Chapter 40—Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
This chapter is based on
Daniel 2
.
Soon after Daniel and his companions entered the service of the
king of Babylon, events occurred that revealed to an idolatrous nation
the power and faithfulness of the God of Israel. Nebuchadnezzar had
a remarkable dream, by which “his spirit was troubled, and his sleep
brake from him.” But although the king’s mind was deeply impressed,
he found it impossible, when he awoke, to recall the particulars.
In his perplexity, Nebuchadnezzar assembled his wise men—“the
magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers”—and besought their
help. “I have dreamed a dream,” he said, “and my spirit was troubled
to know the dream.” With this statement of his perplexity he requested
them to reveal to him that which would bring relief to his mind.
To this the wise men responded, “O king, live forever: tell thy
servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”
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Dissatisfied with their evasive answer, and suspicious because,
despite their pretentious claims to reveal the secrets of men, they
nevertheless seemed unwilling to grant him help, the king commanded
his wise men, with promises of wealth and honor on the one hand, and
threats of death on the other, to tell him not only the interpretation of
the dream, but the dream itself. “The thing is gone from me,” he said;
“if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation
thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a
dunghill. But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye
shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor.”
Still the wise men returned the answer, “Let the king tell his ser-
vants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.”
Nebuchadnezzar, now thoroughly aroused and angered by the ap-
parent perfidy of those in whom he had trusted, declared: “I know
of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is
gone from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the dream,
there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt
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