Verse 1: “King Nebuchadnezzar: To all the peoples, nations and languages who dwell in all the earth. Your peace be multiplied.” 

Peoples, nations, and languages: Nebuchadnezzar is sharing the revelation that he received (in chapter 3) with all of those in the earth who were under his authority. These words are very reminiscent of the description of the congregation of the L-rd – i.e. the church (Revelation 7:9- 10). 

The principles that we see in this book are relevant for believers (the church) -especially for those who live in the last days. Peace be multiplied: When we walk in obedience to truth (the truth that the God of Israel is the one true God and that He has a son, Messiah Yeshua, who is a deliverer from persecution, distress, hardship etc) we will have peace in abundance. Peace is the outcome of the will of God. 

Verse 2: “It was good in my eyes to tell of the signs and the wonders which the Most High God has done with me.” 

Most High God: This is a way of saying that the God of Israel is the supreme authority. He is the One who is over all things. He is our Authority, and as such everything in our lives needs to be subjected to Him. 

Verse 3: “How great are His signs, and how awesome are His wonders! His Kingdom is forever, and His Government is from generation to generation.” 

Awesome: Strong or powerful. His Kingdom is forever: There is an eternal quality to the Kingdom of God. God revealed this to Nebuchadnezzar in a very personal way. 

Note: A key, foundational for understanding this chapter, is this: When God reveals something to us will we continue to walk in the truth of that information, or are we going to fall back into our former way of life? 

Verse 4: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and was being refreshed in my sanctuary. 

Refreshed: This word is an important one and can, oftentimes, have spiritual overtones. 26 Sanctuary: (ִֽ לְ יכֵ ה (Most English Bibles translate this word as ‘palace’. However, because Nebuchadnezzar’s palace has already been alluded to (at rest in my house) and a word with spiritual overtones (refreshed) is used before this word it would be more accurately translated “sanctuary” or “temple”. In spite of the fact that God had revealed to Nebuchadnezzar who He was, Nebuchadnezzar was back in his pagan sanctuary. 

Verse 5: “I saw a dream, and I was frightened, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.” 

Thoughts…troubled: He could not stop thinking of what he had dreamt. He thought of this dream over and over again. This dream caught his attention in a very significant way. 

Verse 6: “Then I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, in order that they should declare to me the interpretation of the dream.” 

The wise men: This verse should alert us to the fact that Nebuchadnezzar has fallen back into his old ways. He knows Daniel. If he had continued to walk rightly with God, he would have immediately called in Daniel, who had always been a blessing to him. Instead, once again, he is consulting with his (so called) “wise men”. 

Verse 7: “Then came in the wise men, the wizards, the Chaldeans and the magicians, and I told to them the dream; but they were not able to inform me of its interpretation.” 

They were not able: One of the messages of this passage of Scripture is how insufficient, inadequate, and deceptive these individuals are. This is also an example of progressive revelation for us, the reader. 

In Daniel 2:4 these men had told the king that they would be able to give him the interpretation of his dream if he told them what the dream was. Here Nebuchadnezzar remembers the dream and has told it to them, but they (despite what they had inaccurately said earlier) were still unable to interpret his dream. The Scripture is revealing to us that these are men of deception. 

Verse 8: “At last Daniel entered in unto me, whose name was Belteshazzar -according to my god, a man who has the Spirit of the Holy God in him. And I told to him my dream.” 

According to my god: Nebuchadnezzar had changed Daniel’s name (which means “God is my judge”) to the name of his pagan god – Belteshazzar (which means “Bel protects his life”). Nebuchadnezzar was under the false impression that Bel (the name of his false god) had provided Daniel for Nebuchadnezzar’s well-being. 

Spirit: The Holy Spirit God: (ין ִ֥ הָ לֱ א (This word is written in the plural. There are many times, however, that plural words, written in Hebrew and in Aramaic, have a singular understanding. This is the case here. 27 

Verse 9: “Belteshazzar, leader of the sages, I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you. All things that are hidden are not difficult for you. This is the vision of the dream that I saw, say to me its interpretation.” 

Leader: Daniel was the master or chief over the wise men. Hidden: Secret 

Verse 10: “Upon my bed I saw visions of my head. And behold, a tree in the midst of the earth which was great in its height.” 

Earth: This word reveals to us that this message has global implications attached to it. 

Verse 11: “This tree grew, and it became strong; its height reached into the heavens, and it appeared to the ends of the earth.” 

Reached into the heavens: This is talking about a kingdom/an empire that has spiritual implications. Appeared to the ends of the earth: The rule or administration of this empire covered the entire world. 

Verse 12: “The leaves were lovely, and its fruit was abundant. It came about that it was food for all; in its shade the beasts of the field took refuge, and in its branches dwelt the birds of the heaven. 

All flesh found from it nourishment.” Food: Nourishment. Materialistically successful (powerful and expansive), this empire will be a provider for all flesh. 

Verse 13: “I was looking at the visions of my head, while upon my bed, and behold there was a watcher, a holy one, and he came down from the heavens.” 

Watcher: Another name for an angel. An angel does not necessarily mean a created being. The word ‘angel’ in Hebrew (ךָ ִ֥ ְאְ לַּ מ (means simply: “one sent”. Messiah, who was not created and who is eternal – there was never time that He did not exist – has also been called a Messenger or a Sent One. 

Holy: This word ‘holy’ has to do with purpose. He came down: He saw something, and he responded to it, by bringing judgment upon this empire. 

Verse 14: “And he cried out with a loud voice, and thus he said: ‘Cut down the tree, trim the branches, shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. The beasts fled from below it, and also the birds from its branches.” 

Cut down: There is going to be a judgment. 28 

Verse 15: “But the stump and its roots remained in the earth. It was fastened with iron and with bronze in the grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens it will be watered. With the beasts will be its portion, and with the grass that is upon the earth.” 

Stump and … roots remained: Although this empire was cut down a remnant of it was left intact. Not only were they left intact, but they were also preserved. This is important. It foreshadows a restoration – a resurrection of this empire (so to speak). Note: This tree is going to be treated like an animal, rather than as an individual. 

Verse 16: “And the heart of this man changed, and in its place it was given the heart of a beast. Seven epochs of time (will) pass over it.” This man: Speaking about the ruler of this empire. 

Seven epochs of time: Probably seven years (Seven years, as we are going to see, are very important in terms of end time years) 

Verse 17: “By a decree of the watchmen this thing was brought about, this word through the holy ones was established – on account that all life should know that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men. To whom He delights He gives it. The ones that are humble among men He establishes over it.” 

The Most High God rules: God is Sovereign, and He is in control. Kingdom of men: Humanity. To whom He delights He gives it: He gives it (the kingdom) to whomever He wants to give it to. The ones that are humble … 

He establishes: There is a Biblical relationship between humility and trust. Those who are humble trust God. Those who are full of pride reject God’s Authority, and will not rely upon the revelation of Scripture.