The king replied to the astrologers, "My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to rubble. The king replied to the astrologersIn the ancient Near East, astrologers were considered wise men who interpreted celestial events to predict earthly occurrences. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, relied on these advisors for guidance. This reflects the cultural and religious practices of Babylon, where astrology played a significant role. The king's reliance on astrologers highlights the tension between human wisdom and divine revelation, a theme prevalent in the Book of Daniel. My word is final
Nebuchadnezzar's declaration underscores his absolute authority as a monarch. In the Babylonian empire, the king's word was law, reflecting the autocratic nature of his rule. This phrase sets the stage for the dramatic tension in the narrative, as it contrasts with the ultimate sovereignty of God, who reveals mysteries beyond human understanding. If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation
The demand for both the dream and its interpretation is unusual and highlights the king's suspicion and desire for genuine insight. This request sets a divine stage for Daniel's God-given ability to reveal mysteries, contrasting the limitations of human wisdom. It also foreshadows the revelation of God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms, a central theme in Daniel. you will be cut into pieces
This severe punishment reflects the harshness of ancient Near Eastern justice systems. Such drastic measures were not uncommon in Babylonian law, where disobedience to the king could result in brutal consequences. This threat emphasizes the seriousness of the king's demand and the peril faced by the astrologers, setting the stage for God's intervention through Daniel. and your houses will be reduced to rubble
Destroying one's home was a symbolic act of total annihilation and disgrace. In ancient cultures, a person's house represented their legacy and security. This threat underscores the king's power to obliterate not just individuals but their entire lineage and memory. It also serves as a backdrop for the miraculous deliverance that God provides, showcasing His power to protect and preserve His faithful servants. Persons / Places / Events 1. NebuchadnezzarThe king of Babylon who had a troubling dream that he demanded to be interpreted without revealing its content. 2. ChaldeansA group of wise men, astrologers, and magicians in Babylon who were expected to interpret the king's dream. 3. DanielA Hebrew captive in Babylon known for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams, who later becomes involved in interpreting the king's dream. 4. BabylonThe empire ruled by Nebuchadnezzar, known for its grandeur and power during this period. 5. The DreamA mysterious dream experienced by Nebuchadnezzar, which he insists must be interpreted without him disclosing its details. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in RevelationGod is in control and reveals mysteries according to His will. Just as He revealed the dream to Daniel, He can provide insight and understanding to us today. The Role of Faith and PrayerDaniel's response to the king's decree was to seek God in prayer. This teaches us the importance of turning to God in times of crisis and uncertainty. The Limitations of Human WisdomThe Chaldeans' inability to interpret the dream highlights the limitations of human wisdom and the necessity of divine revelation. Courage in the Face of AdversityDaniel's courage to approach the king and request time to interpret the dream demonstrates the importance of faith and boldness in challenging situations. The Importance of CommunityDaniel sought the prayers of his friends, showing the value of community and collective prayer in seeking God's guidance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Nebuchadnezzar's demand for the interpretation of his dream without revealing it reflect the limitations of human wisdom? 2. In what ways does Daniel's response to the king's decree demonstrate faith and reliance on God? 3. How can we apply the principle of seeking God's wisdom in our own lives, as seen in Daniel's approach to the dream? 4. What does the account of Daniel and the king's dream teach us about the importance of community and prayer support? 5. How can we find courage to face seemingly impossible situations, drawing from Daniel's example? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 41The account of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, which parallels Daniel's situation and highlights God's sovereignty in revealing mysteries. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11Discusses how the Spirit of God reveals deep truths, similar to how God reveals the dream's meaning to Daniel. Proverbs 25:2Speaks of the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out, reflecting the situation with Nebuchadnezzar's dream. James 1:5Encourages believers to seek wisdom from God, as Daniel did when faced with the king's demand. People Abednego, Arioch, Azariah, Belteshazzar, Daniel, Hananiah, Meshach, Mishael, Nebuchadnezzar, ShadrachPlaces Babylon, ShinarTopics Astrologers, Bits, Cause, Chaldaeans, Chaldeans, Chalde'ans, Clear, Command, Cut, Decided, Decision, Dream, Dunghill, Dunghills, Firm, Firmly, Forth, Heap, Houses, Interpret, Interpretation, Laid, Limb, Pieces, Piles, Replied, Rubbish, Rubble, Ruins, Sense, Sure, Thereof, Torn, WasteDictionary of Bible Themes Daniel 2:5 7346 death penalty Daniel 2:1-13 8709 astrology Daniel 2:2-5 4281 stars Library The Image and the Stone
'This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 37. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureBook and Tract Catalogue.
THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION. BY I. C. WELLCOME AND C. GOUD. "The Plan of Redemption is an earnest book, evidently prepared after no little study, and with a conscientious desire to advance the cause of Christ. The Bible is made the basis of argument; it contains many fresh and well considered suggestions. The careful reader will find much that is valuable."--Watchman and Reflector. "This treatise aims to serve up the gospel scheme in a compact form. It states the plan and work well, and usually correctly. …
Dwight L. Moody—That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope Editor's Preface
Professor Maspero does not need to be introduced to us. His name is well known in England and America as that of one of the chief masters of Egyptian science as well as of ancient Oriental history and archaeology. Alike as a philologist, a historian, and an archaeologist, he occupies a foremost place in the annals of modern knowledge and research. He possesses that quick apprehension and fertility of resource without which the decipherment of ancient texts is impossible, and he also possesses a sympathy …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 1 The Scattering of the People
[Illustration: (drop cap A) The Fish-god of Assyria and Babylonia] At last the full punishment for their many sins fell upon God's chosen people. The words of warning written in the fifth book of Moses had told them plainly that if they turned aside and worshipped the wicked idol-gods of Canaan, the Lord would take their country from them and drive them out into strange lands. Yet again and again they had yielded to temptation. And now the day of reckoning had come. Nebuchadnezzar, the great king …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope
In 2 Timothy, 3:16, Paul declares: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;" but there are some people who tell us when we take up prophecy that it is all very well to be believed, but that there is no use in one trying to understand it; these future events are things that the church does not agree about, and it is better to let them alone, and deal only with those prophecies which have already been …
Dwight L. Moody—That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope Epistle Xliii. To Eulogius and Anastasius, Bishops.
To Eulogius and Anastasius, Bishops. Gregory to Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria, and Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. When the excellent preacher says, As long as I am the apostle of the Gentiles I will honour my ministry (Rom. xi. 13); saying again in another place, We became as babes among you (1 Thess. ii. 7), he undoubtedly shews an example to us who come after him, that we should retain humility in our minds, and yet keep in honour the dignity of our order, so that neither should our humility be …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great A Description of Heart-Purity
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 The holy God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity' calls here for heart-purity, and to such as are adorned with this jewel, he promises a glorious and beatifical vision of himself: they shall see God'. Two things are to be explained the nature of purity; the subject of purity. 1 The nature of purity. Purity is a sacred refined thing. It stands diametrically opposed to whatsoever defiles. We must distinguish the various kinds …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Wicked Husbandmen.
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto …
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord The First Great Group of Parables.
(Beside the Sea of Galilee.) Subdivision B. Parable of the Sower. ^A Matt. XIII. 3-23; ^B Mark IV. 3-25; ^C Luke VIII. 5-18. ^a Behold, ^c 5 The sower went forth to sow his seed [Orientals live in cities and towns. Isolated farmhouses are practically unknown. A farmer may therefore live several miles from his field, in which case he literally "goes forth" to it]: ^b 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed { ^a seeds } fell by the way side, ^c and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Necessity of Regeneration, Argued from the Immutable Constitution of God.
John III. 3. John III. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. WHILE the ministers of Christ are discoursing of such a subject, as I have before me in the course of these Lectures, and particularly in this branch of them which I am now entering upon, we may surely, with the utmost reason, address our hearers in those words of Moses to Israel, in the conclusion of his dying discourse: Set your hearts unto all …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration Letters of St. Bernard
I To Malachy. 1141.[924] (Epistle 341.) To the venerable lord and most blessed father, Malachy, by the grace of God archbishop of the Irish, legate of the Apostolic See, Brother Bernard called to be abbot of Clairvaux, [desiring] to find grace with the Lord. 1. Amid the manifold anxieties and cares of my heart,[925] by the multitude of which my soul is sore vexed,[926] the brothers coming from a far country[927] that they may serve the Lord,[928] thy letter, and thy staff, they comfort …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his Approaching Passion.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke XII. 1-59. ^c 1 In the meantime [that is, while these things were occurring in the Pharisee's house], when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another [in their eagerness to get near enough to Jesus to see and hear] , he began to say unto his disciples first of all [that is, as the first or most appropriate lesson], Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [This admonition is the key to the understanding …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus.
(at Nazareth, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 26-38. ^c 26 Now in the sixth month [this is the passage from which we learn that John was six months older than Jesus] the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth [Luke alone tells us where Mary lived before the birth of Jesus. That Nazareth was an unimportant town is shown by the fact that it is mentioned nowhere in the Old Testament, nor in the Talmud, nor in Josephus, who mentions two hundred four towns and cities of Galilee. The …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The First Sayings of Jesus --His Ideas of a Divine Father and of a Pure Religion --First Disciples.
Joseph died before his son had taken any public part. Mary remained, in a manner, the head of the family, and this explains why her son, when it was wished to distinguish him from others of the same name, was most frequently called the "son of Mary."[1] It seems that having, by the death of her husband, been left friendless at Nazareth, she withdrew to Cana,[2] from which she may have come originally. Cana[3] was a little town at from two to two and a half hours' journey from Nazareth, at the foot …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus The Gospel of the Kingdom.
"This is He whom Seers in old time Chanted of with one accord; Whom the voices of the Prophets Promised in their faithful word." We have seen that, in the providence of God, John the Baptist was sent to proclaim to the world that "The Kingdom of Heaven" was at hand, and to point out the King. And as soon as the Herald had raised the expectation of men by the proclamation of the coming Kingdom, our Lord began His public ministry, the great object of which was the founding of His Kingdom for the salvation …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it? Daniel
Daniel is called a prophet in the New Testament (Matt. xxiv. 15). In the Hebrew Bible, however, the book called by his name appears not among the prophets, but among "the writings," between Esther and Ezra. The Greek version placed it between the major and the minor prophets, and this has determined its position in modern versions. The book is both like and unlike the prophetic books. It is like them in its passionate belief in the overruling Providence of God and in the sure consummation of His …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Daniel 2:5 NIVDaniel 2:5 NLTDaniel 2:5 ESVDaniel 2:5 NASBDaniel 2:5 KJV
Daniel 2:5 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
