King Nebuchadnezzar Seeks Interpretation For His Dream: Daniel 2 v 2 - 3

Daniel 2:2 "Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king."

The subjects of the land are at the beck and call of the king. When the king called them, they came. These astrologers were thought of as the wise men of the day.  The job of these astrologers, magicians, and sorcerers was to advise the king on things of a spiritual nature. They told of future events, as well as giving advice. They do have some power, but it is limited. Their source is the devil.

Chaldeans could refer to all people native to Chaldea, or as here, to a special class of soothsayers who taught Chaldean culture.

Read, with me, what all believers are to do about things pertaining to this, in the following verse. Acts 19:19 "Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all [men]: and they counted the price of them, and found [it] fifty thousand [pieces] of silver."

God will not share your love. You must be loyal to God and not earthly astrologers, magicians, and sorcerers.

Daniel 2:3 "And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream."

The king was aware this bad dream was not caused by eating the wrong food for dinner, but was, in fact, a warning. He cannot continue on, without knowing the meaning of this dream.

Nebuchadnezzar Dream: Daniel 2 v 1

Daniel 2:1 "And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him."

We would believe that a person, who was as successful as Nebuchadnezzar, would not dream bad dreams. Wealth and fame do not make a person happy. In this particular case, the dream is an intervention from God.

God directs men, sometimes, by dreams and visions. Not all dreams are from God, but this one is. This dream is to elevate Daniel in the kingdom, as the dreams of the king of Egypt elevated Joseph to the second in command in the land.

“Second year”: Promotion of the 4 Hebrews after 3 years agrees with the year of promotion after the dream in the “second year.”
In the time of revelation, God spoke through the interpretation of dreams that He induced.

Daniel Pass Nebuchadnezzar Test: Daniel 1 v 18 - 21

Daniel 1:18 "Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar."

They were to be trained and groomed, before they were brought before the king. It appears this time has elapsed here, and it is time to bring them to the king for his approval.

Daniel 1:19 "And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king."

From this, we see there were many more than these 4, but the king was the most impressed with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. He chose these 4 to serve close to him.

Daniel 1:20 "And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm."

Magicians and astrologers have a little power, but their power comes from another source other than God. Their wisdom and understanding does not measure up to the 4 headed up by Daniel. Daniel and his friends get their wisdom and understanding from God. We see the comparison in the Scripture above is 10 to 1.

Satan has a little power that God allows him to have. He does not have unlimited power. God's power is unlimited. God controls Satan. These men who had stood up for God were representing God to this court. God's power through them was unlimited.

Daniel 1:21 "And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of King Cyrus."

While Babylon stands, Daniel continued. Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. His third year, in 10:1, is the latest historical year that Daniel mentions.

Daniel 6:28 "So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian."

Verse 21 above, does not say Daniel stopped at the first year of Cyrus. It says he continued unto his reign. Daniel continued many years under several kings.

“Unto the first year of king Cyrus does not contradict 10:1, where a revelation was given to Daniel in the third year of Cyrus. The purpose of 1:21 is to give a chronological overview of Daniel’s ministry: he served from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to the time of Cyrus. 

Daniel Prove His Commitment: Daniel 1 v 14 - 17

Daniel 1:14 "So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days."

Since this will not get him in trouble, Melzar agrees to it.

Daniel 1:15 "And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat."

God intervenes and feeds Daniel and his friends’ food that the steward knows not of. This is food from God.

The success of Daniel’s plan was due more to the sovereignty of God in blessing his spiritual commitment than it was to the diet. Certain kinds of meat were not prohibited to the Jews, but a vegetarian diet in this case may have been inherently superior to the king’s table.

Exodus 23:25 "And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee."

Fatter indicates healthiness.

It is better to obey God, than to have a feast of unclean food. They are in great shape at the end of the 10 days. This is the first of the great manifestations of God in Daniel.

Daniel 1:16 "Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse."

When the steward saw they were no worse for their restricted diet, he allowed them to continue on that diet.

Daniel 1:17 "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."

Notice where their skill and knowledge had come from, God had given it to them as a gift. Their faithfulness to God was overwhelming. God gave them gifts to help them in this hostile place.

Daniel's gifts were even more.  He received the gift of interpretations, along with the understanding and wisdom.  God would, also, communicate with Daniel in dreams. The things these 4 received from God are very much like the gifts of the Spirit the Christians receive.

I Corinthians 12:7-10 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;" "To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"

Daniel Makes Commitment: Daniel 1 v 10 - 13

Daniel 1:10 "And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king."

The prince of the eunuchs is just sure that Daniel will look terrible, if he stops eating the food and wine the king has provided. When Daniel begins to look bad, the prince of the eunuchs will be in trouble with the king, and the king might have him killed.

The Hebrews, that were not in the palace, got very little to eat, and they were not very healthy looking. The king wanted his eunuchs to be the best looking people in the land.

Daniel 1:11 "Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,"

"Melzar" means butler, or steward. We see from this, there were several ranks even among the eunuchs.

Daniel 1:12 "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink."

"Pulse" means a vegetable. We can easily see that Daniel was trying to avoid eating an unclean animal from the king's table. These 10 days symbolizes a time dealing with worldliness, since 10 means world government. This is not a total fast, but God will bless Daniel for taking this stand for Him.

Daniel 1:13 "Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants."

We see that Daniel gives Melzar a way out of this. He explains that, if he looks any different than the people eating and drinking the king’s food and drink, the prince can punish him. Servant is plural here, so Daniel is, probably, speaking for himself and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel Gained Favour Through Commitment: Daniel 1 v 8 - 9

Daniel 1:8 "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

This meat no doubt included food prohibited to the Jews. The pagan food and drink was devoted to idols. To indulge was to be understood as honoring those deities. Daniel made up his mind not to engage in compromise by being untrue to God’s call of commitment- to partake entailed direct compromise.

We see from this, that Daniel's faith in God made him know that God would protect him. He remembered the dietary laws that were given in Leviticus. Daniel did not want to anger God by eating unclean food. This defilement would have been because of the law in Leviticus.

Leviticus 11:47 "To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."

Daniel would rather die than break the Levitical law. This is not true now, since Jesus fulfilled the law. Food is cleansed by prayer.

I Timothy 4:5 - "For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." 

The prince of eunuchs was over Daniel. This is a bold request of Daniel. It might even cost him his life.

Daniel 1:9 "Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs."

We see this very same thing happened to Joseph, when he was captive in Egypt, in the following verse. God honored Daniel’s trust and allegiance by sovereignly working favorably for him among the heathen leaders. In this instance, it prevented persecution and led to respect, whereas later on God permitted opposition against Daniel which also elevated him. One way or another, God honors those who honor Him.

Genesis 39:21 "But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison."

You see, God ultimately is in control of everyone. God made tender the heart of the prince of the eunuchs, so that he loves Daniel.

Nebuchadnezzar Besiege Jerusalem: Daniel Chapter 1 v 1 - 7

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."

Jehoiakim began to reign after Josiah. Josiah did right in the sight of God, but Jehoiakim was evil. This is a setting of the time on the attack of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Eliakim and Jehoiakim is the same person.

“In the third year”: This occurred in 606-605 b.c. It was the third year by Babylonian dating, which did not count a king’s initial accession year, but began with the following year. So the “third year” is in harmony with the same year labeled as “forth” by the Judean system of dating. Jehoiakim was the son of Josiah.

II Chronicles 36:5  "Jehoiakim [was] twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD his God."

Daniel 1:2 "And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god."

"Lord", in the verse above, means Adonai. LORD, means Jehovah. This is not speaking of the time later on, when Jerusalem is destroyed.  This is speaking of the overthrow of Jehoiakim. At this time, the temple is not completely ravaged, but some of the vessels of the house of God are taken. The land of Shinar was a portion of Babylon. The god, spoken of here, is the false god of Nebuchadnezzar which was called Bel or Marduk which is known as Merodach.

As a side note, to conquer another nation’s deities was thought to prove the superiority of the victor’s god.

II Chronicles 36:6-7 "Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon." "Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon."

Daniel 1:3 "And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;"

We see from this, that those young men, who were taken, were princes and seed of the king, and Israelites who were very prominent. Nebuchadnezzar wanted eunuchs for the court.

II Kings 20:18 "And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

Daniel 1:4 "Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans."

These young men, that were chosen to take back to Babylon to work in the court, had to be the well-educated. They had to be intelligent enough to learn the language, and to conduct themselves with good manners. The Chaldeans and the Babylonians are the same. The young men needed to be nice looking to represent the king well. He wanted only the best in the court of the king.

Daniel 1:5 "And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king."

They were sent to training school for 3 years to prepare them for work in the court of the king. They were fed and housed as part of their training. In fact, they were fed the same food and wine as the king. This was a time of preparation.

The king was having them schooled in the ways of Babylon. He, also, wanted them to know what was required of them in their duties. He might even use them as interpreters to communicate with the captured Hebrews.

These young men after their training would easily serve as liaisons between Babylon and Judah, or even as hostages to keep Judah’s kings submissive.

Daniel 1:6 "Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:"

The name "Daniel" means judge of God. "Hananiah" means Jah has favored. "Mishael" means who is what God is.  "Azariah" means Jah has strengthened. It appears from this verse, these 4 were of the tribe of Judah.

Daniel 1:7 "Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego."

When they are called into service of the king, they must take on Babylonian names. Daniel's new name, Belteshazzar, is very similar to the name of a later king of these Babylonians, Belshazzar.

Sometimes, names were given to cut connection with old lives. Sometimes, they were named for the false gods of their captors.

This name changing was a key factor in the “brainwashing” process of the Babylonian training. This was to link the inductees to local gods rather than to support their former religious loyalty.

The Book Of Daniel Explained

The Book of Daniel is one of the most interesting and intriguing books in the Bible: It has a lot of mysterious end time events past, present and in the Future. It is a book that explains and prophecy many events that is yet to come in the Future. Though, some of these events are past, while some is been fulfilled in our very eyes and few are still going to be fulfilled in the nearest future. The analysis of this book will be done from Chapter to Chapter. 

The book of Daniel was written by the prophet Daniel. Daniel prophesied after he was taken to Babylon with the first captives. He was taken on the first of three steps to overthrow Jerusalem which happened in 605 B.C., then on 597, then finally on 586 B.C.

He was chosen out to learn the language, and to work in the king's palace.  He was chosen, along with other young men from prominent families, to serve in the Babylonian court.

Some believe that Daniel was a eunuch which was a procedure that was required for those serving in the king’s court. According to what I’ve found I do not know of a passage of scripture that specifically states that Daniel was a eunuch, there is strong evidence to believe so. The prophesy of Isaiah concerning the fall to Babylon, chapter 39, vs. 7 in particular, speaks of the young men of Judah being taken away and made "eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon".

These prophesy took place during the younger years of Daniels life. Daniel chapter 1, verses 1 and following, state that Daniel was among those brought to Babylon, vs. 6 in particular. Also, we see that Daniel was placed under the charge of Ashpenaz, master of the eunuchs. The fact that Daniel rose to such a high position of authority under the rules of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius, almost certainly confirms that Daniel was made a eunuch, common practice in biblical days to prevent any offspring being born to anyone who might challenge the throne.

Daniel's prophecies were different from Isaiah's, and Jeremiah's. Their prophecies were usually begun by saying, "Thus saith the Lord". Daniel did not use that expression when giving his. His ministry was involved in interpreting dreams and riddles. The most prominent of ministries, possibly, were the visions he had himself of events future to even our day. Revelation and Daniel have much in common. Some future events are mentioned in both. Daniel had three friends who were fellow captives. We will see all four of these young men, standing up for God under great stress.

The book of Daniel must be understood through the spirit, if we are to understand anything it says. As with many prophecies, this covers the time they lived in, and covers times future to us, as well. The sovereignty of God is revealed in this book.

A New Phase of Life For Believers

1. A NEW SPHERE OF LIFE FOR THE SAINTS. New Heavens and a new Earth: Paradise regained; new spiritual environment; new physical conditions. Not surrounded by the temptations and defects of this mortal life. "No more sea" -- to the Jew a symbol of unmixed peril, trouble, and restlessness.

2. A NEW HOME FOR THE SAINTS.

Rev.21-22:5 -- A picture of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is to be the final and eternal abode of the people of God.

Within the New Heavens and on the New Earth is the Holy City. Note some characteristics of the Holy City: Its Name: New Jerusalem -- what music to the ear of the Jew, who for so long had been without a city of his own! Its Walls (21:17): high, secure, and safe against all assaults. It’s Gates (21:15, 21): guarded by angels; names on gates; only saints enter. Its Foundations (v.14): the Apostles of the Lamb; lustrous (18). It’s Citizens: of the nations that are saved (citizens' characteristics 21:6, 7; 22:14, R. V.; contrast with 21:8, 27). It’s Magnitude: 4800 stadia (the earthly Jerusalem being but 33 stadia). Its Glory (11-23): what costliness!

3. NEW CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR THE REDEEMED.

God's home is there (21:3); thus the believer has uninterrupted communion with God. Some things that used to be have all passed away: death, mourning, curse, tears, sorrow, night -- all have gone. New created things appear: the river of life, the tree of life, new service, new relationships, new light (22:4).