v1: The narrative continues shortly after the events of chapter 1. It seems Nebuchadnezzar initially reigned jointly with his father, and his own solo reign is referred to here.

Nebuchadnezzar's great military and political power cannot protect him from the voice of God, nor a smitten conscience (a troubled spirit).

v2-4: Since he has no knowledge of the true God, Nebuchadnezzar, the man of flesh, seeks the wisdom of his astrologers, sorcerers, and magicians. Babylon was characterised by occult religion.

From this point to 7.28, Daniel writes in Aramaic, rather than Hebrew. He was evidently fluent in both, being an educated man.

v5-9: The king's irrational decision, refusing to tell his own wise men the dream. He uses this situation as an opportunity to get rid of some he perceives to be threats to him. He refers to them conspiring against him.

v10-11: The astrologers' complaint that the king asks something too difficult. Only the gods, "who do not live among men" could explain the dream. Whilst they know something of spiritual reality and power, they are ignorant of the true God.

v12-13: The king's anger at being contradicted; the wise men of his kingdom begin to be put to death. His magicians were supposed to be a link between the gods and mankind, but they had clearly failed in this regard.

v14-16: God's timing and overruling gives Daniel time to pray, and to ask his companions to pray. He has every confidence that God will give an answer.

v17-18: The importance of giving time to prayer. Even though their lives were in danger, they set aside time to pray. Their confidence was not just a complacent assumption that God would sort everything out.                

Daniel uses the phrase ‘God of Heaven,’ which only appears elsewhere in Ezekiel, Nehemiah, and Revelation.

v19: It seems no surprise that God gives Daniel an explanation of the mystery. Many Middle Eastern people gave great weight to dreams and visions. The Bible contains many examples. However, we should not exclude God from continuing to speak to us in this way.

v20: Daniel is known as a man of wisdom; but he acknowledges that wisdom belongs to God.

v21-22: His God-centred prayer; He changes, He sets up and deposes, He gives, He reveals and knows; here is the God of absolute power. He is also the God of light, full of righteousness. Daniel is happy to be a servant of this God. Such a contrast too with the idols of Babylon.

The truth that He raises up and deposes kings is illustrated even in Nebuchadnezzar's life.

v23: Daniel acknowledges that God has given the interpretation; and He makes the same acknowledgement before the king, see v28-29; Gen 41.16.

v24-26: Daniel's request, saving the lives of the wise men; this is not just limited to himself and his friends; he is therefore unselfish in his request.

v27-29: The Chaldean sorcerers are unable to declare the dream; a simple statement of fact. But dreams and interpretations are God's territory; He reveals mysteries. In particular, Nebuchadnezzar is given a vision of the future.

v30: Daniel's humility, claiming no goodness of his own. The dream is given, and its interpretation, so that Nebuchadnezzar can grow in wisdom, and to expose the thoughts of his heart, and to make him see something of God's power.

v31-33: The image, reducing in glory from the head; gold, silver, bronze, iron, and then iron and clay.

v34-35: The stone, cut without hands, hit the brittle feet, but the whole image is destroyed, and the stone becomes a mountain and filled the earth.

v36-38: Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold, introducing the time of Gentile domination. Israel and Judah had no political power or influence.

v39-43: Three later kingdoms, each one changed as God ordains; Persia, Greece, Rome. Each had great dominion;

• Nebuchadnezzar was ruler over all the earth;
• The kingdom of bronze, through Alexander the Great, also ruled over the whole earth; and
• The kingdom of iron crushed and broke all others.

v44-45: God's own kingdom will never be destroyed. He set this up during the time of the kings, for Christ was born during the dominance of Rome. Ultimately, He will bring all such human kingdoms to an end; for all kingdoms will become the kingdoms of Christ. The Roman Empire contained a mixture of peoples, which spread disunity, and contributed to its demise.

v46: Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face before Daniel; Daniel was overcome by this reaction, and received gifts from the king; contrast 5.17.

v47: A rather superficial response, when considering his subsequent actions in 3.1-7. When hearing of the true God for the first time, an initial response may be neither deep nor lasting.

v48-49: Daniel and his friends were promoted in the province of Babylon. Again, we notice Daniel’s unselfishness, requesting that his friends also be promoted into positions of influence.