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Daniel 2:1-49

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2 1 וּבִשְׁנַ֣ת שְׁתַּ֗יִם לְמַלְכוּת֙ נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּ֔ר חָלַ֥ם נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר חֲלֹמ֑וֹת וַתִּתְפָּ֣עֶם רוּח֔וֹ וּשְׁנָת֖וֹ נִהְיְתָ֥ה עָלָֽיו ׃ 2 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ לִקְרֹ֨א לַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֜ים וְלָֽאַשָּׁפִ֗ים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִים֙ וְלַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים לְהַגִּ֥יד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חֲלֹמֹתָ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ ׃ 3 וַיֹּ֧אמֶר לָהֶ֛ם הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חֲל֣וֹם חָלָ֑מְתִּי וַתִּפָּ֣עֶם רוּחִ֔י לָדַ֖עַת אֶֽת ־ הַחֲלֽוֹם ׃ 4 וַֽיְדַבְּר֧וּ הַכַּשְׂדִּ֛ים לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲרָמִ֑ית מַלְכָּא֙ לְעָלְמִ֣ין חֱיִ֔י אֱמַ֥ר חֶלְמָ֛א לעבדיך 1 וּפִשְׁרָ֥א נְחַוֵּֽא ׃ 5 עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֣ר לכשדיא 1 מִלְּתָ֖א מִנִּ֣י אַזְדָּ֑א הֵ֣ן לָ֤א תְהֽוֹדְעוּנַּ֙נִי֙ חֶלְמָ֣א וּפִשְׁרֵ֔הּ הַדָּמִין֙ תִּתְעַבְד֔וּן וּבָתֵּיכ֖וֹן נְוָלִ֥י יִתְּשָׂמֽוּן ׃ 6 וְהֵ֨ן חֶלְמָ֤א וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ תְּֽהַחֲוֺ֔ן מַתְּנָ֤ן וּנְבִזְבָּה֙ וִיקָ֣ר שַׂגִּ֔יא תְּקַבְּל֖וּן מִן ־ קֳדָמָ֑י לָהֵ֕ן חֶלְמָ֥א וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ הַחֲוֺֽנִי ׃ 7 עֲנ֥וֹ תִנְיָנ֖וּת וְאָמְרִ֑ין מַלְכָּ֕א חֶלְמָ֛א יֵאמַ֥ר לְעַבְד֖וֹהִי וּפִשְׁרָ֥ה נְהַחֲוֵֽה ׃ 8 עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֔ר מִן ־ יַצִּיב֙ יָדַ֣ע אֲנָ֔ה דִּ֥י עִדָּנָ֖א אַנְתּ֣וּן זָבְנִ֑ין כָּל ־ קֳבֵל֙ דִּ֣י חֲזֵית֔וֹן דִּ֥י אַזְדָּ֖א מִנִּ֥י מִלְּתָֽא ׃ 9 דִּ֣י הֵן ־ חֶלְמָא֩ לָ֨א תְהֽוֹדְעֻנַּ֜נִי חֲדָה ־ הִ֣יא דָֽתְכ֗וֹן וּמִלָּ֨ה כִדְבָ֤ה וּשְׁחִיתָה֙ הזמנתון 1 2 לְמֵאמַ֣ר קָֽדָמַ֔י עַ֛ד דִּ֥י עִדָּנָ֖א יִשְׁתַּנֵּ֑א לָהֵ֗ן חֶלְמָא֙ אֱמַ֣רוּ לִ֔י וְֽאִנְדַּ֕ע דִּ֥י פִשְׁרֵ֖הּ תְּהַחֲוֻנַּֽנִי ׃ 10 עֲנ֨וֹ כשדיא 1 קֳדָם ־ מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָ֣מְרִ֔ין לָֽא ־ אִיתַ֤י אֲנָשׁ֙ עַל ־ יַבֶּשְׁתָּ֔א דִּ֚י מִלַּ֣ת מַלְכָּ֔א יוּכַ֖ל לְהַחֲוָיָ֑ה כָּל ־ קֳבֵ֗ל דִּ֚י כָּל ־ מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ רַ֣ב וְשַׁלִּ֔יט מִלָּ֤ה כִדְנָה֙ לָ֣א שְׁאֵ֔ל לְכָל ־ חַרְטֹּ֖ם וְאָשַׁ֥ף וְכַשְׂדָּֽי ׃ 11 וּמִלְּתָ֨א דִֽי ־ מַלְכָּ֤ה שָׁאֵל֙ יַקִּירָ֔ה וְאָחֳרָן֙ לָ֣א אִיתַ֔י דִּ֥י יְחַוִּנַּ֖הּ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֑א לָהֵ֣ן אֱלָהִ֔ין דִּ֚י מְדָ֣רְה֔וֹן עִם ־ בִּשְׂרָ֖א לָ֥א אִיתֽוֹהִי ׃ 12 כָּל ־ קֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֔ה מַלְכָּ֕א בְּנַ֖ס וּקְצַ֣ף שַׂגִּ֑יא וַאֲמַר֙ לְה֣וֹבָדָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל חַכִּימֵ֥י בָבֶֽל ׃ 13 וְדָתָ֣א נֶפְקַ֔ת וְחַכִּֽימַיָּ֖א מִֽתְקַטְּלִ֑ין וּבְע֛וֹ דָּנִיֵּ֥אל וְחַבְר֖וֹהִי לְהִתְקְטָלָֽה ׃ פ 14 בֵּאדַ֣יִן דָּנִיֵּ֗אל 1 הֲתִיב֙ עֵטָ֣א וּטְעֵ֔ם לְאַרְי֕וֹךְ רַב ־ טַבָּחַיָּ֖א דִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֑א דִּ֚י נְפַ֣ק לְקַטָּלָ֔ה לְחַכִּימֵ֖י בָּבֶֽל ׃ 15 עָנֵ֣ה וְאָמַ֗ר לְאַרְיוֹךְ֙ שַׁלִּיטָ֣א דִֽי ־ מַלְכָּ֔א עַל ־ מָ֥ה דָתָ֛א מְהַחְצְפָ֖ה מִן ־ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֑א אֱדַ֣יִן מִלְּתָ֔א הוֹדַ֥ע אַרְי֖וֹךְ לְדָנִיֵּֽאל ׃ 16 וְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל עַ֖ל וּבְעָ֣ה מִן ־ מַלְכָּ֑א דִּ֚י זְמָ֣ן יִנְתֵּן ־ לֵ֔הּ וּפִשְׁרָ֖א לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא ׃ פ 17 אֱדַ֥יִן דָּֽנִיֵּ֖אל לְבַיְתֵ֣הּ אֲזַ֑ל וְ֠לַחֲנַנְיָה מִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל וַעֲזַרְיָ֛ה חַבְר֖וֹהִי מִלְּתָ֥א הוֹדַֽע ׃ 18 וְרַחֲמִ֗ין לְמִבְעֵא֙ מִן ־ קֳדָם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א 1 עַל ־ רָזָ֖ה דְּנָ֑ה דִּ֣י לָ֤א יְהֹֽבְדוּן֙ דָּנִיֵּ֣אל וְחַבְר֔וֹהִי עִם ־ שְׁאָ֖ר חַכִּימֵ֥י בָבֶֽל ׃ 19 אֱדַ֗יִן לְדָנִיֵּ֛אל בְּחֶזְוָ֥א דִֽי ־ לֵילְיָ֖א רָזָ֣ה גֲלִ֑י אֱדַ֙יִן֙ דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל בָּרִ֖ךְ לֶאֱלָ֥הּ שְׁמַיָּֽא ׃ 20 עָנֵ֤ה דָֽנִיֵּאל֙ וְאָמַ֔ר לֶהֱוֵ֨א שְׁמֵ֤הּ דִּֽי ־ אֱלָהָא֙ מְבָרַ֔ךְ מִן ־ עָלְמָ֖א וְעַ֣ד ־ עָלְמָ֑א דִּ֧י חָכְמְתָ֛א וּגְבוּרְתָ֖א דִּ֥י לֵֽהּ ־ הִֽיא ׃ 21 וְ֠הוּא מְהַשְׁנֵ֤א עִדָּנַיָּא֙ וְזִמְנַיָּ֔א מְהַעְדֵּ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין וּמְהָקֵ֣ים מַלְכִ֑ין יָהֵ֤ב חָכְמְתָא֙ לְחַכִּימִ֔ין וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א לְיָדְעֵ֥י בִינָֽה ׃ 22 ה֛וּא גָּלֵ֥א עַמִּיקָתָ֖א וּמְסַתְּרָתָ֑א יָדַע֙ מָ֣ה בַחֲשׁוֹכָ֔א ונהירא 1 עִמֵּ֥הּ שְׁרֵֽא ׃ 23 לָ֣ךְ ׀ אֱלָ֣הּ אֲבָהָתִ֗י מְהוֹדֵ֤א וּמְשַׁבַּח֙ אֲנָ֔ה דִּ֧י חָכְמְתָ֛א וּגְבוּרְתָ֖א יְהַ֣בְתְּ לִ֑י וּכְעַ֤ן הֽוֹדַעְתַּ֙נִי֙ דִּֽי ־ בְעֵ֣ינָא מִנָּ֔ךְ דִּֽי ־ מִלַּ֥ת מַלְכָּ֖א הוֹדַעְתֶּֽנָא ׃ 24 כָּל ־ קֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֗ה דָּֽנִיֵּאל֙ עַ֣ל עַל ־ אַרְי֔וֹךְ דִּ֚י מַנִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֔א לְהוֹבָדָ֖ה לְחַכִּימֵ֣י בָבֶ֑ל אֲזַ֣ל ׀ וְכֵ֣ן אֲמַר ־ לֵ֗הּ לְחַכִּימֵ֤י בָבֶל֙ אַל ־ תְּהוֹבֵ֔ד הַעֵ֙לְנִי֙ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֔א וּפִשְׁרָ֖א לְמַלְכָּ֥א אֲחַוֵּֽא ׃ ס 25 אֱדַ֤יִן אַרְיוֹךְ֙ בְּהִתְבְּהָלָ֔ה הַנְעֵ֥ל לְדָנִיֵּ֖אל קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֑א וְכֵ֣ן אֲמַר ־ לֵ֗הּ דִּֽי ־ הַשְׁכַּ֤חַת גְּבַר֙ מִן ־ בְּנֵ֤י גָֽלוּתָא֙ דִּ֣י יְה֔וּד דִּ֥י פִשְׁרָ֖א לְמַלְכָּ֥א יְהוֹדַֽע ׃ 26 עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֣ר לְדָנִיֵּ֔אל דִּ֥י שְׁמֵ֖הּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֑ר האיתיך 1 כָּהֵ֗ל לְהוֹדָעֻתַ֛נִי חֶלְמָ֥א דִֽי ־ חֲזֵ֖ית וּפִשְׁרֵֽהּ ׃ 27 עָנֵ֧ה דָנִיֵּ֛אל קֳדָ֥ם מַלְכָּ֖א וְאָמַ֑ר רָזָה֙ דִּֽי ־ מַלְכָּ֣א שָׁאֵ֔ל לָ֧א חַכִּימִ֣ין אָֽשְׁפִ֗ין חַרְטֻמִּין֙ גָּזְרִ֔ין יָכְלִ֖ין לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא ׃ 28 בְּרַ֡ם אִיתַ֞י אֱלָ֤הּ בִּשְׁמַיָּא֙ גָּלֵ֣א רָזִ֔ין וְהוֹדַ֗ע לְמַלְכָּא֙ נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֔ר מָ֛ה דִּ֥י לֶהֱוֵ֖א בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית יוֹמַיָּ֑א חֶלְמָ֨ךְ וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשָׁ֛ךְ עַֽל ־ מִשְׁכְּבָ֖ךְ דְּנָ֥ה הֽוּא ׃ פ 29 אנתה 1 2 מַלְכָּ֗א רַעְיוֹנָךְ֙ עַל ־ מִשְׁכְּבָ֣ךְ סְלִ֔קוּ מָ֛ה דִּ֥י לֶהֱוֵ֖א אַחֲרֵ֣י דְנָ֑ה וְגָלֵ֧א רָזַיָּ֛א הוֹדְעָ֖ךְ מָה ־ דִ֥י לֶהֱוֵֽא ׃ 30 וַאֲנָ֗ה לָ֤א בְחָכְמָה֙ דִּֽי ־ אִיתַ֥י בִּי֙ מִן ־ כָּל ־ חַיַּיָּ֔א רָזָ֥א דְנָ֖ה גֱּלִ֣י לִ֑י לָהֵ֗ן עַל ־ דִּבְרַת֙ דִּ֤י פִשְׁרָא֙ לְמַלְכָּ֣א יְהוֹדְע֔וּן וְרַעְיוֹנֵ֥י לִבְבָ֖ךְ תִּנְדַּֽע ׃ 31 אנתה 1 2 מַלְכָּ֗א חָזֵ֤ה הֲוַ֙יְתָ֙ וַאֲל֨וּ צְלֵ֥ם חַד֙ שַׂגִּ֔יא צַלְמָ֨א דִּכֵּ֥ן רַ֛ב וְזִיוֵ֥הּ יַתִּ֖יר קָאֵ֣ם לְקָבְלָ֑ךְ וְרֵוֵ֖הּ דְּחִֽיל ׃ 32 ה֣וּא צַלְמָ֗א רֵאשֵׁהּ֙ דִּֽי ־ דְהַ֣ב טָ֔ב חֲד֥וֹהִי וּדְרָע֖וֹהִי דִּ֣י כְסַ֑ף מְע֥וֹהִי וְיַרְכָתֵ֖הּ דִּ֥י נְחָֽשׁ ׃ 33 שָׁק֖וֹהִי דִּ֣י פַרְזֶ֑ל רַגְל֕וֹהִי מנהון 1 דִּ֣י פַרְזֶ֔ל ומנהון 2 דִּ֥י חֲסַֽף ׃ 34 חָזֵ֣ה הֲוַ֗יְתָ עַ֠ד דִּ֣י הִתְגְּזֶ֤רֶת אֶ֙בֶן֙ דִּי ־ לָ֣א בִידַ֔יִן וּמְחָ֤ת לְצַלְמָא֙ עַל ־ רַגְל֔וֹהִי דִּ֥י פַרְזְלָ֖א וְחַסְפָּ֑א וְהַדֵּ֖קֶת הִמּֽוֹן ׃ 35 בֵּאדַ֣יִן דָּ֣קוּ כַחֲדָ֡ה פַּרְזְלָא֩ חַסְפָּ֨א נְחָשָׁ֜א כַּסְפָּ֣א וְדַהֲבָ֗א וַהֲווֹ֙ כְּע֣וּר מִן ־ אִדְּרֵי ־ קַ֔יִט וּנְשָׂ֤א הִמּוֹן֙ רוּחָ֔א וְכָל ־ אֲתַ֖ר לָא ־ הִשְׁתֲּכַ֣ח לְה֑וֹן וְאַבְנָ֣א ׀ דִּֽי ־ מְחָ֣ת לְצַלְמָ֗א הֲוָ֛ת לְט֥וּר רַ֖ב וּמְלָ֥ת כָּל ־ אַרְעָֽא ׃ 36 דְּנָ֣ה חֶלְמָ֔א וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ נֵאמַ֥ר קֳדָם ־ מַלְכָּֽא ׃ 37 אנתה 1 2 מַלְכָּ֔א מֶ֖לֶךְ מַלְכַיָּ֑א דִּ֚י אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א מַלְכוּתָ֥א חִסְנָ֛א וְתָקְפָּ֥א וִֽיקָרָ֖א יְהַב ־ לָֽךְ ׃ 38 וּבְכָל ־ דִּ֣י דארין 1 בְּֽנֵי ־ אֲ֠נָשָׁא חֵיוַ֨ת בָּרָ֤א וְעוֹף ־ שְׁמַיָּא֙ יְהַ֣ב בִּידָ֔ךְ וְהַשְׁלְטָ֖ךְ בְּכָלְּה֑וֹן אנתה 2 ־ ה֔וּא 3 רֵאשָׁ֖ה דִּ֥י דַהֲבָֽא ׃ 39 וּבָתְרָ֗ךְ תְּק֛וּם מַלְכ֥וּ אָחֳרִ֖י אֲרַ֣עא 1 מִנָּ֑ךְ וּמַלְכ֨וּ תליתיא 2 אָחֳרִי֙ דִּ֣י נְחָשָׁ֔א דִּ֥י תִשְׁלַ֖ט בְּכָל ־ אַרְעָֽא ׃ 40 וּמַלְכוּ֙ רביעיה 1 תֶּהֱוֵ֥א תַקִּיפָ֖ה כְּפַרְזְלָ֑א כָּל ־ קֳבֵ֗ל דִּ֤י פַרְזְלָא֙ מְהַדֵּ֤ק וְחָשֵׁל֙ כֹּ֔לָּא וּֽכְפַרְזְלָ֛א דִּֽי ־ מְרָעַ֥ע כָּל ־ אִלֵּ֖ין תַּדִּ֥ק וְתֵרֹֽעַ ׃ 41 וְדִֽי ־ חֲזַ֜יְתָה רַגְלַיָּ֣א וְאֶצְבְּעָתָ֗א מנהון 1 2 חֲסַ֤ף דִּֽי ־ פֶחָר֙ ומנהון 3 פַּרְזֶ֔ל מַלְכ֤וּ פְלִיגָה֙ תֶּהֱוֵ֔ה וּמִן ־ נִצְבְּתָ֥א דִ֥י פַרְזְלָ֖א לֶֽהֱוֵא ־ בַ֑הּ כָּל ־ קֳבֵל֙ דִּ֣י חֲזַ֔יְתָה פַּ֨רְזְלָ֔א מְעָרַ֖ב בַּחֲסַ֥ף טִינָֽא ׃ 42 וְאֶצְבְּעָת֙ רַגְלַיָּ֔א מנהון 1 פַּרְזֶ֖ל ומנהון 2 חֲסַ֑ף מִן ־ קְצָ֤ת מַלְכוּתָא֙ תֶּהֱוֵ֣ה תַקִּיפָ֔ה וּמִנַּ֖הּ תֶּהֱוֵ֥ה תְבִירָֽה ׃ 43 די 1 חֲזַ֗יְתָ פַּרְזְלָא֙ מְעָרַב֙ בַּחֲסַ֣ף טִינָ֔א מִתְעָרְבִ֤ין לֶהֱוֺן֙ בִּזְרַ֣ע אֲנָשָׁ֔א וְלָֽא ־ לֶהֱוֺ֥ן דָּבְקִ֖ין דְּנָ֣ה עִם ־ דְּנָ֑ה הֵֽא ־ כְדִ֣י פַרְזְלָ֔א לָ֥א מִתְעָרַ֖ב עִם ־ חַסְפָּֽא ׃ 44 וּֽבְיוֹמֵיה֞וֹן דִּ֧י מַלְכַיָּ֣א אִנּ֗וּן יְקִים֩ אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֤א מַלְכוּ֙ דִּ֤י לְעָלְמִין֙ לָ֣א תִתְחַבַּ֔ל וּמַ֨לְכוּתָ֔ה לְעַ֥ם אָחֳרָ֖ן לָ֣א תִשְׁתְּבִ֑ק תַּדִּ֤ק וְתָסֵיף֙ כָּל ־ אִלֵּ֣ין מַלְכְוָתָ֔א וְהִ֖יא תְּק֥וּם לְעָלְמַיָּֽא ׃ 45 כָּל ־ קֳבֵ֣ל דִּֽי ־ חֲזַ֡יְתָ דִּ֣י מִטּוּרָא֩ אִתְגְּזֶ֨רֶת אֶ֜בֶן דִּי ־ לָ֣א בִידַ֗יִן וְ֠הַדֶּקֶת פַּרְזְלָ֨א נְחָשָׁ֤א חַסְפָּא֙ כַּסְפָּ֣א וְדַהֲבָ֔א אֱלָ֥הּ רַב֙ הוֹדַ֣ע לְמַלְכָּ֔א מָ֛ה דִּ֥י לֶהֱוֵ֖א אַחֲרֵ֣י דְנָ֑ה וְיַצִּ֥יב חֶלְמָ֖א וּמְהֵימַ֥ן פִּשְׁרֵֽהּ ׃ פ 46 בֵּ֠אדַיִן מַלְכָּ֤א נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר֙ נְפַ֣ל עַל ־ אַנְפּ֔וֹהִי וּלְדָנִיֵּ֖אל סְגִ֑ד וּמִנְחָה֙ וְנִ֣יחֹחִ֔ין אֲמַ֖ר לְנַסָּ֥כָה לֵֽהּ ׃ 47 עָנֵה֩ מַלְכָּ֨א לְדָנִיֵּ֜אל וְאָמַ֗ר מִן ־ קְשֹׁט֙ דִּ֣י אֱלָהֲכ֗וֹן ה֣וּא אֱלָ֧הּ אֱלָהִ֛ין וּמָרֵ֥א מַלְכִ֖ין וְגָלֵ֣ה רָזִ֑ין דִּ֣י יְכֵ֔לְתָּ לְמִגְלֵ֖א רָזָ֥ה דְנָֽה ׃ 48 אֱדַ֨יִן מַלְכָּ֜א לְדָנִיֵּ֣אל רַבִּ֗י וּמַתְּנָ֨ן רַבְרְבָ֤ן שַׂגִּיאָן֙ יְהַב ־ לֵ֔הּ וְהַ֨שְׁלְטֵ֔הּ עַ֖ל כָּל ־ מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֑ל וְרַב ־ סִגְנִ֔ין עַ֖ל כָּל ־ חַכִּימֵ֥י בָבֶֽל ׃ 49 וְדָנִיֵּאל֙ בְּעָ֣א מִן ־ מַלְכָּ֔א וּמַנִּ֗י עַ֤ל עֲבִֽידְתָּא֙ דִּ֚י מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֔ל לְשַׁדְרַ֥ךְ מֵישַׁ֖ךְ וַעֲבֵ֣ד נְג֑וֹ וְדָנִיֵּ֖אל בִּתְרַ֥ע מַלְכָּֽא ׃ פ

Daniel 2:1-49

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Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream 2 1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; h his spirit was troubled, and i his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that d the magicians, e the enchanters, the j sorcerers, and k the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and l stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and h my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then k the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, 1 m “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to k the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be n torn limb from limb, n and your o houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, p you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. q Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to r gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, s there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till t the times change. u Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 v 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 v Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except w the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” 12 Because of this the king was angry and x very furious, and y commanded that all z the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought a Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to b Arioch, the c captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared 1 to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king d so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king. God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream 17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to e Hananiah, e Mishael, and e Azariah, his companions, 18 f and told them to seek mercy from the g God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not h be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in i a vision of the night. Then Daniel j blessed the g God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said: k “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, l to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 m He changes times and seasons; n he removes kings and sets up kings; o he gives wisdom to the wise o and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22 p he reveals deep and hidden things; p he knows what is in the darkness, q and the light dwells with him. 23 To you, O r God of my fathers, s I give thanks and praise, for t you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what u we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” 24 Therefore Daniel went in to v Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.” 25 Then v Arioch brought in Daniel before the king w in haste and said thus to him: “I have found x among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, y whose name was Belteshazzar, z “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, a enchanters, a magicians, or b astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but c there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar d what will be in the latter days. Your dream and e the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, f and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But g as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that h you may know the thoughts of your mind. Daniel Interprets the Dream 31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 i The head of this image was of fine gold, j its chest and arms of silver, its middle and j thighs of bronze, 33 k its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out l by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and m broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became n like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that o not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became p a great mountain q and filled the whole earth. 36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, r the king of kings, to whom s the God of heaven t has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, u the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are v the head of gold. 39 w Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom v of bronze, x which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And y there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron z breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall z break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw a the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the y firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, 1 but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings b the God of heaven will set up c a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. d It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and c it shall stand forever, 45 just as e you saw that f a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that d it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A g great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” Daniel Is Promoted 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar h fell upon his face and i paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that j an offering and k incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your l God is God of gods and m Lord of kings, and n a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great o gifts, and made him ruler over the whole p province of Babylon and q chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he r appointed s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of p the province of Babylon. But Daniel t remained at the king’s court.

Daniel 2:1-49

lxx

2 1 καὶ ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ δευτέρῳ τῆς βασιλείας Ναβουχοδονοσορ συνέβη εἰς ὁράματα καὶ ἐνύπνια ἐμπεσεῖν τὸν βασιλέα καὶ ταραχθῆναι ἐν τῷ ἐνυπνίῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ ὕπνος αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ 2 καὶ ἐπέταξεν ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰσενεχθῆναι τοὺς ἐπαοιδοὺς καὶ τοὺς μάγους καὶ τοὺς φαρμακοὺς τῶν Χαλδαίων ἀναγγεῖλαι τῷ βασιλεῖ τὰ ἐνύπνια αὐτοῦ καὶ παραγενόμενοι ἔστησαν παρὰ τῷ βασιλεῖ 3 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ βασιλεύς ἐνύπνιον ἑώρακα καὶ ἐκινήθη μου τὸ πνεῦμα ἐπιγνῶναι οὖν θέλω τὸ ἐνύπνιον 4 καὶ ἐλάλησαν οἱ Χαλδαῖοι πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Συριστί κύριε βασιλεῦ τὸν αἰῶνα ζῆθι ἀνάγγειλον τὸ ἐνύπνιόν σου τοῖς παισί σου καὶ ἡμεῖς σοι φράσομεν τὴν σύγκρισιν αὐτοῦ 5 ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε τοῖς Χαλδαίοις ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ ἀπαγγείλητέ μοι ἐπ’ ἀληθείας τὸ ἐνύπνιον καὶ τὴν τούτου σύγκρισιν δηλώσητέ μοι παραδειγματισθήσεσθε καὶ ἀναληφθήσεται ὑμῶν τὰ ὑπάρχοντα εἰς τὸ βασιλικόν 6 ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἐνύπνιον διασαφήσητέ μοι καὶ τὴν τούτου σύγκρισιν ἀναγγείλητε λήψεσθε δόματα παντοῖα καὶ δοξασθήσεσθε ὑπ’ ἐμοῦ δηλώσατέ μοι τὸ ἐνύπνιον καὶ κρίνατε 7 ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ ἐκ δευτέρου λέγοντες βασιλεῦ τὸ ὅραμα εἰπόν καὶ οἱ παῖδές σου κρινοῦσι πρὸς ταῦτα 8 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ βασιλεύς ἐπ’ ἀληθείας οἶδα ὅτι καιρὸν ὑμεῖς ἐξαγοράζετε καθάπερ ἑωράκατε ὅτι ἀπέστη ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ τὸ πρᾶγμα καθάπερ οὖν προστέταχα οὕτως ἔσται 9 ἐὰν μὴ τὸ ἐνύπνιον ἀπαγγείλητέ μοι ἐπ’ ἀληθείας καὶ τὴν τούτου σύγκρισιν δηλώσητε θανάτῳ περιπεσεῖσθε συνείπασθε γὰρ λόγους ψευδεῖς ποιήσασθαι ἐπ’ ἐμοῦ ἕως ἂν ὁ καιρὸς ἀλλοιωθῇ νῦν οὖν ἐὰν τὸ ῥῆμα εἴπητέ μοι ὃ τὴν νύκτα ἑώρακα γνώσομαι ὅτι καὶ τὴν τούτου κρίσιν δηλώσετε 10 καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ Χαλδαῖοι ἐπὶ τοῦ βασιλέως ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς δυνήσεται εἰπεῖν τῷ βασιλεῖ ὃ ἑώρακε καθάπερ σὺ ἐρωτᾷς καὶ πᾶς βασιλεὺς καὶ πᾶς δυνάστης τοιοῦτο πρᾶγμα οὐκ ἐπερωτᾷ πάντα σοφὸν καὶ μάγον καὶ Χαλδαῖον 11 καὶ ὁ λόγος ὃν ζητεῖς βασιλεῦ βαρύς ἐστι καὶ ἐπίδοξος καὶ οὐδείς ἐστιν ὃς δηλώσει ταῦτα τῷ βασιλεῖ εἰ μήτι ἄγγελος οὗ οὐκ ἔστι κατοικητήριον μετὰ πάσης σαρκός ὅθεν οὐκ ἐνδέχεται γενέσθαι καθάπερ οἴει 12 τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς στυγνὸς γενόμενος καὶ περίλυπος προσέταξεν ἐξαγαγεῖν πάντας τοὺς σοφοὺς τῆς Βαβυλωνίας 13 καὶ ἐδογματίσθη πάντας ἀποκτεῖναι ἐζητήθη δὲ ὁ Δανιηλ καὶ πάντες οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ χάριν τοῦ συναπολέσθαι 14 τότε Δανιηλ εἶπε βουλὴν καὶ γνώμην ἣν εἶχεν Αριώχῃ τῷ ἀρχιμαγείρῳ τοῦ βασιλέως ᾧ προσέταξεν ἐξαγαγεῖν τοὺς σοφιστὰς τῆς Βαβυλωνίας 15 καὶ ἐπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ λέγων περὶ τίνος δογματίζεται πικρῶς παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως τότε τὸ πρόσταγμα ἐσήμανεν ὁ Αριώχης τῷ Δανιηλ 16 ὁ δὲ Δανιηλ εἰσῆλθε ταχέως πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ ἠξίωσεν ἵνα δοθῇ αὐτῷ χρόνος παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ δηλώσῃ πάντα ἐπὶ τοῦ βασιλέως 17 τότε ἀπελθὼν Δανιηλ εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ τῷ Ανανια καὶ Μισαηλ καὶ Αζαρια τοῖς συνεταίροις ὑπέδειξε πάντα 18 καὶ παρήγγειλε νηστείαν καὶ δέησιν καὶ τιμωρίαν ζητῆσαι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου τοῦ ὑψίστου περὶ τοῦ μυστηρίου τούτου ὅπως μὴ ἐκδοθῶσι Δανιηλ καὶ οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ἅμα τοῖς σοφισταῖς Βαβυλῶνος 19 τότε τῷ Δανιηλ ἐν ὁράματι ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ νυκτὶ τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ βασιλέως ἐξεφάνθη εὐσήμως τότε Δανιηλ εὐλόγησε τὸν κύριον τὸν ὕψιστον 20 καὶ ἐκφωνήσας εἶπεν ἔσται τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου τοῦ μεγάλου εὐλογημένον εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ὅτι ἡ σοφία καὶ ἡ μεγαλωσύνη αὐτοῦ ἐστι 21 καὶ αὐτὸς ἀλλοιοῖ καιροὺς καὶ χρόνους μεθιστῶν βασιλεῖς καὶ καθιστῶν διδοὺς σοφοῖς σοφίαν καὶ σύνεσιν τοῖς ἐν ἐπιστήμῃ οὖσιν 22 ἀνακαλύπτων τὰ βαθέα καὶ σκοτεινὰ καὶ γινώσκων τὰ ἐν τῷ σκότει καὶ τὰ ἐν τῷ φωτί καὶ παρ’ αὐτῷ κατάλυσις 23 σοί κύριε τῶν πατέρων μου ἐξομολογοῦμαι καὶ αἰνῶ ὅτι σοφίαν καὶ φρόνησιν ἔδωκάς μοι καὶ νῦν ἐσήμανάς μοι ὅσα ἠξίωσα τοῦ δηλῶσαι τῷ βασιλεῖ πρὸς ταῦτα 24 εἰσελθὼν δὲ Δανιηλ πρὸς τὸν Αριωχ τὸν κατασταθέντα ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀποκτεῖναι πάντας τοὺς σοφιστὰς τῆς Βαβυλωνίας εἶπεν αὐτῷ τοὺς μὲν σοφιστὰς τῆς Βαβυλωνίας μὴ ἀπολέσῃς εἰσάγαγε δέ με πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ ἕκαστα τῷ βασιλεῖ δηλώσω 25 τότε Αριωχ κατὰ σπουδὴν εἰσήγαγεν τὸν Δανιηλ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὅτι εὕρηκα ἄνθρωπον σοφὸν ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας τῶν υἱῶν τῆς Ιουδαίας ὃς τῷ βασιλεῖ δηλώσει ἕκαστα 26 ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε τῷ Δανιηλ ἐπικαλουμένῳ δὲ Χαλδαῒστὶ Βαλτασαρ δυνήσῃ δηλῶσαί μοι τὸ ὅραμα ὃ εἶδον καὶ τὴν τούτου σύγκρισιν 27 ἐκφωνήσας δὲ ὁ Δανιηλ ἐπὶ τοῦ βασιλέως εἶπεν τὸ μυστήριον ὃ ἑώρακεν ὁ βασιλεύς οὐκ ἔστι σοφῶν καὶ φαρμακῶν καὶ ἐπαοιδῶν καὶ γαζαρηνῶν ἡ δήλωσις 28 ἀλλ’ ἔστι θεὸς ἐν οὐρανῷ ἀνακαλύπτων μυστήρια ὃς ἐδήλωσε τῷ βασιλεῖ Ναβουχοδονοσορ ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν βασιλεῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ζῆθι τὸ ἐνύπνιον καὶ τὸ ὅραμα τῆς κεφαλῆς σου ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης σου τοῦτό ἐστι 29 σύ βασιλεῦ κατακλιθεὶς ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης σου ἑώρακας πάντα ὅσα δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ ὁ ἀνακαλύπτων μυστήρια ἐδήλωσέ σοι ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι 30 κἀμοὶ δὲ οὐ παρὰ τὴν σοφίαν τὴν οὖσαν ἐν ἐμοὶ ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο ἐξεφάνθη ἀλλ’ ἕνεκεν τοῦ δηλωθῆναι τῷ βασιλεῖ ἐσημάνθη μοι ἃ ὑπέλαβες τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ἐν γνώσει 31 καὶ σύ βασιλεῦ ἑώρακας καὶ ἰδοὺ εἰκὼν μία καὶ ἦν ἡ εἰκὼν ἐκείνη μεγάλη σφόδρα καὶ ἡ πρόσοψις αὐτῆς ὑπερφερὴς ἑστήκει ἐναντίον σου καὶ ἡ πρόσοψις τῆς εἰκόνος φοβερά 32 καὶ ἦν ἡ κεφαλὴ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ χρυσίου χρηστοῦ τὸ στῆθος καὶ οἱ βραχίονες ἀργυροῖ ἡ κοιλία καὶ οἱ μηροὶ χαλκοῖ 33 τὰ δὲ σκέλη σιδηρᾶ οἱ πόδες μέρος μέν τι σιδήρου μέρος δέ τι ὀστράκινον 34 ἑώρακας ἕως ὅτου ἐτμήθη λίθος ἐξ ὄρους ἄνευ χειρῶν καὶ ἐπάταξε τὴν εἰκόνα ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας τοὺς σιδηροῦς καὶ ὀστρακίνους καὶ κατήλεσεν αὐτά 35 τότε λεπτὰ ἐγένετο ἅμα ὁ σίδηρος καὶ τὸ ὄστρακον καὶ ὁ χαλκὸς καὶ ὁ ἄργυρος καὶ τὸ χρυσίον καὶ ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ λεπτότερον ἀχύρου ἐν ἅλωνι καὶ ἐρρίπισεν αὐτὰ ὁ ἄνεμος ὥστε μηδὲν καταλειφθῆναι ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ ὁ λίθος ὁ πατάξας τὴν εἰκόνα ἐγένετο ὄρος μέγα καὶ ἐπάταξε πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν 36 τοῦτο τὸ ὅραμα καὶ τὴν κρίσιν δὲ ἐροῦμεν ἐπὶ τοῦ βασιλέως 37 σύ βασιλεῦ βασιλεὺς βασιλέων καὶ σοὶ ὁ κύριος τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν καὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν καὶ τὴν τιμὴν καὶ τὴν δόξαν ἔδωκεν 38 ἐν πάσῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπων καὶ θηρίων ἀγρίων καὶ πετεινῶν οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῶν ἰχθύων τῆς θαλάσσης παρέδωκεν ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖράς σου κυριεύειν πάντων σὺ εἶ ἡ κεφαλὴ ἡ χρυσῆ 39 καὶ μετὰ σὲ ἀναστήσεται βασιλεία ἐλάττων σου καὶ τρίτη βασιλεία ἄλλη χαλκῆ ἣ κυριεύσει πάσης τῆς γῆς 40 καὶ βασιλεία τετάρτη ἰσχυρὰ ὥσπερ ὁ σίδηρος ὁ δαμάζων πάντα καὶ πᾶν δένδρον ἐκκόπτων καὶ σεισθήσεται πᾶσα ἡ γῆ 41 καὶ ὡς ἑώρακας τοὺς πόδας αὐτῆς μέρος μέν τι ὀστράκου κεραμικοῦ μέρος δέ τι σιδήρου βασιλεία ἄλλη διμερὴς ἔσται ἐν αὐτῇ καθάπερ εἶδες τὸν σίδηρον ἀναμεμειγμένον ἅμα τῷ πηλίνῳ ὀστράκῳ 42 καὶ οἱ δάκτυλοι τῶν ποδῶν μέρος μέν τι σιδηροῦν μέρος δέ τι ὀστράκινον μέρος τι τῆς βασιλείας ἔσται ἰσχυρὸν καὶ μέρος τι ἔσται συντετριμμένον 43 καὶ ὡς εἶδες τὸν σίδηρον ἀναμεμειγμένον ἅμα τῷ πηλίνῳ ὀστράκῳ συμμειγεῖς ἔσονται εἰς γένεσιν ἀνθρώπων οὐκ ἔσονται δὲ ὁμονοοῦντες οὔτε εὐνοοῦντες ἀλλήλοις ὥσπερ οὐδὲ ὁ σίδηρος δύναται συγκραθῆναι τῷ ὀστράκῳ 44 καὶ ἐν τοῖς χρόνοις τῶν βασιλέων τούτων στήσει ὁ θεὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ βασιλείαν ἄλλην ἥτις ἔσται εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας καὶ οὐ φθαρήσεται καὶ αὕτη ἡ βασιλεία ἄλλο ἔθνος οὐ μὴ ἐάσῃ πατάξει δὲ καὶ ἀφανίσει τὰς βασιλείας ταύτας καὶ αὐτὴ στήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα 45 καθάπερ ἑώρακας ἐξ ὄρους τμηθῆναι λίθον ἄνευ χειρῶν καὶ συνηλόησε τὸ ὄστρακον τὸν σίδηρον καὶ τὸν χαλκὸν καὶ τὸν ἄργυρον καὶ τὸν χρυσόν ὁ θεὸς ὁ μέγας ἐσήμανε τῷ βασιλεῖ τὰ ἐσόμενα ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ ἀκριβὲς τὸ ὅραμα καὶ πιστὴ ἡ τούτου κρίσις 46 τότε Ναβουχοδονοσορ ὁ βασιλεὺς πεσὼν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον χαμαὶ προσεκύνησε τῷ Δανιηλ καὶ ἐπέταξε θυσίας καὶ σπονδὰς ποιῆσαι αὐτῷ 47 καὶ ἐκφωνήσας ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς τὸν Δανιηλ εἶπεν ἐπ’ ἀληθείας ἐστὶν ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν θεὸς τῶν θεῶν καὶ κύριος τῶν βασιλέων ὁ ἐκφαίνων μυστήρια κρυπτὰ μόνος ὅτι ἐδυνάσθης δηλῶσαι τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο 48 τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς Ναβουχοδονοσορ Δανιηλ μεγαλύνας καὶ δοὺς δωρεὰς μεγάλας καὶ πολλὰς κατέστησεν ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων τῆς Βαβυλωνίας καὶ ἀπέδειξεν αὐτὸν ἄρχοντα καὶ ἡγούμενον πάντων τῶν σοφιστῶν Βαβυλωνίας 49 καὶ Δανιηλ ἠξίωσε τὸν βασιλέα ἵνα κατασταθῶσιν ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων τῆς Βαβυλωνίας Σεδραχ Μισαχ Αβδεναγω καὶ Δανιηλ ἦν ἐν τῇ βασιλικῇ αὐλῇ

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Sermon notes

God reveals deep and hidden things Introduction Nightmares. Lots of fear; a fearful dream and Neb is fearful. He makes his men fearful. ch2 begins with 'and'. It is intrinsically linked to chapter 1, not least of all the interpretation of dreams. Backdrop: big preoccupation with dreams in Babylon, from what we know. cf v7: Illustration of cryptographic key; Neb has a dream but wants double de-cryption. They must tell the dream as well as decrypt it. Crowd of words for 'make known', 'reveal', 'show' etc. Hence v28 gives key theme: there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries Significance of Aramaic - all the world and its nations. Hebrew - specific to God's covenant people. 1. Nebuchadnezzar was terrified because he can't understand his dream, v1-13 Did he forget his dream, and wake up so terrified he needed to be reminded of what it was, and its interpretation? Why was he so terrified? Was it since he'd seen a glimpse of the loss of everything he had worked for? Maybe he had spotted their phoney-ness, and thus insists they prove their trade by telling the dream itself (he hadn't forgotten it). 'chaldean' here refers to a Babylonian priest-scholar. Neb calls on the whole intellectual community. v9 'you have agreed to speak corrupt words before me...until that time'. Is he getting super paranoid that they are playing him, until the date of his removal? In any case, his rationale is there in v9b; he wants them to provide the dream, so that he can really be sure of the interpretation. Cryptographic key. The paranoia fits with v12 - so quickly ordering them all to be killed. v10-11 a confession of the failure of paganism. A religious cul-de-sac. It can give no sure word from outside! [unfounded optimism cf internet, artificial intelligence, blockchain, etc]. Chance, uncertainty, unpredictability. Therefore, darkened. 'How to live in a world we can't understand' is as good as it gets. 2. God made the dream and its meaning known to Daniel, v14-30 Arioch, possibly 'chief of the executioners' v16 Daniel acts in faith; he doesn't yet know the interpretation. v17-18 prayer meeting, and v19 answered prayer, and v20ff praise. Ordinary and extraordinary means. v20-23 is the theological centre of the chapter - not Neb's echo of it in v47. v28 the 'confession' before the ruler It doesn't mean he reveals everything, or everything we want, or everything to the same degree. Clarify the doctrine of perspicuity/clarity of Scripture. 3. God tells his plan: he will establish an everlasting Kingdom, v31-49 Babylonians; Persians/Medes; Greeks; Romans v39 is emphatic in Ar. 'after you'. cf The might of 20th century regimes, all now unravelled. Lenin, Stalin, Mao. v43 mix with one another by the seed of men v35 the stone filled the whole earth - cf matthew 13 mustard seed. But, correct false postmillennial conclusions. And in the days of the Romans God will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. It shall bring the other kingdoms to an end? Neb - responds to the ability to reveal but doesn't seem to ask the right questions. What will happen in the future? Who is your God, Daniel? How can I get right with him? We shouldn't take snippets about kings like Neb or Constantine as normative. You need to respond to what you have heard. Note downward trend of the kingdoms - made of less precious materials, and are harder. Plus, second is called 'inferior'. So you can't conclude that God is working an upward trajectory through the kingdoms of this earth until suddenly we all realise we're in the kingdom of God. Optimism is false. Unless its optimism in the indestructible Kingdom of God. Matthew 13. Wheat and tares; or, end of the age and angels casting out. Realism regards the world, optimism regards the kingdom. NB ways of getting this wrong. Post mil is optimistic about the world, and actually pessimistic or dismissive of the church. Key question: what is your ultimate hope? The new creation, or some 'christianised' version of this current age. Point is that the Kingdom of God wins, not that it christianises all the others. In any case, texts like 'all kings will come and bow down before you' actually require a future resurrection age - since most kings died not having done just that. Final proof [like plotting points on a graph to see the actual trajectory] is the book of Acts. There there is certainty that the Kingdom has been established, and is being proclaimed, and that we are in the golden age now in a real if incomplete way. Acts 4 applies Psalm 2 etc. And the OT prophetic hopes of the golden age are applied as current. So the point is the unstoppable kingdom in the midst of the opposition, not still awaiting some golden age. Acts 15 quoting Amos 9. Kingdom of God is...Indestructible, final, overwhelming, supernatural...and paradoxical. No human hands etc. Jesus is that stone; born of the virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit. Filled the earth - it didn't become the earth. Same point with the mustard tree filling the heavens. Or yeast, etc. This is the actual case with the church today; more filling still to do. Gospel centre Glory of God: v20-23 he knows everything and reveal mysteries FCF: Our megalomaniac flesh that is utterly terrified at loss of control; grasping at fleeting things. In blatant ways or Christian ways. Suffering reveals it. Person of Jesus: he is the mystery of God, he makes known the deep things of God [cf parables] Work of Jesus: Ecce homo. Here is the King and his kingdom, cut by no human hands. Enthroned on the cursed kingdom tree. His fame filling the earth. In him: an agent of his unstoppable kingdom. Cathedral building. Local and global. Conclusion This passage speaks to our fears. Look at worldly powers and say, with Jesus in John 19.11 'you would have no authority over me unless it had been given you from above.' Note how chapter ends. Daniel and his friends didn't withdraw from earthly kingdoms, while they awaited the establishment of God's kingdom; rather they poured themselves into working for the welfare of their local place, their exile home. Through Daniel (Abraham's seed), God brings blessing to all the people.

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