In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams that left him deeply troubled. His sleep fled, and his spirit remained unsettled. The king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to tell him his dreams. They came and stood before him, but the king's demand was not simply for an interpretation—he required them to first recount the dream itself, which he said had gone from him.
The Chaldeans answered in the Syrian language, asking the king to tell them the dream so they could show its interpretation. But Nebuchadnezzar refused. He declared that if they could not make known both the dream and its meaning, they would be cut in pieces and their houses turned into a dunghill. If they succeeded, they would receive gifts, rewards, and great honor. The wise men pressed him again, but the king accused them of stalling, knowing that the thing had indeed left him.
The Chaldeans then admitted that no man on earth could meet such a demand. No king, lord, or ruler had ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or Chaldean. They said that only the gods could reveal it, and the gods did not dwell with flesh. This answer enraged Nebuchadnezzar. In his fury, he commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
The decree went out, and the executioners began their work. Daniel and his companions—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—were among those marked for death. When Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, came to carry out the slaughter, Daniel responded with counsel and prudence. He asked Arioch why the decree was so urgent, and Arioch explained the situation.
Daniel went directly to the king and requested time, promising that he would show the interpretation. Then he returned to his house and told his companions what had happened. He urged them to seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that they would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
That night, the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. He blessed the God of heaven, saying, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are his. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.” Daniel thanked God for giving him wisdom and might, and for making known the king's matter.
Daniel then went to Arioch and told him not to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He asked to be brought before the king, and he would show the interpretation. Arioch hurried Daniel into the king's presence, announcing that he had found a man from the captives of Judah who could make known the interpretation.
Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, whether he was able to make known the dream and its interpretation. Daniel answered plainly: the secret the king demanded could not be shown by wise men, enchanters, magicians, or soothsayers. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he had made known to Nebuchadnezzar what would happen in the latter days.
Daniel then described the dream. The king had seen a great image, mighty and with excellent brightness, standing before him. Its head was of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of brass, its legs of iron, and its feet part iron and part clay. Then a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, breaking them in pieces. The iron, clay, brass, silver, and gold were all broken together and became like chaff on a summer threshing floor, carried away by the wind. The stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Daniel then gave the interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar was the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven had given the kingdom, power, strength, and glory. He was the head of gold. After him would arise another kingdom, inferior to his; then a third kingdom of brass, which would rule over all the earth; and a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, which would break in pieces and crush all things. The feet and toes of iron mixed with clay signified a divided kingdom, partly strong and partly brittle. In the days of those kings, the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed. It would break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it would stand forever.
When Daniel finished, Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and worshiped Daniel. He commanded that an oblation and sweet odors be offered to him. The king declared, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing you have been able to reveal this secret.” He then promoted Daniel, giving him many great gifts, making him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief governor over all the wise men. At Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained at the king's gate.