Daniel is taken to King Nebuchadnezzar to interpret his dream. Before doing so, Daniel tells the king again and again that it is only because of the one true God that he is able to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
When he learned about the king’s order to destroy all of the wisemen of Babylon, Daniel went to the very man who the king sent to execute the order, Arioch, and asked to be taken into the king’s presence. Daniel also asked Arioch to not destroy the wisemen of Babylon. Daniel could have only protected himself and his three friends. He could have justified that he was having slain those who were forbidden among Israel (Exodus 22:18). In doing so he would elevate himself and his friends. Instead, Daniel chose to intercede on behalf of sinners. This is a picture of the posture Jesus will take about six hundred years later.
Arioch is the same chief who Daniel found favor with in Chapter 1. When Daniel told Arioch that he could interpret the king’s dream, Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king’s presence and told the king, I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king! Arioch’sdescription of Daniel implies that the king did not know Daniel, or it seems likely Arioch would have mentioned his name.
The passage mentions that Daniel had been given a Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, perhaps because that is how he would have been introduced to the king. The king asks whether Daniel isable to make known to him the dream which he has seen and its interpretation. Daniel’s answer is very diplomatic, because in one sense he answers “No” because no mortal can tell dreams about the future. But in another sense, he answers “Yes” because he is a messenger of God who can provide the interpretation to the king.
Daniel proceeds to explain to Nebuchadnezzar what his dream was and what it meant; something that none of the other wisemen in Babylon could do. When Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel if he could interpret his dream, Daniel told him he could, but only because his God, the one true God, made known to him what the dream was and what it meant. Daniel does not take credit for understanding the dream, instead he gives all glory to God.
There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, Daniel tells the king, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. Daniel reiterates several times that the dream has not been revealed to him by any wisdom he has, but rather the revelation comes from the one true God. Daniel gives the king a preview, telling him that his dream concerns what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. The term latter days refers to the distant future.
Biblical Text
24 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wisemen of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: “Do not destroy the wisemen of Babylon! Take me into the king’s presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.” 25 Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king’s presence and spoke to him as follows: “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!” 26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wisemen, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. 29 As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 30 But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.
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