The tree great and strong and reached high into the sky and everyone one earth could see it. Nebuchadnezzar saw great and high tree standing in the midst of the earth. He asks Daniel for the interpretation of this his second dream and explains what he saw in the vision. Among the gods of the Babylonians none held the distinction of being the supreme God and this degraded opinion of gods allowed the king to think of himself in similar terms of being godlike himself. Nebuchadnezzar is still refusing to accept that Jehovah is the "only" God by placing Him among his pagan gods. As Nebuchadnezzar addresses Daniel he is careful not to recognize the uniqueness of Almighty God, by saying the spirit of the "gods" (plural) was in him. He did use the term "holy" with would only apply to Jehovah, which meant being separated and unlike the heathen gods of Babylon.ĭaniel is addressed as being the "master of magicians" which degraded him as being God's servant and placed him in the same class as the heathen wisemen. The name "Beltis" means "protect the king" or Belteshazzar "protect Nebuchadnezzar." Nebuchadnezzar refers to Daniel as not serving "THE" God, but as being a the servant of one of the polytheistic heathen gods.
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Daniel's name given to him by Nebuchadnezzar was Belteshazzar which was a Aramaic or Chadee name. Verse 8 says that at the last, after the Babylonian wisemen had failed in giving the interpretation, Daniel comes before the king. They were wise in not making up an interpretation that could prove their undoing. It may be that they knew Daniel was available and could interpret the dream correctly and they feared if they gave a meaning to the dream Daniel could expose it as being phony. Yet, they could not or would not venture an interpretation. So they are told the dream and asked to give the interpretation of it. This time their task is easier, because unlike before, the king remembers the dream he had. Once again these phony "wisemen" are called to the palace, all the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers. So instead of going to God's servant, Nebuchadnezzar goes to his own "wisemen" who he knows do not know God and will not give an interpretation that would degrade him. Clearly, the truth that God said he had placed Nebuchadnezzar on his throne did not set well with the king. It seems more reasonable that he would immediately call Daniel who had not only revealed the his first dream he could not remember, but also had given the interpretation to him. Once again he makes the mistake of calling all his "wisemen" to give him the meaning of the dream. His actions reveal that he had not learned the lessons of his first dream which God had caused him to have. However, this peaceful state was broken when in his sleep he had a troubling dream. Nebuchadnezzar begins by stating he was secure at rest and was prosperous (flourishing) in his palace. This chapter is the king's personal testimony of his experience in coming to the realization and acceptance of the greatness, wonder and power of Almighty God.
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Yet, God was longsuffering and He was not finished with Nebuchadnezzar and was about to teach him a lesson in a most humbling and debilitating way. In his pride, he concluded it was his great ability that had placed him over Babylon. God had shown Himself to Nebuchadnezzar earlier through Daniel who had both revealed and interpreted his dream, (Daniel 2) and once again though the delivery of Daniel's three companions in the fiery furnace.(Daniel 3) However, the king continued in his pride and arrogance to ignore God that had placed him in his position as king.
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The beginning of this chapter is a decree issued by King Nebuchadnezzar to all the people of his kingdom proclaiming the greatness of God towards him. A Commentary on the Book of Daniel - by Cooper Abrams