ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Daniel 2

Dan. 2:1–49 Nebuchadnezzar expects his own interpreters to tell him the content of his dream, perhaps to prove that they are genuinely qualified to interpret it (vv. 1–16). Daniel’s God shows himself superior by revealing to Daniel both the content and the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (vv. 17–49).

Dan. 2:1 In the ancient world, dreams were thought to give an indication of future events. A king’s dreams had significance for the nation as a whole. The interpretation was important so that the king might prepare for or try to prevent the events the dream foretold.

Dan. 2:2 Nebuchadnezzar had a staff specializing in dream interpretation: the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans. “Chaldeans” initially referred to a part of the Babylonian Empire. It developed into a descriptive term for a special group, known for their knowledge about magic and interpreting dreams.

Dan. 2:4 From this point until the end of ch. 7, the text switches from Hebrew to Aramaic, the official language of the Babylonian royal court.

Dan. 2:5–6 Contrary to normal procedure, the king demanded that his interpreters recount the dream itself as well as its interpretation. If the interpreters succeeded, they would be given great rewards. If they failed, they would be executed and their houses would be destroyed.

Dan. 2:11 These men consider the king’s demand unreasonable. No human being could know another person’s dream unless it was revealed by the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. Their own words reveal the power of Israel’s God, who does exactly what they say is impossible.

Dan. 2:14–24 Daniel leads his friends in praying to the true God for insight.

Dan. 2:15–16 Daniel requested from Arioch an appointment with the king to reveal the dream and its interpretation. This shows Daniel’s faith because he did this even before God had revealed the dream to him.

Dan. 2:23 When God answered Daniel’s prayer, he praised and thanked God for his wisdom and might.

Dan. 2:25–28 Arioch was eager to claim the credit for finding an interpreter for the king’s dream. Daniel, however, was careful to credit God with revealing the mystery. Daniel was able to interpret it because there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.

Dan. 2:30 God made known the interpretation of the dream so that Nebuchadnezzar would know this great God controlled future events, and so that he would be aware of what was coming.

Dan. 2:37–38 According to Daniel’s interpretation, the head of gold was Nebuchadnezzar. God gave him great authority, power, and glory. Babylon itself was an amazing achievement, with its hanging gardens (one of the famed Seven Wonders of the ancient world), many temples, and a bridge crossing the Euphrates River. Thus the head of gold is a fitting description.

Dan. 2:39 After Nebuchadnezzar’s time there will be two more kingdoms (Medo-Persia [539–331 b.c.] and Greece [331–63 b.c.]). Each will be inferior to the previous one, though still strong and powerful.

Dan. 2:40 The fourth kingdom (the Roman Empire) will be strong as iron, yet also unstable.

Dan. 2:43–44 God will establish a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, his final kingdom, which will ultimately destroy all other kingdoms. Though it starts small, it will grow to fill the earth and endure forever. The stone that will break in pieces all these other four kingdoms is most likely Christ.

Dan. 2:46–49 Nebuchadnezzar recognized and honored Daniel’s God. He also promoted Daniel and his friends within the Babylonian court, giving them further opportunity to bring peace and welfare to the city where the Lord had exiled them, as Jeremiah had counseled (Jer. 29:1–14).