Daniel 2
Bruce Hurt · Citado em PreceptAustin
Daniel 2:1-23
Daniel in the Lion's Den (Daniel 6) Charts from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission Daniel Chart from Charles Swindoll Daniel 2:1 Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. in: Da 1:1, 2, 3, 4, 5 2Ch 36:5, 6, 7 Nebuchadnezzar: Da 2:3 4:5 Ge 40:5, 6, 7, 8 41:1-36 Job 33:15, 16, 17 and his: Da 6:18 Esther 6:1 Daniel Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries KING'S DIVINE "NIGHTMARES" Daniel in the Septuagint (Lxx) - "The Book of Daniel with its so-called "Additions" has a special place in the Septuagint because, along with a few other books, it is extant in two complete, ancient versions. The (earlier) OG translation, of which few witnesses remain, had been supplanted by the TH (Theodotion) Version by the first or second century CE." (Click for more detailed discussion) Here is the NETS Septuagint translation of Daniel - Dan. 2:1 And in the twelfth year (NOTE: TRANSLATION OF THE THEODOTION VERSION OF THE SEPTUAGINT IS "DEUTERO" WHICH MEANS "SECOND." THE MASORETIC TEXT READS "SHENAYIM" THE HEBREW WORD FOR TWO. THEREFORE THE CORRECT CHRONOLOGY APPEARS TO BE "SECOND YEAR" NOT "TWELFTH YEAR") of Nabouchodonosor’s reign, it happened that visions and dreams befell him, and he was disturbed in his sleep. Da 2:2 And the king ordered that the enchanters and the magicians and sorcerers of the Chaldeans be brought in to tell the king his dreams. And when they arrived, they stood in front of the king. Da 2:3 And the king said to them, “I have seen a dream, and my spirit was shaken. Therefore, I want to find out about the dream.” Here is the translation from THEODOTION - "In the second year of his reign, Nabouchodonosor dreamed a dream, and his spirit was startled, and his sleep left him. 2 And the king said to summon the enchanters and the magicians and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. And they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I dreamed, and my spirit was startled so as to know the dream.” Da 2:4 And the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Syrian, “O lord, you shall live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will explain it.” Da 2:5 Then the king said in reply to the Chaldeans, “Unless you tell me the dream with certainty and disclose its sense, you will be made an example, and your possessions will be expropriated into the royal treasury. Dan. 2:6 But if you make plain to me the dream and tell its sense, you will receive all kinds of gifts, and you will be glorified by me. Therefore, disclose the dream, and interpret.” Dan. 2:7 Then they answered a second time, saying, “O king, state the vision, so your servants will interpret regarding these matters.” Dan. 2:8 And the king said to them, “It is certain you are trying to buy time; therefore, as I have commanded: Dan. 2:9 unless you render to me the dream and disclose its meaning, you will meet up with death. For you have agreed to make lying words in my presence until the occasion changes. Now, therefore, if you state the vision, which I saw during the night, I shall know that you can also disclose its sense.” Dan. 2:10 And the Chaldeans answered in the presence of the king, “Nobody on earth can say to the king what he has seen as you are asking! And, no king or dynast has askeda such a matter of any sage or magician or Chaldean. Dan. 2:11 And the thing that you seek, O king, is difficult and important. And there is no one who can disclose these things except some angel, whose habitation is not with any flesh; therefore, it is not possible that it happen, as you imagine.” Dan. 2:12 Then the king, being anxious and very sad, ordered to bring forth all the savants of Babylonia. Dan. 2:13 And it was decreed to execute all of them, but Daniel and all those who were with him were sought in order to be killed as well. Dan. 2:14 Then Daniel spoke counsel and knowledge to Arioch, the king’s chief cook, who was ordered to bring forward the savants of Babylonia. Dan. 2:15 And he inquired of him, saying, “Why is it being decreed so harshly by the king?” Then Arioch made the ordinance clear to Daniel. Dan. 2:16 Now Daniel immediately went in to the king and petitioned that time might be given to him, and he would disclose everything in the presence of the king. Dan. 2:17 Then Daniel, departing to his own home, declared everything in detail to Hananias and Misael and Azarias, his companions. Dan. 2:18 And he proclaimed a fast and supplication and that help be sought from the Lord Most High about this mystery so that Daniel and those who were with him might not be delivered to destruction together with the savants of Babylon. Dan. 2:19 Then the mystery of the king was disclosed to Daniel. In the night in a vision the matter was clearly brought to light. Then Daniel blessed the Lord Most High and crying out he said, Dan. 2:20 “Let the name of the great Lord be blessed forever, because wisdom and majesty are his. Dan. 2:21 And he changes seasons and times, deposing kings and setting up, giving to the sages wisdom and understanding to those who have knowledge Dan. 2:22 and revealing deep and obscure things and knowing what is in the darkness and in the light, and with him there is release. Dan. 2:23 You, Lord of my ancestors, I acknowledge and praise, because you gave me wisdom and intelligence, and now you have shown as much as I petitioned in order to disclose regarding these things to the king.” Dan. 2:24 So when Daniel went in to Arioch, who had been appointed by the king to execute all the savants of Babylonia, he said to him, “Do not destroy the savants of Babylon, but bring me in to the king, and I will disclose everything in detail to the king.” Dan. 2:25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel in to the king and said to him: “I have found a wise person among the captives of the sons of Judea who will disclose everything in detail to the king.” Dan. 2:26 So having answered, the king said to Daniel, but called Baltasar in Chaldean, “Are you able to disclose to me the vision that I have seen and its sense?” Dan. 2:27 So Daniel spoke aloud in the presence of the king and said, “That which the king has seen: the explanation is not of the sages and enchanters and sorcerers and Gazarenes, Dan. 2:28 but there is a Lord in heaven illumining mysteries who has disclosed to King Nabouchodonosor what must happen at the end of days. O King, you shall live forever! The dream and the vision of your head upon your bed is this: Dan. 2:29 You, O king, after you reclined upon your couch, saw everything that must happen at the end of the days, and he that reveals mysteries has disclosed to you what is about to happen. Dan. 2:30 But as for me, this mystery was not brought to light because of wisdom that I have beyond all persons, but it was shown to me what you pondered in your heart by knowledge in order that it might be disclosed to the king. Dan. 2:31 “And you saw, O king. And lo! There was one image. And that image was exceedingly great. And its appearance, being extraordinary, stood in front of you, and the appearance of the image was frightening. Dan. 2:32 And the head was of good gold, the chest and the arms silver, the belly and the thighs bronze, Dan. 2:33 and the legs iron, the feet partly of iron and partly of earthenware. Dan. 2:34 And you saw until when a stone was cut from a mountain, without hands, and it struck the image on the iron and earthenware feet and crushed them. Dan. 2:35 Then the iron as well as the earthenware and the bronze and the silver and the gold became powdery together and became more powdery, as it were, than the chaff on a threshing floor, and the wind threw them so that nothing remained of them. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and it struck the whole earth. Dan. 2:36 “This was the vision. Now we will also tell the meaning in the presence of the king. Dan. 2:37 You, O king, are king of kings, and to you the Lord of heaven has given the kingdom and power and honor and glory. Dan. 2:38 In the whole world from humans and wild animals and birds of the air and fish of the sea, he has delivered them into your hands to rule over all—you are the gold head. Dan. 2:39 And after you will rise a kingdom smaller than yours and another kingdom of bronze, which will rule over the whole earth, Dan. 2:40 and another kingdom, strong as iron, which saws everything and cuts down every tree, and the whole earth will be shaken. Dan. 2:41 And as you saw its feet partly of iron and partly of potter’s ware: there will be another kingdom in two parts, and some of the iron base will be in it; just as you saw the iron commixed with the clay ware, Dan. 2:42 part of the kingdom will be strong, and part of it will be broken. Dan. 2:43 And as you saw the iron admixed with the clay ware, they will be commixed in races of humans, but they will not be in agreement or well disposed to one another, even as iron is not able to be blended with earthenware. Dan. 2:44 And in the times of these kings the God of heaven will set up another kingdom that will be forever and will not be corrupted. And this kingdom will never permit another nation, but it will crush and abolish those kingdoms, and it will stand forever, Dan. 2:45 just as you have seen a stone cut out of a mountain, without hands, and it ground the earthenware and the iron and bronze and silver and gold. The great God has shown the king what will be at the end of the days, and the vision is precise, and the meaning of it trustworthy.” Dan. 2:46 Then Nabouchodonosor the king, falling facedown on the ground, did obeisance to Daniel and ordered that sacrifices and libations be carried out to him. Dan. 2:47 And the king cried out to Daniel and said, “It is certain; your God is God of gods and Lord of lords and Lord of kings who alone brings to light hidden mysteries, because you have been able to disclose this mystery!” Dan. 2:48 Then King Nabouchodonosor, after he magnified Daniel and bestowed many great presents, appointed him over the affairs of Babylonia and designated him ruler and leader of all the savants of Babylon. Dan. 2:49 And Daniel petitioned the king that Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago might be appointed over the affairs of the kingdom of Babylon. And Daniel was in the royal court. Recall that while Daniel is a book of prophecy, the first 6 chapters deal primarily with his personal life and the last 6 chapters deal with prophecy, specifically prophecy that deals with the nation of Israel. In Daniel 2 we do encounter a great prophecy which outlines the history of the Gentile nations and their interaction with Israel. THE BOOK OF DANIEL IN HEBREW & ARAMAIC Daniel 1 Daniel 2:4-7:28 Daniel 8-12 Written in Hebrew Written in Aramaic Written in Hebrew Daniel's "No Compromise" Stand God's Prophetic Plan for Gentile Nations God's Prophetic Plan for Israel DANIEL 2: THE ABC'S OF BIBLE PROPHECY Harry Ironside has said that "THIS second chapter has well been called “The A, B, C of prophecy.” (Ed Note: If Daniel is the ABC's, then Revelation is the XYZ's of Bible prophecy!) I suppose it contains the most complete, and yet the most simple, prophetic picture that we have in all the word of God. Had they been faithful to God, had they always been obedient to Him, royalty never would have departed from Judah. But because of their disobedience God gave their glory to the stranger, and dominion passed to the Gentiles in the person of Nebuchadnezzar. This was, in fact, the beginning of the distinctive period designated by the Lord Jesus in Luke 21:24 as “the times of the Gentiles.” (The glory of God had departed from Jerusalem, and the people of Judah became captives in the land of Shinar: “By the rivers of Babylon, [they] sat down, yea, [they] wept, when [they] remembered Zion” (Psalms 137:1).) This period will continue until all derived power is overthrown and… (Daniel 2 Commentary - Ironside's Notes) Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Doth his successive journeys run; His kingdom spread from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more. AMEN! Isaac Watts Play the Hymn - Jesus Shall Reign Young's Literal - And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed hath Nebuchadnezzar dreams, and his spirit doth move itself, and his sleep hath been against him Daniel 2 is the "backbone of Bible prophecy"! As someone has said how you approach the interpretation of Daniel 2, will affect how you interpret every other prophecy in the Bible. If you misinterpret Daniel 2, you are very likely to misinterpret many (if not most) of the end time prophecies, especially the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Dr. John Walvoord opens his comments on Daniel 2 with these remarks "Beginning with the second chapter of Daniel, the grand outline of the program of God for the period of Gentile supremacy and chastisement of Israel is presented for the first time. Tregelles, in his introduction to chapter 2 of Daniel, observes, “The book of Daniel is that part of Scripture which especially treats of the power of the world during the time of its committal into the hands of the Gentiles, whilst the ancient people of God, the children of Israel, are under chastisement on account of their sin.” (Samuel P. Tregelles, Remarks on the Prophetic Visions in the Book of Daniel, p. 6) What is true of the book in general is especially true of chapter 2. Nowhere else in Scripture, except in Daniel 7, is a more comprehensive picture given of world history as it stretched from the time of Daniel, 600 years before Christ, to the consummation at the second advent of Christ. It is most remarkable that Daniel was not only given this broad revelation of the course of what Christ called “the times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24; Ed: Cp Rev 11:1-2-note), but also the chronological prophecy of Israel’s history stretching from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the second advent of Christ. These two major foci of the book of Daniel justify the general description of the book as world history in outline with special reference to the nation of Israel… Few chapters of the Bible are more determinative in establishing both principle and content of prophecy than this chapter; and its study, accordingly, is crucial to any system of prophetic interpretation. (Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar’s Vision Of The Great Image)(Bolding added) IS THE "SECOND YEAR" AN ERROR? Second year - Once again the so-called "higher" critics pounce on this verse as evidence of the "inaccuracy" of this book, an attack they are forced to continue because to accept the literal, historical account of Daniel as written in the 6th Century BC is to be forced to accept a sovereign God Who knows the future and is behind the scenes bringing every prophecy to "letter perfect" fulfillment (let God's "Self Revelation" encourage your faith [Ro 10:17-note] for Jehovah Himself declares - Isa 42:9, Isa 44:7-8, Isa 46:9,10, Isa 45:21). So what does this mean? Ultimately, the authenticity of Daniel and his prophecies means these critics and all who have scorned and mocked God and His plan for the ages (2Pe 3:1-7-note, 2Pe 3:8-note, 2Pe 3:9-note, 2Pe 3:10-note, 2Pe 3:11-note), have a Supreme Being before Whom they will one stand to give an accounting for their brief time on earth (Rev 20:11-15+) and before Whom they will bow their knee and confess as LORD to the glory of God the Father (but not their very own Father! - Jn 1:11-13+, 1Jn 3:1+) (Phil 2:10-11+)!
Daniel 2:24-49
Source: Chart by Tim LaHaye and Thomas Ice - click to enlarge - Millenium on Right Side THE BOOK OF DANIEL IN HEBREW & ARAMAIC Daniel 1 Daniel 2:4-7:28 Daniel 8-12 Written in Hebrew Written in Aramaic Written in Hebrew Daniel's "No Compromise" Stand God's Prophetic Plan for Gentile Nations God's Prophetic Plan for Israel Daniel 2:24 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the king's presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king." Arioch: Da 2:15 Destroy: Da 2:12,13 Ac 27:24 Therefore - a strategic term of conclusion, always worth a pause to ponder. Arioch - The king's executioner (Da 2:14). Do not destroy the wise men… take me (latter "request" is actually a command in the original Aramaic!) - Daniel put others before himself (cp Php 2:3, 4) and these were not even believers (but included pagan sorcerers, magicians, astrologers, etc!) which testifies to the selfless, humble spirit of this young man --young in age but not "young" in spiritual maturity or godly character! Think also of the boldness and courage that Daniel manifested in addressing the king's executioner with what is essentially a command to "cease and desist"! But Daniel's boldness was not borne out of false bravado or brashness but was borne out of reception of a sure revelation from His trustworthy God. As Paul says in Romans 10:17 God's Word reinforces our faith which allows one to speak boldly as did Daniel. Believers today also have the same sure word of prophecy (2Pe 1:19-note) from the same trustworthy God and like young Daniel can be bold and courageous as we declare God's plan for the ages to those who are seeking answers. And do not underestimate the "evangelistic power" of eschatology (eschatos = last things + ology = study of) to open the door for the Gospel and conversion (an occurrence I have been privileged to see on more than one occasion as I spoke about God's plan for the ages). (See also the related discussion below) A LIFE WELL LIVED IS A LIGHT TO THOSE IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS What impact would Daniel's intervention and role in saying the life of these "wise men" have? A life well lived is a light (Mt 5:16-note, Php 2:15-note, cp Ps 126:6) and it appears quite likely that not all the "wise men" rejected the light, which could well explain the incredible vignette some 500 years later at the birth of a baby Boy in Bethlehem, Matthew recording… Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi (Greek = magos) from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."… Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared… And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped (proskuneo [word study]) Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way… Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. (Mt 2:1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16) Tis' only one life, Will soon be past. Only what's done in Christ Will last! It is notable that the Greek word magos (plural magi) used by Matthew is the same word used by the translators of the Septuagint (LXX) to translate the Hebrew word for conjurers in Da 2:2, 10, who were among the leading wise men in Babylon. The respected commentator John