Daniel 2

1-16 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

1-12 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar has some very troubling dreams. He asks his wise men to interpret the dreams and to tell him what they were, upon threat of death. Since they – nor anyone else, in their minds – can identify the dreams, he calls for the execution of all wise men.

13-16 When the king’s men come to Daniel and his companions to carry out the king’s orders, Daniel tells Arioch (the king’s chief executive) that if he can talk to the king, he will tell him the interpretation of the dreams. He makes this promise without really knowing that he’ll be able to do so.

17-23 God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

17-19 Daniel goes to his companions and asks them to “seek mercy from the God of heavens” so they won’t be killed. During the night, Daniel receives the answers in a vision.

20-23 Daniel praises and thanks God for the revelation

24-45 Daniel Interprets the Dream

24-30 Daniel goes to Arioch and asks for an audience with the king, because he knows the interpretations. Arioch immediately takes Daniel before the king. Daniel denies any credit for the knowledge, telling the king that only God can reveal such mysteries. He has given the interpretation to Daniel so the king can understand his own thoughts.

31-35 This was the dream: The king saw a huge statue with a head of fine gold, chest and arms of silver, middle and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of both iron and clay. Then an inhuman hand cut out a stone that struck the foot of the statue so that the whole thing crumbled into sand and blew away. The stone became a mountain and filled the earth.

36-45 The interpretation: Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold. The silver part represents a lesser nation inferior to him; the bronze part is a nation that will rule over the whole earth; the iron nation will crush the others; the clay and iron nation will be a divided kingdom, and will not hold together. In those days God will set up a nation that will crush the other nations, one that will never be destroyed.

46-49 Daniel and His Friends Promoted

Nebuchadnezzar falls down, worships Daniel and orders sacrifices be made to him. He makes him ruler over the province of Babylon and chief of the wise men. Daniel requests that his friends be appointed to responsible positions in the province. Daniel stays in the king’s court. It doesn’t mention that Daniel refused the king’s worship or sacrifices. Maybe it’s because the king, while he did so, acknowledged God as the source of the revelation.