1. In what year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign did he have his dreams? (Daniel 2:1). Was he troubled and not able to sleep?

Note: This second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign was from April of 603 B.C. to March of 602 B.C. This is prior to the end of the three years training period of Daniel and his three friends which ended late 602 B.C. to early 601 B.C. Daniel 1 is an overview of events that covered the time that Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and extended to the first year of King Cyrus.

2. Did King Nebuchadnezzar call all of his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to stand before him and tell him his dreams? (Daniel 2:2).

Note: Most people do not remember their dreams unless they wake up during the dream or very close to when the dream is over.

3. Was King Nebuchadnezzar anxious to know his dream? (Daniel 2:3).

4. What language did the Chaldeans speak to the king in? (Daniel 2:4). Did they ask the king to tell them his dream and then they would interpret it for him?

Note: The book of Daniel is written in Hebrew up to the word "Aramaic" in this verse, and then beginning with the phrase "O king" until we come to the close of Daniel 7, all of this material is written in Aramaic.

5. Was King Nebuchadnezzar firm in his decision that if the magicians and astrologers could not reveal his dream and the interpretation to him that he would have them all executed? (Daniel 2:5).

Note: The K.J.V. translates the king as saying: "The thing is gone from me" which would imply that the king could not remember what the dream was. The N.K.J.V. says: "My decision is firm" and the N.I.V. says: "This is what I have firmly decided". This implies that he did know what the dream was and he expected the magicians and astrologers to tell him the dream or else.

6. Was there a reward offered if they could tell him the dream and interpret it? (Daniel 2:6).

7. Did the magicians and astrologers say again: "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation?" (Daniel 2:7).

Note: Anyone could interpret a dream, especially if you are a good story teller. These guys were flim flam artists and would have interpreted the king’s dreams to politically enhance their positions, power and authority. There was probably all kinds of political intrigue going on around the king and perhaps King Nebuchadnezzar may have been looking for an excuse to get rid of this particular class of wise men. He wasn’t going to play their game. His view was if you could interpret it you should be able to tell what the dream was.

8. Was the king again firm in his decision? (Daniel 2:8).

9. What was the decree for the magicians and astrologers if they could not make known the dream? (Daniel 2:9). Did the king expect them to lie to him till the time is changed?

Note: The phrase "till the time is changed" could be a reference to a new ruler of the kingdom.

10. Did the Chaldeans continue to plea their case? (Daniel 2:10). Did they say that there is not a man on earth who can tell the king's dream? Did they also say that no king, lord, or ruler had ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean?

11. Did the magicians and astrologers consider it a difficult thing that the king requested? (Daniel 2:11). Did they say that no man could reveal and interpret the dream? Who did they say could reveal and interpret the king’s dream?

12. What was the king’s attitude toward the wise men of Babylon? (Daniel 2:12). What was the command that he issued against the wise men of Babylon?

13. Did the king issue a decree? (Daniel 2:13). Did they kill any of the wise men? Did they seek Daniel and his three companions to kill them also? Why weren’t Daniel and his three companions with the wise men of Babylon?

Note: This event took place while Daniel and his three companions were still in their three years of training. This was before they were promoted and served the king (Daniel 1:17-20).

14. Did Daniel use wisdom and tactfulness in talking to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon? (Daniel 2:14).

15. Did Daniel ask Arioch "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" (Daniel 2:15). Did Arioch tell him why?

16. Did Daniel go in and ask King Nebuchadnezzar to give him some time so that he could tell him the dream and its interpretation? (Daniel 2:16).

17. Did Daniel go to his house and discuss this matter with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah? (Daniel 2: 17).

18. Did Daniel and his three companions go into a prayer vigil and seek God’s help in concerning the king’s prayer and interpretation of the prayer so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon? (Daniel 2:18).

Note: Daniel was humble and knew that he was not able to reveal the dream nor interpret it without God’s help. These four young men prayed all night long and they probably fasted also. When you have an intense trial you combine fasting with your prayers to draw closer to God and seek His help and guidance.

19. Was the secret revealed to Daniel in a night vision? (Daniel 2:19). Did Daniel pray and bless the God of heaven? Why would God give this dream to a pagan king to make one of the greatest prophecies that you will find in the entire Bible?

Note: This dream and the prophecy of it spans the entire history of the world from that time forward to the establishment of the Kingdom of God by Jesus Christ when He returns to the earth.

Consider this: Giving this dream to Daniel would have accomplished very little. Giving it to the king with a miraculous interpretation from Daniel gave it enormous credibility with Nebuchadnezzar. Hence this dream became widely known.

20. How did Daniel begin his prayer in praising God? (Daniel 2:20). Does God have wisdom and might (Might means power)?

Note: Daniel praised God because he knew that he couldn’t figure out what the dream was about nor the interpretation of it.

21. Can God change times and seasons? (Daniel 2:21). Did Daniel say that God has the capacity to raise up kings and to remove them? Is it God who gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding?

Note: God has the power to change times and seasons in that He can change the course of history. He can raise up kings and destroy them. He can determine when events are to occur in history and He determines how long each phase of events will last. The power human rulers possess is the power that God permits them to have. Wisdom comes from God and He will give it to whom He desires to make them wise and to have the knowledge to where they will understand.

22. Can God reveal secret things? (Daniel 2:22, 28). Does God know the secret things of your heart? (Psalms 44:21). Does light dwell with God? (Daniel 2:22). Does darkness pertain to Satan the devil? (Acts 26:18). Does light pertain to God and truth? (John 3:21).

23. How did Daniel end his brief prayer to God? (Daniel 2:23). Did God give Daniel wisdom and might? Did God make known the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar to Daniel as Daniel had asked?

Note: Daniel credited the prayers of himself and his three friends to God answering their prayers. He didn’t take personal credit.

24. Who was it that was appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon? (Daniel 2:24). Did Daniel tell him not to destroy the wise men and for him to take him (Daniel) before the king so that he could interpret the king’s dream?

25. How fast was Daniel brought before the king? (Daniel 2:25).

26. What was Daniel’s Chaldean name? (Daniel 2:26). What did the king ask Daniel?

27. How did Daniel answer the king? (Daniel 2:27). Did Daniel tell the king that there was no way that the wise men could answer the king?

28. Who did Daniel tell the king was able to reveal the secrets of his dreams and visions? (Daniel 2:28). Was the secret about the latter days?

Note: Nebuchadnezzar worshiped his pagan gods perhaps made of wood or iron. Daniel told him about the living God who lives in heaven. The reason that God, (the God of Israel and the Jews), gave Nebuchadnezzar the dream and then had Daniel reveal both the dream and its interpretation was to prove to the king that it was God who was the one who had all power.

Nebuchadnezzar may have drawn the conclusion that the God of Israel and the Jews did not have the power to prevent the Babylonians from ravaging the land of Israel. The people of that time felt that gods had power and if they could go in and conquer a people, that meant that their god was superior. The Babylonians thought that their god, Nebo, was the most powerful god. He gave Nebo the credit for helping him to overthrow and subjugate the land of Israel.

God is using this dream and the interpretation through Daniel to prove otherwise. It was necessary at this time in history to prove that the living God has all of the power and glory through this and the following miracles in the book of Daniel.

Even though God is the greatest power, He allowed Nebuchadnezzar and others after him to subjugate the land of His chosen people, not that these kings were great or powerful, but because God’s people had not fulfulled their commitment in the covenant that they had confirmed to God and as a result had to suffer the curse that was prophesied that would come from disobedience. Now was the time for God to show this.

29. Where was king Nebuchadnezzar when these thoughts came into his mind? (Daniel 2:29). Was his thoughts about what would come to pass after this? And who was it that was revealing these secrets?

Note: King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to know what would happen to his kingdom when he was gone.

30. Was Daniel humble in saying that "This secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living"? (Daniel 2:30). Why was it revealed? Was it revealed so that the king might know the thoughts of his heart?

31. Daniel begins to reveal the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar. Did the king see a great image in the shape of a man? (Daniel 2:31). Was it a great image of splendor and excellent brightness and awesome?

32. Did this image have a head and what was the material that it was made of? (Daniel 2:32). What was the chest and arms made of? What was the belly and thighs made of?

33. What was the legs made of? (Daniel 2:33). What was the feet made of?

34. Did the king then see a stone cut out without hands and did it strike the image on its feet and totally destroy the image? (Daniel 2:34).

35. Was this entire image and all of the materials crushed completely into dust and carried away by the wind and no trace of them was found? (Daniel 2:35). Did the stone that stuck the image become a great mountain and fill the whole earth?

Note: What a fascinating dream! It’s no wonder why king Nebuchadnezzar wanted to have his dream revealed and interpreted.

But only God could reveal and interpret it.

36. Does Daniel now begin to interpret the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar? (Daniel 2:36).

Note: King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream stemmed from his thoughts in that he wanted to know what would happen to his kingdom when he was gone.

37. How did Daniel address the king? (Daniel 2:37). Who gave the king his kingdom, power, strength, and glory?

Note: King Nebuchadnezzar was an emperor over an empire made up of many nations and kings under his jurisdiction. Notice that Daniel used the phrase "You, O king, are a king of kings." Then Daniel stresses to the king that it was God who gave him this position and that he did not do it all on his own.

38. What was King Nebuchadnezzar made to rule over? (Daniel 2:38). In interpreting the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar who did Daniel say was the head of gold?

Note: The head of gold represented the Babylonian or Chaldean Empire which gave direction to the statute in the shape of a man which represented the succeeding empires, just as a man’s head dictates what the rest of his body does. Many parts of the political and religious system set up in the Babylonian Empire had been passed on to each succeeding empire. Many of the pagan customs of the Babylonian Empire are still existing in our society today. Some of these pagan holidays have been Christianized and most people mistakenly think that God approves of this. (Request our free articles: "The Truth about Christmas", "Is Easter Christian?" and "Why Do We Observe Sunday?"

39. What was to arise after King Nebuchadnezzar died? (Daniel 2:39). Would the next kingdom be inferior to the Babylonian kingdom? What was the metal material symbolized by the second and third kingdoms? Were these kingdoms to rule over all the earth?

Note: The kingdom inferior to the one of gold was the one represented by the chest and arms of silver. This was the Medo-Persian Empire which began with Cyrus the great in 539 B.C. at the overthrow of Babylon and it lasted until the third kingdom of bronze started in 331 B.C. under Alexander the great. Some date Alexander’s kingdom as beginning in 333 B.C. The remnant of the third kingdom of bronze ended in 31 B.C. after the battle of Actium which was the starting point of the fourth kingdom.

40. What was the metal material symbolized by the fourth kingdom? (Daniel 2:40). Will this kingdom break and crush other kingdoms?

Note: The fourth kingdom of iron was the Roman Empire which dated from 31 B.C. until its fall in 476 A.D.

41. What were the materials symbolized by the feet and toes? (Daniel 2:41). Does this indicate that this kingdom will be divided? Will it still have the strength of iron?

42. Due to the fact that the toes are made up of two mixed materials, what qualities will it produce? (Daniel 2:42).

43. Does iron mix well with ceramic clay? (Daniel 2:43).

Note: Clay can be mixed with other substances and baked and it might hold together but it cannot be combined to form a strong substance because the clay will always be the weak area that will break under pressure. This shows that the final mixture of the fourth kingdom will be different peoples with different ideologies and they are forced together.

44. In the end time of these kings, who will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed? (Daniel 2:44). Will it break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and will it stand forever?

45. Did King Nebuchadnezzar in his dream see a stone cut out of the mountain without hands? (Daniel 2:45). Did it break in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold? Who made known to the king what will come to pass after this? Did Daniel say that the dream was certain, and its interpretation is sure?

Note: The stone or rock that smashes the image is Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul referred to Jesus Christ as being the spiritual Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4). There is nothing that God will salvage from these four empires to be a part of His kingdom.

46. What acts of humility did King Nebuchadnezzar do before Daniel? (Daniel 2:46). What rewards did he want to reward Daniel with?

47. What did King Nebuchadnezzar say to Daniel in praising God? (Daniel 2:47). Did he say that God is a revealer of secrets?

48. Did King Nebuchadnezzar promote Daniel? (Daniel 2:48). What kind of gifts did he give Daniel? Where was Daniel made a ruler over? What group did the king make Daniel the chief administrator over?

49. Who were Daniel’s three friends? (Daniel 2:49). Did Daniel petition the king for his three friends? What position did the king place them over? What was Daniel’s position? Daniel was second only to the king in his position of power in the kingdom.