2:³⁸ and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.

• Note: Babylon is the head of Gold. Nebuchadnezzar had total authority over his kingdom. Gold is symbolic of absolute authority.

Daniel 2:³⁹ But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours;

• Daniel chapter 5 describes the events in which Babylon is conquered by Cyrus the Great, king of the Medes and Persians. Therefore; the arms and chest of silver is the Medes and Persians.

• Silver is inferior to Gold. Cyrus shared his authority between the Medes and the Persians.

then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.

• History shows that Alexander the Great conquered the Medes and Persians. Greece is the torso of bronze.

• Bronze is inferior to Silver. When Alexander died the authority of his kingdom was split between four generals.

Daniel 2:⁴⁰ And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.

• Rome conquered Greece by the dynastic generals of Alexander the Great in Daniel chapter 11 called the King(s) of the North and the King(s) of the South. This change took place on the day of Eleusis when Antiochus IV capitulated to Rome. The last official Holy Roman Emperor died in 2011 but the pope is the titular head over the Holy Roman Empire.

• Note: When Jesus rules with a rod (scepter) of iron, it means he rules by crushing other nations. Iron symbolizes strength.

• Iron is inferior to Bronze. Rome had many Caesars and many sources of authority, including the Roman Catholic church.

Daniel 2:⁴¹ Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.

• The feet are the beginning of sorrows. A time of wars, famines, earthquakes and other natural disasters that will increase like a woman in labor which appears to be our present days.

Daniel 2:⁴² And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile (Or brittle).

• The toes are the seven year tribulation. The toes are the prophetic kingdom of the Antichrist who rules during the seven year tribulation when the Jews will endure severe persecution and the earth will suffer under the wrath of God and the wrath of Satan. The toes represent the ten kings who will give their power to the Beast (Antichrist).

• Note: Again, iron is symbolic of strength.

• Iron is inferior to bronze. Clay is inferior to iron. Authority is split among factions, tribes and in-fighting.
  • Ezekiel 38:21 I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.
• (ten toes) Revelation 17:12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.
  • The ten toes ie kings, are also the ten horns on last (seventh) head of the dragon in Revelation and Daniel:
  • Below: the seven kingdoms (heads of the dragon) influenced by Satan of those who have ruled over the Jews.
    • Daniel 7:7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
    • Rev 12:3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns (on the last and final head), and seven diadems on his heads. …
    • Daniel 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another (The Antichrist) shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.

Prophetically, the ten toes are also the ten kings of Daniel 7:24 and the ten horns of the beast/dragon in Daniel and Revelation:

• See: Heads, Horns, Crowns, and the Harlot: The explanation of the beast, or dragon, is not only explained in each verse, but the overview is explained in the topic of “Heads, Horns, Crowns, and the Harlot.” By Barbara Grover

Daniel 2:⁴³ As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

• For more details see Daniel 11 and 12.
• Pottery is made from miry clay that comes from the bottom of a pond. Baked clay is brittle. Clay will not adhere to iron.
• Scripture alludes to miry clay being Edom, named after red clay.

Daniel 2:⁴⁴ And in the days of these (ten) kings (the last kingdom before Jesus sets up His kingdom on earth: the seven year tribulation) the God (‘ĕlâ) of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces (Or crush) and consume (Lit. put an end to) all these (other) kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

• Jesus’ kingdom is known as The Millennium.

Daniel 2:⁴⁵ Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands (supernatural), and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God (‘ĕlâ) has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”

• Note: An unhewn stone is one that is not formed by human hands, it is spiritual and not worldly.

Daniel and His Friends Promoted

Daniel 2:⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.

• Nebuchadnezzar is awe-struck. He falls down to worship him! Something unheard of for a king! He believes Daniel is a god in the flesh.

Daniel 2:⁴⁷ The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God (‘ĕlâ) is the God (‘ĕlâ) of gods, the Lord (literally: Master) of kings, and a revealer of secrets , since you could reveal this secret.”

• Secrets: those things men cannot see since men are spiritually blind are revealed by God’s own Light since God is Light. God is the “revealer of secrets”.
• What secret do you want to ask of God? God told King David He would have given David more is only David would have asked.

Daniel 2:⁴⁸ Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.

• Like Joseph, Daniel is promoted to be a ruler over Babylon, probably second in command.

Daniel 2:⁴⁹ Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but (it was) Daniel (who) sat in the gate of the king (The king’s court).

Review:

LIST	WHO’S WHO in DANIEL
Jehoiakim	Puppet King of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar	Babylonian King
Daniel	Belteshazzar: Hostage, promoted to be administrator over the wise men and ruler over the entire providence of Babylon.
Hananiah	Daniel’s friend, Shadrach: Hostage. Promoted to rule a providence of Babylon.
Mishael	Daniel’s friend, Meshach: Hostage. Promoted to rule a providence of Babylon.
Azariah	Daniel’s friend, Abed-Nego: Hostage. Promoted to rule a providence of Babylon.
Ashpenaz	Master of the Eunuchs
Title only: Melzar	Steward of the Eunuchs over Daniel and his friends. Ashpenaz and Melzar may be the same person.
King Cyrus	The King of the Medes and Persians who is yet to come and who will defeat Babylon.
Jeremiah	A Prophet predicting the conquest of Judah by Babylon. Went to Egypt as a Free Man.
Arioch	The captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

Comparison Chart of Nebuchadnezzar’s Statue, Revelations’ Seven Headed Dragon, and Daniel’s Visions.