Daniel 2:1-11
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, "I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream." Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation." The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation." They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation." The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm--if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation." The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."
Date: fifth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign; two years since the end of the three years in 1:5
Dreams were used by God to reveal things which will happen in the future. This dream worried Nebuchadnezzar to the point of his losing sleep for the night. He summoned all those who were supposed to be naturally inclined to deciphering codes and riddles. The magicians were the philosophers of the kingdom (often shortened to magi). The enchanters were astrologers. The sorcerers carried the same connotation as it does now in the realm of wizards and warlocks. The Chaldeans were not necessarily Chaldean by nationality (of which all the previous groups would have been) but they were a particular order of wizard-priests.
Nebuchadnezzar’s orders were designed to test the truthfulness of these men and the powers they call upon for their sorcery. By forcing these men to tell the dream and the interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar was asking something that “no great and powerful king has asked such a thing” (v10). Nebuchadnezzar knew that they were wise enough to come up with an answer and interpretation if it meant saving their lives. Nebuchadnezzar would not accept just any answer.
Daniel 2:12-16
Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, "Why is the decree of the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.
Unaccustomed to his orders being refused, Nebuchadnezzar (showing that power corrupts) ordered that the entire class of wise men be executed. They came after Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in their quest, but Daniel requested to have an audience with the king. How that turns out comes next time.
NOTE: All Scripture readings taken from English Standard Version. Used by permission.
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