THE BOOK OF DANIEL
chapter two
According to the Septuagint OLD GREEK manuscripts, kept hidden from English eyes for thousands of years until 2012!
This is a presentation of the book of Daniel with commentary to help establish the timing of the book, and historical context. I also look at the themes and usage of different words used in context. The translation is from Logos Bible Software where it is called the Lexham English Septuagint (LES - copied with permission from Logos Bible Software).
Brannan, R., Penner, K. M., Loken, I., Aubrey, M., & Hoogendyk, I., eds. (2012). The Lexham English Septuagint (Da 2:35). Lexham Press.
scripture
2 LES
2:1 Now in the second year of the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar, it happened that the king fell into visions and dreams. And he became troubled by his dream, and his sleep was taken from him.
2:2 And the king commanded to bring in the enchanters and the magicians and the sorcerers of the Chaldeans to declare to the king his dreams. And when they were
present they stood in the presence of the king.
2:3 Then the king said to them, “I have seen a dream and my spirit is stirred up. Therefore, I want to find out the dream.” 2:4 And the Chaldeans responded to the king in Aramaic, “Lord king, live forever! Reveal your dream to your servants, and we will indeed explain to you its interpretation.”
2:5 And responding, the king said to the Chaldeans, “The word has since turned away from me. If you do not reveal the dream accurately to me, and the interpretation of this dream you do not make clear to me, then you will be shamed and your possessions will be confiscated for the king’s treasury.
2:6 But if you make clear to me the dream and the interpretation of this dream you clearly reveal, then you will receive gifts of all sorts and you will be honored by me. So make clear to me the dream and render a discerning judgment.”
2:7 But they replied a second time, saying, “O King, tell us the thing you saw, and your servants will render a discerning judgment concerning these things.”
2:8 Then the king said to them, “In truth I perceive that you indeed are stalling for time, inasmuch as you perceive that the matter has gone forth from me. Just as, in fact, I have declared, just so it will be.
2:9 If you do not reveal the dream accurately to me and the interpretation of this dream you do not make clear, you will incur death. You have together conspired to speak deceitful words to me until the situation is altered. Now therefore, if you declare to me the matter concerning that which I have seen during the night, then I will know that indeed you should make known the interpretation of this dream.”
2:10 Then the Chaldeans replied on the matter of the king, “No one from among human beings upon the earth will be able to relate to the king that which he has seen. Just as you, on your part, are asking; indeed, no king or ruler has inquired of any wise man or magician or Chaldean concerning such a matter as this.
2:11 Indeed, the thing which you are seeking, O King, is deep and heavy and astonishing. And there is no one who will demonstrate these things to the king except some angel of whom a dwelling place is not with any of humankind, for which reason it is not possible for this to happen as you think.”
2:12 Then the king, becoming gloomy and deeply depressed, commanded them to escort out all the wise men of Babylon.
2:13 And it was decreed to kill all the wise men, and Daniel and all those with him were sought out for the purpose of destroying them.
2:14 Then Daniel responded with counsel and advice, which he held to Arioches, to the chief of the king’s royal guard, whom he had commanded to go out to destroy the sophists of Babylon.
2:15 And he inquired of him, saying, “Ruler of the king, why is there such a harsh decree going forth from the king?” Then Arioches made known the command to Daniel.
2:16 But Daniel went in quickly to the king and respectfully entreated of him that some time be given to him from the king, and he would make everything clear before the king.
2:17 Then Daniel, after departing to his house, he informed Hananiah and Mishael and Azariah, his companions, about everything.
2:18 And he declared a fast and supplication, and that help be sought after from the Lord Most High concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and those with him would not be given over to destruction together with the wise men of Babylon.
2:19 At that time the mystery of the king was revealed clearly to Daniel in a vision in the same night. Then Daniel blessed the Lord Most High. And crying out, he said,
2:20 “The name of the great Lord will be blessed forever, because wisdom and greatness are his.
2:21 Indeed, he changes appointed times and durations of time, removing kings and establishing, giving to the wise wisdom and understanding to those having knowledge and skill.
2:22 He reveals deep things and obscure things and knows the things in the darkness, and the things in the light and beside him is a resting place.
2:23 And to you, O Lord of my fathers, I acknowledge and praise, because wisdom and prudence and insight you have given to me. And now, at this very time, you have clearly indicated to me whatever things I have entreated of you to make clear to the king concerning these things.”
2:24 So when Daniel had gone to Arioches, the man appointed by the king to kill all the sophists of Babylon, he said to him, “Do not destroy the sophists of Babylon! But lead me to the king, and I will make everything clear to the king.”
2:25 Then Arioches led Daniel with haste to the king and said to him, “I have found a wise man from the captives of the descendants of Judah who will make everything clear to the king!”
2:26 And responding, the king said to Daniel, who is called Belshazzar in Chaldean, “Are you able to show and explain to me the dream that I saw and the interpretation of this?”
2:27 And Daniel, crying out before the king, said, “The mystery that the king has seen, its interpretation is not with the wise and learned and sorcerers and charmers and soothsayers.
2:28 But there exists a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, who has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar things that must take place at the end of days,
2:29 and he who reveals mysteries showed to you things that are necessary to take place.
2:30 But with respect to me, it is not because of any wisdom that resides in me beyond all men that this mystery was made clear, but for the purpose of making it known to the king it was shown to me, the things you took up in your mind, for understanding.
2:31 Indeed you yourself, O king, saw and behold, a single image, and that image was exceedingly great. And its appearance, being surpassing, stood before you, and the appearance of the image was fearful.
2:32 Now the head of it was of fine gold, the breast and the arms of silver, and the belly and thighs were of bronze.
2:33 And the legs were of iron, and the feet, a portion partly of iron and a portion partly of clay.
2:34 You watched until a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it smote the image upon its feet of iron and clay and pulverized them.
2:35 Then the iron and the earthen elements and the brass and the silver and the gold became pulverized pieces all at once, and they became as if they were fine pieces of chaff on a threshing floor. And the wind blew them so that nothing was left of them. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and smote the whole earth.
2:36 This is the dream; and now its interpretation we will relate before the king.
2:37 You, O king, are the king of kings, and to you the Lord of heaven has given the authority and the kingdom and the might and the honor and the glory.
2:38 All the inhabited earth of mankind and of the wild beasts and of the winged creatures of heaven and of the fish of the sea he has put under your authority to exercise dominion over everything. You are the golden head.
2:39 Now after you will arise a kingdom inferior to you, and then a third kingdom, a bronze kingdom that will exercise dominion over all the earth.
2:40 And a fourth kingdom, mighty as iron. Just as the iron overpowered everything, and as the iron destroyed every tree, so all the earth will be shaken.
2:41 And as you watched its feet, a portion partly of earthenware, a portion partly of iron, another kingdom, made of two parts, will be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed up together with the clay of an earthen vessel.
2:42 And as for the toes of the feet, a certain portion was iron and a certain portion was of potter’s clay. And a certain part of the kingdom will be strong and a certain portion will be broken.
2:43 And as you saw the iron mixed up together with the clay of an earthen vessel, they will be comingled into the offspring of mankind, and they will not be comingled in harmony nor will they be favorably inclined toward one another, even just as the iron is not able to be mixed with the clay of an earthen vessel.
2:44 And in the time of those kings, the God of heaven will make another kingdom stand that will last into the ages, and it will not be destroyed. And this kingdom, with respect to another people, will not be permitted, but it will smite and abolish these kingdoms. And this kingdom will stand firm forever.
2:45 Whereas you saw a stone cut out of a mountain without hands, and it crushed to powder the earthen elements, the iron, and the brass, and the silver, and the gold, so the great God has shown to the king the things that will happen during the last days. And accurate is the dream and reliable is the interpretation of this.”
2:46 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king, falling forward to the ground, worshiped Daniel and ordered offerings and libations to be presented to him.
2:47 And the king cried out to Daniel, saying, “Your God is certainly a God of gods and lord of kings, one who alone discloses hidden mysteries, because you were able to clearly make known this mystery.”
2:48 Then King Nebuchadnezzar, when he had extolled Daniel and presented great and many gifts, he established him over the administration of Babylon and appointed him as overseer and head of all the wise men of Babylon.
2:49 And Daniel entreated the king in order that they would set up over the administration of Babylon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And Daniel was in the royal court.
Brannan, R., Penner, K. M., Loken, I., Aubrey, M., & Hoogendyk, I., eds. (2012). The Lexham English Septuagint (Da 2:35). Lexham Press.
commentary
2:1 the second year 602/601 BC. – The first year of Nebachudnezzar was 603/602 BC Even though he didn’t ascend to the throne until late 603 BC, the “Jewish” reckoning the whole year as year 1, but the Babylonians didn’t start counting his reign until the spring of 602 BC. He sieged Jerusalem in 604 BC as “acting king” of Babylon.
2 enchanters – epaidos - soothsayers/priests
Magicians – G3097 magos – astronomy & enchantment
Sorcerers – G5333 Pharmakos – sorcerer pertaining to magical arts
The Greek gives a full picture of all the wisdom of the world through inanimate objects. They will come again in the latter days.
1 Timothy 4:1
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
These doctrines will come with the slight of hand of the magicians, enchanters, & sorcerers. Pray and ask God for wisdom and understanding like He gave Daniel in Daniel 1:17.
4 in Aramaic Start the language in SYRIACK till chapter 8 (the Ram and the He-goat). The manuscript of Daniel upon which this translation is based was a very old Syriac translation (616-7 AD) with Origen’s original notes from 331 AD and translated into English many years later in the 21st century for the first time to English eyes. The Bible text of Daniel itself may have signified this prophecy by its transition from Hebrew to Syriac (chpt. 2) and back to the language of the people (Hebrew at the time) in chpt. 8.
5 be shamed – The shame will come from their obvious lying.
6 conspired – Syneipon in Greek which means to collect; speak with; gather.
Deceitful words – Pseudos in Greek. The magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers were talking amongst each other to simply make something up, and purposely lie to the king with a “false witness”. The standard in Babylon was pretty high as not but a couple years ago the Babylonian king Nabopolassar himself predicted an eclipse omen in 621 BC that he would defeat the Assyrian king and become the most dominant ruler in the kingdom, and every word of that came true. Perhaps, these “magicians and astrologers” were similarly planning on saying that the King of Babylon would be king of the world forever, by use of their enchantments. If this were to happen, the truth of who the next ruling king would never come to light (and all the kingdoms following it).
Altered – heteros in Greek. Which refers to something different happening to hopefully eventually match their false words, they would just say (yep that’s what we predicted!) It is important to note God’s Word will happen exactly as it written, and it will not be altered to fit the narrative of any enchanters, magicians, or sorcerers.
10 Chaldeans replied - The Chaldeans reply was still in the Syriac language. They are saying that no one on Earth can have this type of answer, and the king has really stepped out to ask something only a supernatural being could know. The information this great book of Daniel presents has ramifications for world events leading to the end times. To understand it, one must have direction from God Himself, similar to today, certain keys that unlock doors that no one else can open, like even a language barrier, or thousands of years behind a hidden (foreign) language until it is finally released in the end days in English. I’m speaking of the story of the original manuscript of Daniel being hidden in a Syriac manuscript until the 21st century when it is revealed to those who study the Bible in English.
Among human beings - They hold themselves in the highest regard above all men on Earth. But what’s more is that Daniel is not even in the same category as “magicians, or Chaldeans”. He was given the knowledge in Daniel 1:17 “in every literature” or grammar. Once the vision is released to him, the language, that of metaphor (grammar) helps to secure the vision both as to its interpretation and its truthfulness. In Daniel 9:27 the grammar is essential to understanding the subject of the verse, which is the covenant. It is this same vision that reveals to us what Daniel chapter nine is all about, and the proper INTERPRETATION of the vision.
13 to kill - 615 ἀποκτείνω, ἀποκτέννω [apokteino /ap·ok·ti·no/] v. From 575 and kteino (to slay); GK 650 and 651; 75 occurrences; AV translates as “kill” 55 times, “slay” 14 times, and “put to death” six times. 1 to kill in any way whatever. 1a to destroy, to allow to perish. 2 metaph. to extinguish, abolish. 2a to inflict mortal death. 2b to deprive of spiritual life and procure eternal misery in hell.[1]
This could be definition number 2, the metaphorical definition, which indicates that their interpretation will also be extinguished. We cannot have two interpretations of the statue of Daniel, but only ONE true interpretation that matches prophecy.
14 advice – gnome in Greek (Strongs 1106) means advice or reason, and also a decree! This wasn’t soft opinion, but more like a strong response to the king that he definitely could make everything very clear to the king.
15 harsh decree – This was serious problem to the king. He knew this dream was important, and he knew that he should know what it meant. The king has the authority to issue a decree (and change the destiny of the nation), which essentially ended the career of the false prophets.
16 time – A necessary intervention to hear from God. Giving God your time, means He’ll give you His time, and keys to time, all time!
make everything clear – This is BEFORE God gave Daniel the revelation of the dream! Daniel already knew that God would give him the answer! Even at risk of certain death (verses the other magicians who were free to make stuff up, knowing that they could lie, cheat, and steal without consequence).
18 declared a fast and supplication – They discover the mystery only by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:18–21 (KJV 1900)
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Will some people be asking, “Why could we not know the mystery?” Perhaps fasting from food could also picture fasting from false doctrine (polluted by the magicians & sorcerers). If we dare to be a Daniel, we must also fast from any and all polluted doctrine, and the “pseudos” from all the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers.
Sought – In Greek this word is
2212 ζητέω [zeteo /dzay·teh·o/] v. Of uncertain affinity; TDNT 2:892; TDNTA 300; GK 2426; 119 occurrences; AV translates as “seek” 100 times, “seek for” five times, “go about” four times, “desire” three times, and translated miscellaneously seven times. 1 to seek in order to find. 1a to seek a thing. 1b to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into. 1c to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after. 2 to seek i.e. require, demand. 2a to crave, demand something from someone.[1]
zeteo Strongs 2212 and means to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into. A mystery such as this will require a great deal of seeking in prayer while fasting from all other ideas being promulgated by the magicians and sorcerers and astrologers.
given over to destruction – the wise men of Babylon (not stupid people by any means) were all given over to destruction, which was literal death in Daniel’s day, but also pictures what happens to those who prophesy falsely (and they know it).
21 Appointed times and durations of time – In Greek this is “Kairos” (Strongs 2540) and “Chronos” (Strongs 5550), where Kairos is a specific portion of time and Chronos is time either long or short, as in Chronology or Biblical Chronology. In other words God gave Daniel the entire chronology of Kings from the King of Babylon all the way to the Antichrist (the future king of Babylon in typology).
Removing kings and establishing – Up until Daniel, all the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers had declared that this power to rule was man’s ability, and Daniel came to show them the truth. They would have predicted that Nebuchadnezzar would live and reign forever, but God wanted to show how absolute power would slowly and methodically corrode and decay, eventually to the point where it’s almost impossible for it to be held together, which is the final state of satan’s kingdom before its complete obliteration by God Himself returning to the Earth (pictured as the stone thrown to the Statue, breaking it to pieces).
27 interpretation – It wasn’t with the “wise” or “learned” because they didn’t know God, or the plot of the story if you will. They don’t know WHY God would do such a thing or what the endgame purpose would be. They don’t have the final key to prophecy, referred to as the key of David, and knowing those who say they are Jews but are not and of the synagogue of the evil one (satan).
soothsayers - The word gazar (St. 1505) means to cut, determine. Can’t the prophets determine what the Statue means? It’s only revealed by the God of Heaven to Daniel. What do “soothsayers” of today do to the timeline of the antichrist? They give him MORE TIME than God gave him! Giving him 7 whole years, and cutting it in half with two “roles” of satan. When God NEVER gave satan the whole of 7 years in all of Scripture, but only half of it in a riddle, “time, times, and half a time”, which was shortened even more by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24:21:22.
Jehoiakim also cut the Word of God up into pieces, and was met with a serious fate, i.e. death in Jer. 36:23, & 30. The same applies to the tribulation week, which must be properly divided IN HALF, just as it is written in Daniel 7:25, 12:7, and Revelation 12:14. ALWAYS phrased as HALF of the week, never a full week given to him!
28 God in heaven is a title for God used exclusively in Daniel and Ezra/Nehemiah, and indicates what would be revealed to Daniel, the cycles of the heavens.
End of days – This is why no one could understand or even begin to understand it, because they didn’t understand the end of this age, or that it would come to an end at all. In our day, we can look backward in time to see it’s fulfillment almost to completion with only one duration yet to occur, and that is the toes of the statue, the shortest portion/duration of time in the whole statue. That was because it symbolized the most divided rule over Jerusalem over (divided by 10 rulers, both human and angelic represented by iron and clay).
30 wisdom – The “wise” men of Babylon only knew the things they could see and here, like the cycles of the sun, moon, and stars, and how they applied to kings or rulers in their day and region. They had no concept of the true God Who loves and cares for His people on Earth, and His desire and plan to save them from destruction and death that satan brought to the Earth.
31 before – This word in the Greek is Strongs 1727 enantios meaning opposite (metaphorically as an adversary, or hostile opponent). So naturally as the great “king” of Babylon, he felt it necessary to know what this great enemy was and where it would come from. He probably desired to stop it no doubt. Nebuchadnezzar was probably standing at the bottom of the statue, which would have been the 10 toed kingdom, or satan’s future kingdom.
Fearful – In Greek this word is Strongs 5398 phoberos, meaning “inspiring fear, terrible, formidable.” This makes sense, since all of these ensuing kingdoms would indeed be formidable and unstoppable, to each preceding kingdom. All timed EXACTLY according to prophecy, one by one each getting their assigned DURATION of time in Biblical chronology.
32 head - Nebuchadnezzar, and the start of the prophecy and the last “king” he pictured to rule during the tribulation (2.5 mth period), antichrist or satan himself.
36 This is the dream –
HEAD OF GOLD = BABYLON
SILVER = MEDES AND PERSIANS
BRASS = GREECE AND IT’S FOUR DIVISIONS
IRON = MOHAMMADEAN EMPIRE
IRON/CLAY FEET = THE STATE OF ISRAEL
IRON/CLAY TOES = 10 TOED KINGDOM OF ANTICHRIST (part 10 flesh kings and part 10 supernatural kings REPRESENTED IRON/CLAY)
Most people agree that the Gold, silver, and Brass are kings and their kingdoms being Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece, but abandon ruling empires for the latter half of the statue (Roman papacy), which is a departure from the consistency of the series of empires. Each of these empires will RULE over JERUSALEM, including the 10 toes antichrist kingdom.
The Roman papacy neither has a kingdom, nor did it rule over Jerusalem. So, the Roman papacy has to be ruled out as part of this particular statue and its interpretation.
Now, the interpretation of the statue has not been given by Daniel yet, but only what the image was and the metals that it consisted of.
We also are given a sneak peek at the END of the statue, which means NO MEN WILL rule anymore, but God alone, as the stone that destroys the statue becomes a great mountain. That is the millennial rule where God alone is King of Jerusalem and the entire Earth.
This prophecy is given not only to Daniel, but also to us today, as we verify it by looking backwards in time to who ruled Jerusalem, and who even rules Jerusalem to this very day. A state of Israel that claims to be from the Judah line, but are not and of the Cain line, or kenites.
Revelation 2:9 (KJV 1900)
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
We have come to the end of prophecy, the feet of partly mixed iron and clay. Mind you, that the statue cannot stand up until it even gets the feet, which came EXACTLY on time in Daniel’s prophetic 7 year period (1260+1290=2550 years). From 604 BC to 1948 is exactly 2,550 years (where each day = 1 year).
37 You, O king - This establishes when Daniel’s prophecy begins, the head of Nebuchadnezzar who began the siege against Jerusalem (as governor) 604 BC
38 golden head – This represents the purest form of rule or power. Gold being the most precious metal, silver is less valuable, then brass which is a mixture of metals, and iron having much less value, but still metallic, and then finally the iron and clay which is the smallest kingdom ruling over Jerusalem, just the state of Israel now, having a mixed rule with other Gentiles, and finally antichrist’s kingdom which will be the weakest structurally, having flesh men and angels ruling over the whole Earth and Jerusalem.
39 inferior – Strong’s #1640 Greek elasson meaning younger (in age), in rank, in excellence, worse.
This is the degradation of satan’s kingdom, slowly over time becoming less and less and less until it’s worthless.
40 a fourth kingdom- The 4th kingdom is united by the metal that represents it, but disunited and more inferior as it moves from the legs to the feet. It also represents not just the “iron kingdom” or the lower part of the legs, but after its fall, small segments remain in an even LOWER kingdom (and smaller, and younger than itself), and even later than that there is a final “kingdom” from within it including “all the earth”, the 10 toes. So the fourth kingdom (and the ones after it) cannot be represented any further by metal since they are too weak and small in comparison.
41 another kingdom – as stated above, the legs of iron is not the “last” kingdom, there is at least two more, “made of two parts”, i.e. iron and clay (of the earth, not a metal at all). They’re literally scraping the “bottom of the barrel” here for this split off of the last kingdom.
42 toes – representing the last stage of the “iron” kingdom. It uses dirt to make it up, not even metal! Basically, it is already broken (partly) and strong because of the iron. This is the final world power satan will rule over, known as the antichrist system.
43 – comingled – meaning regular humans will represent the clay at this point, and supernatural beings are represented by iron. The two will not “stick” together, making this kingdom EXTREMELY weak.
44 – another kingdom – this is the kingdom of God and He will establish it forever. This coincides with
Revelation 11:15
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
45 crushed – It crushed the whole statue toes to head. In Aramaic it is Deqaq “be in a state of being broken to pieces”. God planned all along to give him a top heavy system, unstable and impossible to secure, so that when the stone came to smash it, it would STAY BROKEN. He not only crushed the kingdom itself, but the TIME was also fractured into pieces, permanently. That is why satan is given “a time, times, and half a time” or “dividing of time”. It’s all part of the crushing blow he will receive.
Accurate is the dream – the subject is last, which is a figure of speech in English, grabbing our attention. How accurate is it? Perfectly accurate, so much so, that chapter 4 will put a TIMELINE overlayed upon it.
47 mystery – in the Aramaic it is “raz” that is to say information or omens so enigmatic or baffling that only revelation from God can make it understandable. I think this applies to Daniel 9:27 IN THE TRANSLATION, and put in context. That is to say, the 70 weeks of Daniel, or 7 SETS Of those 70 weeks. It is only revealed HERE in this translation, which comes from the ancient manuscripts of Daniel.
v v: verb
TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume
[1] Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
v v: verb
[1] Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.