December
4th Daniel
4
The dream of the tree
1:
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages,
that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2:
I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God
hath wrought toward me. 3:
How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom
is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to
generation. 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. 7:
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the
soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make
known unto me the interpretation thereof. 8:
But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was
Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the
spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, 9:
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the
spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee,
tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the
interpretation thereof. 10:
Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a
tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. 11:
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto
heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 12:
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it
was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and
the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh
was fed of it. 13:
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher
and an holy one came down from heaven; 14:
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his
branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts
get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: 15:
Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a
band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it
be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts
in the grass of the earth: 16:
Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given
unto him; and let seven times pass over him. 17:
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the
word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that
the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to
whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 18:
This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar,
declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of
my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but
thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
The
dream comes true
19:
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour,
and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said,
Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof,
trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be
to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine
enemies. 20:
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height
reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21:
Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was
meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon
whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 22:
It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy
greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the
end of the earth. 23:
And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from
heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the
stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and
brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the
dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field,
till seven times pass over him; 24:
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the
most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25:
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with
the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as
oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times
shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26:
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy
kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known
that the heavens do rule. 27:
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break
off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy
to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 28:
All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29:
At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of
Babylon. 30:
The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have
built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for
the honour of my majesty? 31:
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from
heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The
kingdom is departed from thee. 32:
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with
the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen,
and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most
High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he
will. 33:
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was
driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with
the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers,
and his nails like birds' claws.
Nebuchadnezzar
converted
34:
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto
heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the
most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose
dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from
generation to generation: 35:
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he
doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto
him, What doest thou? 36:
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my
kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my
counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my
kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37:
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven,
all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk
in pride he is able to abase.
Daniel
5 Belshazzar’s feast
1:
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords,
and drank wine before the thousand. 2:
Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden
and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of
the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes,
his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 3:
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the
temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and
his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 4:
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of
brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5:
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over
against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's
palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6:
Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled
him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote
one against another. 7:
The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and
the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of
Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the
interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a
chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the
kingdom. 8:
Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the
writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 9:
Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was
changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 10:
Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came
into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live
for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance
be changed: 11:
There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy
gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and
wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king
Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master
of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 12:
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding,
interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving
of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named
Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the
interpretation. 13:
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and
said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of
the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14:
I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee,
and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in
thee. 15:
And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before
me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the
interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of
the thing: 16:
And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and
dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known
to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet,
and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler
in the kingdom. 17:
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to
thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing
unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18:
O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a
kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 19:
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and
languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and
whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he
would he put down. 20:
But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he
was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21:
And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like
the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him
with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven;
till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and
that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 22:
And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though
thou knewest all this; 23:
But hast lifted up thyself against the LORD of heaven; and they have
brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy
lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and
thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood,
and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose
hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not
glorified: 24:
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was
written. 25:
And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL,
UPHARSIN. 26:
This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy
kingdom, and finished it. 27:
TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28:
PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29:
Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and
put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation
concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30:
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 31:
And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and
two years old.
Daniel
6 Daniel in the den of lions
1:
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty
princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2:
And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the
princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no
damage. 3:
Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes,
because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set
him over the whole realm. 4:
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against
Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor
fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or
fault found in him. 5:
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this
Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6:
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and
said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7:
All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes,
the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to
establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever
shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee,
O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8:
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be
not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which
altereth not. 9:
Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10:
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his
house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he
kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks
before his God, as he did aforetime. 11:
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making
supplication before his God. 12:
Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's
decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask
a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O
king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and
said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and
Persians, which altereth not. 13:
Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of
the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king,
nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three
times a day. 14:
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with
himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured
till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15:
Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know,
O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor
statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 16:
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into
the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God
whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17:
And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the
king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords;
that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 18:
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting:
neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep
went from him. 19:
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto
the den of lions. 20:
And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto
Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of
the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to
deliver thee from the lions? 21:
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22:
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that
they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in
me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 23:
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they
should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of
the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he
believed in his God. 24:
And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused
Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their
children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and
brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of
the den. 25:
Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that
dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26:
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and
fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast
for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his
dominion shall be even unto the end. 27:
He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in
heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the
lions. 28:
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of
Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel records the
letter that Nebuchadnezzar sent to every nation. He said l thought it
was good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has done to
me. Then he recounts the vision he received and all its meaning and
how Daniel had been able to reveal its secrets. This vision was of a
great tree that grew so large that its top reached heaven and all the
birds of the air nested in its branches. Then he told of a watcher –
a holy one who came down from heaven and he said cut off the branches
and cut down the tree but leave its stump. The stump was to be banded
with an iron and brass band. Then the image changes to a man who is
to be driven out by men and is to live as a beast and eat grass. He
is to be given a beasts heart and seven years are to pass him by.
This was to be done so that all men might know that ‘The most High
rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will, and
sets over it the lowest of men’. Daniel was called upon to explain
the dream. Daniel had to wait one hour for the interpretation. Daniel
explains that this dream is about the king himself. Nebuchadnezzar
the king would be cut down and driven out to eat grass like an ox
until seven years had passed. Only after seven years will be
acknowledge that God rules the kingdom of men. It was twelve months
later that the king was walking in his garden and glorying in all he
had done when the execution of the decree of the holy ones is carried
out. he heard a voice from heaven and he was driven out to eat grass
like an ox and his hair was like feathers and his nails like claws.
At the end of 2520 days his reason returned to him and he blessed
God. And so this is the subject of his letter. Next the story moves
on to King Belshazzar who made a feast for 1000 guests and they drank
wine from the golden vessels from the sanctuary in Jerusalem. In the
same hour a hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall. After
searching for a man to translate the message eventually Daniel
explains the message was that God had weighed him and found him
wanting. The kingdom was to be divided and given to the Medes and
Persians. Daniel was decorated and made third in the kingdom but that
night Belshazzar was killed and Darius (who was sixty two) the Mede
took control of the kingdom. Darius the Mede set up a new form of
government. There were one hundred and twenty princes and over them
three and Daniel was over them. Daniel was not liked so the princes
plotted his downfall. They could find no fault in Daniel apart from
his worship of the Lord. So they appealed to the king to make a law
that stated that no man was to ask any petition of God or Man unless
it came through the King. They knew Daniel would never stop praying.
The punishment for not obeying would be to be thrown into the den of
lions. The Medes thought that any law they passed must be fore kept
and never broken so they thought they had Daniel. But they never
reckoned in the God of Daniel. Daniel was arrested and put in the
lions den. In the morning the king came and called for Daniel. Daniel
answered politely that God had sent his angel and shut the lions
mouth. The king commanded that the men who plotted against Daniel
were thrown into the den. They were killed before the touched to
floor. Then Darius wrote to every nation telling them of Gods deeds
and that all men were to worship the Lord of heaven.
- Describe the dream of the Tree and its interpretation.
- What happened at Belshazzars feast?
- What happened to Daniel in the den of lions?
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