Chronological Bible Study – Sep 14
What I Noticed Today (Daniel 4-6)
Daniel 4
Note: There is a gap in time between Daniel 3 and 4. Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity lasted seven years, occurring shortly before he died (562 B.C.). Scholars estimate the insanity described in Daniel 4 may have occurred around 570 B.C. or approximately 30-years after the fiery furnace episode in Daniel 3.
In verses 1-3, Daniel records a pronouncement made by Nebuchadnezzar and sent to all the people in the empire speaking of the miracles and wonders the Most High God had done for him (in preserving the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).
In verses 4-9, Nebuchadnezzar reveals a second dream that alarmed him. Nebuchadnezzar calls in the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and enchanters. This time, he tells them the dream, but they cannot provide an interpretation. Finally, Daniel arrived, and Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel to interpret the dream because he knew the spirit of the holy gods was in him.
Note: it is interesting that in the proclamation recounted in verses 1-3 Nebuchadnezzar refers to God as the Most High God. But when Daniel arrives in verse 8 he refers to him by his Babylonian name Belteshazzar (which is a reference to his god Bel), then he says the spirit of the holy gods (indicates Nebuchadnezzar was still a polytheist) are in him.
In verses 10-12, Nebuchadnezzar describes a large tree that grew up and was visible over all the earth. It was beautiful and bore fruit. Animals rested in its shade and birds nested in its branches.
In verses 13-18, Nebuchadnezzar continues with the description of his dream. A watcher (messenger), a holy one came from heaven and ordered the tree to be chopped down, its branches stripped, and its fruit scattered. The stump was to be left in the ground with an iron and bronze band around it. Let him be in the grass of the field and receive dew from heaven. Let a beast’s mind be given to him and let a period of seven times pass over him (7 years). This sentence proclaimed by the watchers (messengers) so that the living might know that the Most High God sets up and takes down as He pleases.
In verses 19-27, Daniel interprets the dream saying the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar, and it is his kingdom that will be cut down. Nebuchadnezzar himself will be driven away from men and dwell in the fields with animals for seven years until he recognizes that the Most High God is sovereign. The stump represents the kingdom that will be returned to him once he realizes that God rules from heaven.
Daniel concludes imploring the king to listen to him; break away from sin and practice righteousness and mercy in hopes that his prosperous reign might be lengthened.
In verses 28-33, Nebuchadnezzar ignored Daniel’s appeal. Twelve months later, Nebuchadnezzar was walking on his palace balcony thinking of all he had built for his own glory and majesty. A voice from heaven came to him announcing the judgment depicted in his dream the year before. He was driven away from men and lived in the fields eating grass until his hair grew as long as feathers and his nails like bird’s claws.
Note: There is an actual mental illness called boanthropy in which the individual maintains the ability to reason, but believes themselves to be cattle.
In verses 34-37, at the end of the seven years, Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes to heaven and had his sanity restored. He blessed the Most High God for His dominion over the earth and recognized God’s sovereignty.
His kingdom was restored, and even made larger, but now he praises and honors the King of Heaven. He also recognizes his own sin when he says that God is able to humble those who walk in pride.
Daniel 5
There is another jump in time of about 23-years between Daniel 4 and 5. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C. His son Evil-Merodach ruled for two years (562-560 B.C., 2 Kings 25:27-30). He was murdered by his brother-in-law Neriglissar, who ruled for four years (560-556 B.C., Jeremiah 39:3). When he was murdered, his son Labashi-Marduk ruled for two months (in 556 B.C.). Labashi-Marduk was murdered and succeeded by Nabonidus who reigned 17-years (556-539 B.C.). Belshazzar was Naonidus’ eldest son and was appointed as co-regent (co-ruler) which is why he is referred to as king while his father was still alive.
In verses 1-4, King Belshazzar sponsored a feast for 1,000 of his lords (nobles). He commanded the gold and silver goblets taken from God’s temple be used to serve wine as they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Note: Belshazzar’s name means “Bel has protected the king.” Remember, Bel is another name for Marduk, a Babylonian god.
In verses 5-9, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster wall. The king was greatly alarmed and fell to the floor. He called for the enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers to come and interpret the writing on the wall. He offered them riches and the third-highest position in the kingdom behind his father and himself, but none of them could interpret the writing.
In verses 10-12, the queen remembered Daniel in whom she said was the spirit of the gods. She suggested that Daniel be summoned so he could interpret the writing.
Note: The queen refers to Nebuchadnezzar as your father. Nebuchadnezzar was his grandfather; Naonidus was his father and the reigning king. This reference implies that the queen mentioned is actually Belshazzar’s grandmother.
In verses 13-16, Belshazzar brings Daniel in and asks him to interpret the writing and promises to give him riches and make him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
In verses 17-23, Daniel refuses to accept the king’s promised rewards but agrees to interpret the writing. Before he does, though, he recounts what happened to his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar; how he was stricken and made to dwell with the animals for seven years until he acknowledged the Most High God. Then Daniel accused Belshazzar of being the same even though he knew what happened to his grandfather. He had not humbled himself before God. In fact, he had openly challenged God by drinking out of the temple goblets while praising the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
In verses 24-28, Daniel interpreted the writing (Aramaic), “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.” Mene, God, has numbered your days, and your kingdom is at an end. Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. Pares (the singular form of Parsin), your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
In verses 29-31, Belshazzar rewarded Daniel with riches and made him the third-highest ruler in the kingdom, but that very night Belshazzar was killed and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom.
Note: The city of Babylon anticipated a siege and had a 20-year supply of food. Cyrus the Persian diverted the water of the Euphrates river that ran through the city into a nearby lake. With the water diverted, the Persians were able to enter the city under the city wall and take the city without a fight. This occurred October 12, 539 B.C. fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah 47:1-5.
Daniel 6
In verses 1-3, Darius established an organization of 120 satraps (provincial governors) who reported to one of three presidents. Daniel was made one of the presidents. Daniel became distinguished above all the others because of the spirit within him, and the king planned to put him over the entire kingdom.
In verses 4-9, the other two presidents and the 120 satraps tried to discredit Daniel, but they could find no fault in him. Then they realized the way to trap him was in regard to his faithfulness to God. So they came together to the king suggesting that no one worships any god or man other than the king for thirty days. Darius signed the injunction into law.
Note: According to the laws of the Medes and Persians, a law signed by the king could not be revoked.
In verses 10-13, even though Daniel was aware of the injunction, he continued to pray to God in front of an open window facing Jerusalem three times a day just as he had always done. The men found Daniel praying just as they expected, so they confronted the king with the fact of the injunction he had signed prohibiting this prayer to God.
In verses 13-18, the king was greatly distressed and tried to find a way to save Daniel, but by evening the men came to him insisting that he could not change the order. So the king ordered Daniel to be cast into the lion’s den saying, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you.” The opening to the lion’s den was closed with a stone and sealed with the king’s seal. The king was so upset that he did not eat or sleep all night.
In verses 19-24, at dawn, the king went to the lion’s den, hoping that Daniel’s God had delivered him. Daniel cried out from inside the den, saying God had sent an angel who had closed the mouths of the lions because Daniel was blameless before God and the king.
The king was thrilled that Daniel was still alive and commanded him to be lifted out of the den. Then he commanded that all the men who had conspired against Daniel along with their entire families be cast into the den of lions. The lions killed them all.
Note: 120 satraps plus two presidents plus their wives and children (average two children per family, four total), suggests there were 488 people thrown into the lion’s den). This lion’s den must have been significantly larger than the usual picture we see of Daniel in the lion’s den! While cruel, it was not an uncommon practice among the Medes and Persians to execute an entire family.
In verses 25-28, King Darius issued a proclamation that was sent throughout the kingdom ordering everyone to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; He is living, enduring forever, His dominion will never end, He delivers and rescues, He does signs and wonders, He had saved Daniel from the lions.
Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian.