The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  42“And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, mso the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly 13fragile.

  43“As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

  44“And in the days of these kings nthe God of heaven will set up a kingdom owhich shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; pit shall 14break in pieces and 15consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

  45q“Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”

  Daniel and His Friends Promoted

  46rThen King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering sand incense to him.

  47The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly tyour God is the God of ugods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”

  48vThen the king promoted Daniel wand gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and xchief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.

  49Also Daniel petitioned the king, yand he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel zsat in 16the gate of the king.

  Daniel 3

  The Image of Gold

  1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was 1sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

  2And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

  3So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

  4Then a herald cried 2aloud: “To you it is commanded, aO peoples, nations, and languages,

  5“that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;

  6“and whoever does not fall down and worship shall bbe cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

  7So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

  Daniel’s Friends Disobey the King

  8Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans ccame forward and accused the Jews.

  9They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, d“O king, live forever!

  10“You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image;

  11“and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

  12e“There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have fnot paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”

  13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in grage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.

  14Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?

  15“Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, hgood! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. iAnd who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

  16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, jwe have no need to answer you in this matter.

  17“If that is the case, our kGod whom we serve is able to ldeliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

  18“But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we mworship the gold image which you have set up.”

  Saved in Fiery Trial

  19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

  20And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

  21Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

  22Therefore, because the king’s command was 3urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

  23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

  24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his 4counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

  25“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, nwalking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like othe5 Son of God.”

  Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

  26Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the 6mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the pMost High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.

  27And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men qon whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

  28Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His rAngel7 and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

  29s“Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the tGod of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be ucut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; vbecause there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

  30Then the king 8promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

  Daniel 4

  Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream

  1Nebuchadnezzar the king,

  aTo all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

  Peace be multiplied to you.

  2I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders bthat the Most High God has worked for me.

  3c How great are His signs,

  And how mighty His wonders!

  His kingdom is dan everlasting kingdom,

  And His dominion is from generation to generation.

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

  5I saw a dream which made me afraid, eand the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head ftroubled me.

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

  7gThen the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

  8But at last Daniel came before me h(his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; iin him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:

  9“Belteshazzar, jchief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

  10“These were the visions of my head while on my bed:

  I was looking, and behold,

  k A tree in the midst of the earth,

  And its height was great.

  11The tree grew and became strong;

  Its height reached to the heavens,

  And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.

  12Its leaves were lovely,

  Its fruit abundant,

  And in it was food for all.

  l The beasts of the field found shade under it,

  The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,

  And all flesh was fed from it.

  13“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was ma watcher, na holy one, coming down from heaven.

  14He cried 1aloud and said thus:

  o‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,

  Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.

  p Let the beasts get out from under it,

  And the birds from its branches.

  15Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,

  Bound with a band of iron and bronze,

  In the tender grass of the field.

  Let it be wet with the dew of heaven,

  And let him graze with the beasts

  On the grass of the earth.

  16Let his heart be changed from that of a man,

  Let him be given the heart of a beast,

  And let seven qtimes2 pass over him.

  17‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,

  And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,

  In order rthat the living may know

  s That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,

  t Gives it to whomever He will,

  And sets over it the ulowest of men.’

  18“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, vsince all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, wfor the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

  Daniel Explains the Second Dream

  19Then Daniel, xwhose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts ytroubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may zthe dream 3concern those who hate you, and its interpretation 4concern your enemies!

  20aThe tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,

  21whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—

  22bit is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, cand your dominion to the end of the earth.

  23dAnd inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, eand let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven 5times pass over him’;

  24this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:

  25They shall fdrive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you geat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven 6times shall pass over you, htill you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and igives it to whomever He chooses.

  26And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that jHeaven7 rules.

  27Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; kbreak off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. lPerhaps there may be ma 8lengthening of your prosperity.”

  Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

  28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

  29At the end of the twelve months he was walking 9about the royal palace of Babylon.

  30The king nspoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

  31oWhile the word was still in the king’s mouth, pa voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!

  32And qthey shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven 10times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

  33That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

  Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

  34And rat the end of the 11time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him swho lives forever:

  For His dominion is tan everlasting dominion,

  And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

  35u All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;

  v He does according to His will in the army of heaven

  And among the inhabitants of the earth.

  w No one can restrain His hand

  Or say to Him, x“What have You done?”

  36At the same time my reason returned to me, yand for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was zrestored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was aadded to me.

  37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, bpraise and extol and honor the King of heaven, call of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. dAnd those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

  Daniel 5

  Belshazzar’s Feast

  1Belshazzar the king amade a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.

  2While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels bwhich his 1father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

  3Then they brought the gold cvessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.

  4They drank wine, dand praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

  5eIn the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

  6Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his fknees knocked against each other.

  7gThe king cried 2aloud to bring in hthe astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his n
eck; iand he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

  8Now all the king’s wise men came, jbut they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.

  9Then King Belshazzar was greatly ktroubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were 3astonished.

  10The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.

  11l“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your 4father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your 5father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

  12“Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and 6explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, mwhom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”

  The Writing on the Wall Explained

  13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel 7who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my 8father the king brought from Judah?

  14“I have heard of you, that nthe 9Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

  15“Now othe wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing.

  16“And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and 10explain enigmas. pNow if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

  17Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.