Daniel 2:37

"“This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king."

Key Reflection

In the context of Daniel 2:37, this statement by Belshazzar, King of Babylon, marks a pivotal moment in the narrative. The king acknowledges that he has just had a significant dream and now requests its interpretation. This would have been understood by the original audience as a formal request to Daniel, who was known for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams. In the ancient Near East, such a scenario was not uncommon; kings often sought interpretations of their dreams from wise men or prophets, viewing them as divine communications that could reveal future events and guide governance.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Thou, O King, art a king of kings -The phrase “king of kings” is a Hebraism, to denote a supreme monarch, or one who has other kings under him as tributary,Ezra 7:12;Ezekiel 26:7. As such it is applied by way of eminence to the Son of God, inRevelation 17:14;Revelation 19:16. As here used, it means that Nebuchadnezzar ruled over tributary kings and princes, or that he was the most eminent of the kings of the earth. The scepter which he swayed was, in fact, extended over many nations that were once independent kingdoms, and the title here conferred on him was not one that was designed to flatter the monarch, but was a simple statement of what was an undoubted truth.

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