SUMMARY
In these verses, DanielAn interpreter of dreams who was delivered from the lions' den. describes both the content of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (vv. 30-35) and its interpretation (vv. 36-45). He deflects any glory or credit that the king might attribute to him by claiming that God provided this information for the sake of the king (v. 45).
The king sees a giant, intimidating image. The statue is humanoid in shape but has the unique feature of being made of multiple materials: gold, silver, bronze, iron, and iron mixed with clay (v. 32-33). But the statue comes under threat when a divinely hewn stone strikes the statue and destroys the feet, which are made of mixed iron and clay. The rest of the statue follows suit, collapsing into rubble, which is blown away by the wind (vv. 34-35).
In this bizarre dreamscape, the stone alone remains. It grows so large that it fills the whole earth (v. 35).
Daniel then tells the king that the different materials represent different kingdoms. In a move that no doubt flattered the king, Daniel tells NebuchadnezzarBabylonian king who conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled the people. that he is the head of gold (vv. 37-38). Subsequent kingdoms are made of less valuable materials. Eventually, however, all of these earthly kingdoms will fallThe Fall refers specifically to the disobedience of Adam and Eve when they listened to Satan rather than adhering to God's command not to eat the fruit from the tree. When people act contrary to God's will, they are said to fall from from grace... and give way to an everlasting kingdom (vv. 44-45).
ANALYSIS
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream sequence dramatically reinforces the key theological concept related in vv. 20-23—that wisdomWisdom encompasses the qualities of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, which sometimes invokes a Woman as the personification of Wisdom, is a collection of aphorisms and moral teachings. Along with other biblical passages, it teaches, "The fear of the... and power belong to God and that God alone delegates power to earthly rulers. This key theological point is the source of hope for the book of Daniel, even when Daniel’s people find themselves in life-threatening circumstances.
“Blessed be the name of God from age to age,
for wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons,
deposes kings and sets up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my ancestors,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and power,
and have now revealed to me what we asked of you,
for you have revealed to us what the king ordered.”
This particular theological thread connects both the court tale section of Daniel (Chapters 1-6) and the apocalyptic section (Chapters 7-12).
The “four kingdoms” motif is not unique to Daniel 2. It also appears in the work of Greek, Persian, and Roman historians, and can even be found in other Jewish texts outside the biblical canonA canon is a general law or principle by which something is judged. The body of literature in the Old and New Testaments is accepted by most Christians as being canonical (that is, authentic and authoritative) for them.. In some cases, this schema was used to prove that rulers were legitimate. In the case of Daniel 2, however, the scheme emphasizes the sovereignty of God, who alone has the power to establish and depose kings. For those laboring under the thumb of despots, this schema provided both an explanation of present circumstances along with hope for a different, more favorable future.
