Looking for Daniel

[JLG]

19) Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2:24

- Daniel goes to Arioch who is in charge of killing the wise men of Babylon!

- And he tells him not to kill the wise men!

- And he tells him to take him in before the king!

- And he will tell him the interpretation!

- Daniel knows he must act fast!

- It is a question of life or death!

- But he first took the time to thank God!

- It is the most important thing to do for him!

- Then he goes directly to Arioch!

- Thus he shows he cares about all human lives!

- He doesn’t want anyone to be killed!

 

[JLG]

20) Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2:25-28

- Daniel first starts by saying that nobody was able to answer the king!

- Then he tells him there is only one who can do it!

- And it is God!

- As we can see, as usual, Daniel explains carefully and with details that it is God who can do it!

- He always highlights God!

- He never speaks about himself!

 

[JLG]

21) Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2

- Once again, Daniel highlights God the Revealer of secrets!

- Then he is clear about himself!

- He has no greater wisdom than anyone living!

- Once again, Daniel shows his humility!

- It must have been very different from the other wise men of Babylon!

 

[JLG]

22) Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2

- So Daniel tells about the king’s dream and then its interpretation!

- Before telling the interpretation to the king, Daniel tells him that God gave him all what he has!

- And he enumerates all the things he has!

- We can say it is also a warning to the king!

- Because if God gave him all what he has, he can also take it!

- And he will take him everything!

- The king, because of his power, thinks nobody can take him what he has!

- The Israelites did the same!

- They did not listen to God!

- And he took everything he had given him!

- Are we going to do the same?

- Or will we listen to him?

 

[JLG]

23) Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2

- Then King Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel: “Truly your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a Revealer of secrets, because you were able to reveal this secret.”

- Thus the king pays homage to Daniel!

- He acknowledges the power of God!

- But he won’t listen to his warning!

- He won’t change of attitude!

- And in due time he will pay the price for his pride!

 

[JLG]

24) Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2

The king then elevates Daniel and gives him many fine gifts, and he makes him the ruler over all the province of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. And at Daniel’s request, the king appoints Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon, but Daniel serves in the king’s court.

- Daniel is blessed as he serves God faithfully!

- And he is, not selfish because he asks the king for a position for his three companions!

- For him details are important!

- And he doesn’t neglect anything or anyone!

- Imagine a foreigner becoming one of the most important characters in Babylon!

- Of course, we Remember Joseph in Egypt!

- It is a similar case!

​

 

[JLG]

25) Looking for Daniel

Daniel 3

Nebuchadnedzzar makes a statute and he wants everybody to worship it. If they don’t do it, they will be thrown into the burning fierce furnace. But Daniel’s three companions refuse to do it. So the king, in a furious rage, gives them a second chance. But they tell him that if their God wants to save them, he can do it. But if he doesn’t do it, they only worship God and no one else. Then the king becomes so furious that he gives orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual. And Daniel’s three companions are thrown into the burning fiery furnace. The furnace is so hot that the men who throw Daniel’s three companions into the furnace are killed. Then the king becomes afraid because he sees four men in the furnace, they are unharmed and the fourth one looks like a son of the gods. So he tells Daniel’s three companions to go out. They are unhurt. Then he praises their God. Then he promotes them in the province of Babylon.

- Like Daniel, his three companions are faithful men to God and thus excellent examples for us!

- We don’t know anything about Daniel!

- That’s strange because he is one of the most important men of Babylon!

- Nebuchadnezzar is brutal!

- But he can easily change of attitude when something happens!

- Here, Daniel’s three companions are saved by God!

- And he gives them a higher position!

- So they are also blessed because of their faithfulness!

- He doesn’t accept anyone’s disobedience but when somebody does it and survives, he can only recognize it!

- Thus he is pragmatic!

 

[JLG]

26) Looking for Daniel

Daniel 4

Nebuchadnezzar has another vision but nobody can give the interpretation. But Daniel is alarmed for a moment and his thoughts begin to frighten him. The vision is about the king who has become powerful. But because of his pride he will become like a beast eating grass. And after a time he will recover his mind and his power. So Daniel tells the king to change of attitude and turn away from sin. But he doesn’t change anything so twelve months later he becomes mad and starts to behave like an animal eating grass.

- Nebuchadnezzar is warned by God through visions but he doesn’t care so he pays the price!

- It was the same with the Israelites!​

- It is the same with humanity!

- And humanity doesn’t care!

- Thus people will have to pay the price when God strikes humanity!

- It will be a shock!

- But the majority never understands!

- It’s always the same!

- So why lamenting!

- When someone doesn’t listen and pays the price even with death, that’s life!

- There is no need to be sad!

- People are adults and thus they make a choice!

- And the way we live shows what we choose!

- Then we can’t say I didn’t know!

 

[JLG]

Actually the king had dream, which is different from a vision .
Daniel 4

4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

 

[JLG]

- My answer:

What is the difference between dream and vision biblically?



A vision occurs when a person is awake and alert; a dream occurs when a person is asleep. Peter was awake for his vision of the unclean food (Acts 10:9-23). John was awake for his vision recorded in Revelation (Revelation 1:9-11).13 nov 2020

Are Dreams and Visions Messages from God? // Africa Study ...​

https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org › article › are-drea...


Can a dream be a vision?



The main difference between dreams and visions is that the person seeing vision is completely aware about their thoughts, but the dreams can be predictive and the person is not awake.

Difference between Vision and Dream | Vision vs Dream​

http://www.differencebetween.info › difference-betwee...

 

[JLG]

- Let’s analyze the context to understand the situation:



- Let’s have a look at Daniel 1:17: (biblehub Daniel 1:17)



And Daniel
וְדָנִיֵּ֣אל (wə·ḏā·nî·yêl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1840: Daniel -- 'God is my judge', the name of several Israelites

had insight
הֵבִ֔ין (hê·ḇîn)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

into all kinds
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

of visions
חָז֖וֹן (ḥā·zō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2377: A sight, a dream, revelation, oracle

and dreams.
וַחֲלֹמֽוֹת׃ (wa·ḥă·lō·mō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2472: A dream

- So if you look at Strong’s 2377, the translation is of visions corresponding to “a sight, a dream, revelation, oracle”! Here we can see the frontier is not easy to define!

- Then Strong’s 2472 the translation is and dreams corresponding to “a dream”!

​

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:1:



Nebuchadnezzar
נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר (nə·ḇu·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5019: Nebuchadnezzar -- 'Nebo, protect the boundary', a Babylonian king

had dreams
חָלַ֥ם (ḥā·lam)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2492: To bind firmly, to be, plump, to dream



- The translation is had dreams which corresponds to different possibilities “ to bind firmly, to be plump, to dream”!

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:3, dream corresponds to dream:



“I have had a dream,
חֲל֣וֹם (ḥă·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2472: A dream

and my spirit
רוּחִ֔י (rū·ḥî)
Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

is anxious
וַתִּפָּ֣עֶם (wat·tip·pā·‘em)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6470: To tap, beat regularly, to impel, agitate

to understand
לָדַ֖עַת (lā·ḏa·‘aṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3045: To know

it.”
הַחֲלֽוֹם׃ (ha·ḥă·lō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2472: A dream

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:4, dream corresponds to dream:



Tell
אֱמַ֥ר (’ĕ·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 560: To say, tell, command

your servants
לְעַבְדָ֖ךְ (lə·‘aḇ·ḏāḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5649: Slave, servant

the dream,
חֶלְמָ֛א (ḥel·mā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 2493: A dream

and we will give
נְחַוֵּֽא׃ (nə·ḥaw·wê)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 2324: To show

the interpretation.”
וּפִשְׁרָ֥א (ū·p̄iš·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 6591: An interpretation

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:5,6,7,9: dream corresponds to dream!



- In Daniel 2:19: vision corresponds to vision, appearance



During
אֱדַ֗יִן (’ĕ·ḏa·yin)
Adverb
Strong's 116: Then, thereupon

the night, (the night is supposed to be the right time for the dreams, so is it really a dream or a vision?)
לֵילְיָ֖א (lê·lə·yā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 3916: Night

the mystery
רָזָ֣ה (rā·zāh)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 7328: To attenuate, hide, a mystery

was revealed
גֲלִ֑י (ḡă·lî)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1541: To denude, to exile, to reveal

to Daniel
לְדָנִיֵּ֛אל (lə·ḏā·nî·yêl)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1841: Daniel -- 'God is my judge', an Israelite leader in Babylon

in a vision,
בְּחֶזְוָ֥א (bə·ḥez·wā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 2376: Vision, appearance

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:26, dream corresponds to dream



what
דִֽי־ (ḏî-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

I saw
חֲזֵ֖ית (ḥă·zêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2370: To gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual (saw / gaze upon / mentally to dream: here it seems there is no more frontier between dream and vision)

in the dream,
חֶלְמָ֥א (ḥel·mā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 2493: A dream

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:28, dream corresponds to dream and visions to vision, appearance



Your dream
חֶלְמָ֨ךְ (ḥel·māḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2493: A dream

and the visions
וְחֶזְוֵ֥י (wə·ḥez·wê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2376: Vision, appearance

that came into your mind (here again the frontier between both words seem to disappear)
רֵאשָׁ֛ךְ (rê·šāḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7217: The head, the sum

as you lay on
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

your bed (as you lay on your bed, during the night: is it really a dream or a vision?)
מִשְׁכְּבָ֖ךְ (miš·kə·ḇāḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4903: Couch, bed

were these:
דְּנָ֥ה (də·nāh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 1836: This

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:29, your thoughts corresponds to grasp, mental conception



As you
תתן־ (’ant)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 607: You

lay on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

your bed, (once again as you lay on your bed, are they thoughts, dreams or visions?)
מִשְׁכְּבָ֣ךְ (miš·kə·ḇāḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4903: Couch, bed

O king,
מַלְכָּ֗א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

your thoughts
רַעְיוֹנָךְ֙ (ra‘·yō·w·nāḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7476: A grasp, mental conception

turned
סְלִ֔קוּ (sə·li·qū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5559: To ascend

to
מָ֛ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4101: Interrogative what?, what!, indefinitely what

the future,
אַחֲרֵ֣י (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 311: After



____________________________________________________________________



- In Daniel 2:30, the thoughts of your mind corresponds to a grasp, mental conception and heart



but
לָהֵ֗ן (lā·hên)
Conjunction
Strong's 3861: Therefore, except

in order that
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

the interpretation
פִשְׁרָא֙ (p̄iš·rā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 6591: An interpretation

might be made known
יְהוֹדְע֔וּן (yə·hō·wḏ·‘ūn)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3046: To know

to the king,
לְמַלְכָּ֣א (lə·mal·kā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

and that you may understand
תִּנְדַּֽע׃ (tin·da‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3046: To know

the thoughts (once again thoughts, dreams, visions?)
וְרַעְיוֹנֵ֥י (wə·ra‘·yō·w·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7476: A grasp, mental conception

of your mind.
לִבְבָ֖ךְ (liḇ·ḇāḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3825: The heart

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:31, were watching corresponds to gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual (but you don’t really watch anything in a dream but you do it in a vision)

As you,
תתן־ (’ant)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 607: You

O king,
מַלְכָּ֗א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

were watching,
חָזֵ֤ה (ḥā·zêh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2370: To gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual

a
חַד֙ (ḥaḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 2298: As card, one, single, first, at once

great
שַׂגִּ֔יא (śag·gî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7690: Great, much

statue
צְלֵ֥ם (ṣə·lêm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6755: An idolatrous figure

appeared.
וַאֲל֨וּ (wa·’ă·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 431: Lo!

 

[JLG]

- In Daniel 2:34, watching corresponds to gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual (but you don’t really watch anything in a dream but you do it in a vision)



- In Daniel 2:36, dream corresponds to dream



This
דְּנָ֣ה (də·nāh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 1836: This

was the dream;
חֶלְמָ֔א (ḥel·mā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 2493: A dream



- In Daniel 2:45, dream corresponds to dream

The dream
חֶלְמָ֖א (ḥel·mā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 2493: A dream