Study Notes: Daniel 2:1-30
Review
As you recall from last week's study, Nebuchadnezzar had besieged Jerusalem, taking away the treasures of the temple and the people of the city. Daniel and his three friends were among the young men chosen from among the captured Hebrews to be educated and trained to serve in the king's court.
When these four took a stand to remain faithful to the Lord, God honored that and granted them knowledge and intelligence. At the end of their training, they stood apart and were chosen to become consultants to the king for matters of wisdom and understanding.
2:1-2 The Second Year
The date of chapter two seems to be a point of contention among commentators. It is clear from the context that these things happened after Daniel had been trained for three years, and had begun to serve in the king's court. If that is so, how could it only be the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign? History shows us that he took over some kingly duties for the last two years his father was still alive. This, then, would have been the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's true reign, or one year after Daniel began to serve in the king's court.
Nebuchadnezzar's Nightmares
After King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing night of dreams, he called together the magicians, conjurers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans. These were the guys who seemed to have the scoop on the supernatural, and this dream was clearly out of the ordinary.
Each of these groups mentioned specialized in different areas.
The members of the first class listed are called magicians. This term comes from a Hebrew root word meaning "to engrave." These were men whose connection with the spirit world was based on their knowledge of the occult, having studied the occultic engravings, and uttering these inscribed ancient incantations.
Next are the conjurers. These were people who would talk with the dead. They were the necromancers, channeling spirits through their own bodies.
Thirdly, sorcerers were what we call witches. They used spells and incantations to affect the natural world through supernatural means.
Lastly, there are the Chaldeans. Now, this can be confusing, since the inhabitants of Chaldea were called Chaldeans. But there was also a certain group of men among the citizens who were considered wise and learned, who became known as the Chaldeans.
But King Nebuchadnezzar didn't invite his wisest counselors, Daniel, Shad-RAK, May-SHAK, or Ab-ADE Neg-O.
To understand more fully, we might say today that Nebuchadnezzar summoned occultists, psychics, wiccans, and scholars to help him understand what his dream meant. But he didn't invite any fundamental Bible-believers.
Isn't that the way of the world? Even in spiritual matters, we find that everyone is consulted except the evangelistic Christians. When a TV show wants to talk about Noah's ark, exorcism, or the crucifixion of Christ, who do they call in? Every so-called "expert" except the one with the right answer, the Biblical answer.
2:3-12 The Counselors' Failure
The king wanted to know what the dream meant. The men around him said, "No problem. Tell us the dream and we'll interpret it." But the king insisted that they tell him the dream in addition to its interpretation. This is how he would know if they were truly able to interpret it accurately (verse 9).
When the wise men said that no one could do this, the king commanded that all of them in Babylon should be killed.
2:13-16 Discretion And Discernment
The king had not called Daniel and his three friends to discuss the dream. Yet, because they were classified as wise men, they were going to be put to death the same as the others.
Arioch was the captain of the king's bodyguard. As an aside, I found this really interesting. The word translated bodyguard here is "tab-BAWKH," whose root word means to slaughter or kill ruthlessly. It is translated as bodyguard, executioner, and cook! How'd you like to find out that your cook is one who kills ruthlessly? (In reality, it referred to the killing and butchering of the animals for meat.)
Well, Arioch was dispatched to do the wise men in, including Daniel and his friends. Daniel was going to die for something he had no involvement in. Consider this: depending on what kind of man Daniel was, he might take up arms and fight to defend himself. He might complain and point out how unfair and wrong the situation was. He might even cry and beg for mercy. But he did none of those things. He simply responded with discretion and discernment, or "wisdom and tact" (NIV).
The proverb says,
Prov. 2:11 Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you
Had Daniel done any different, he would be dead.
Looking at his level head and spiritual wisdom, it is amazes me when I remember that Daniel was only in his late teens or early 20's at this point!
He asked the king for time, and was granted it. Again, this was an example of God's divine intercession, giving Daniel favor in the eyes of an authority, because earlier the king had not been willing to grant time, telling the others,
Dan. 2:8 ...“I know for certain that you are bargaining for time..."
2:17-18 Requesting Compassion From God
After being granted time by the king, Daniel went home and told Khan-an-YAW, Mee-shaw-ALE, and Az-ar-YAW (Shad-RAK, May-SHAK, or Ab-ADE Neg-O) what the situation was. Together, they requested compassion from God.
You recall that James wrote,
James 1:5-8 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, {being} a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Asking God and believing God. These are what moves the hand of God. Even before James wrote these words, Daniel knew the principle. Ask God and He will answer.
2:19-23 Revealed In A Night Vision
God did answer. Nebuchadnezzar's mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision.
What is a night vision? It could be a certain kind of dream, because they are often referred to together. For example, Isaiah wrote,
Isa. 29:7 ... all who wage war against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, Shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.
But there are other Scriptures that seem to differentiate between the two. As the Lord said in Numbers,
Num. 12:6 ...If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream.
So, I do not know exactly what one is - I've never had one. But I know that Jacob did. We read in Genesis,
Gen. 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.”
At least we do know that night visions have two-way audio in them!
Paul also experienced this. In Acts, we see that...
Acts 16:9 ...a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
And later,
Acts 18:9 ...the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid {any longer} , but go on speaking and do not be silent
God revealed the mystery to Daniel this way, and Daniel praised God, blessed God, and thanked God for doing this. How often we forget to give God thanks for answered prayer! You recall that when Jesus was travelling towards Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. At a certain village, ten lepers stood away from Him, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He responded that they should go show themselves to the priests, and as they were going, they were cleansed.
Luke 17:15-18 Now one of them, when he sa