Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

Daniel is alarmed by the dream's implications, and the king reassures him before the interpretation begins. Daniel recounts the flourishing tree's greatness and then declares plainly that Nebuchadnezzar himself is that tree, whose grandeur and dominion have spread to the ends of the earth. The dream's beauty and reach therefore describe the very king who now stands under heaven's scrutiny.

F¹⁹or a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. ²⁰The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, ²¹whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested— ²²you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth. ²³And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying:

Daniel explains that the Most High has decreed the king's removal from human society, his beast-like existence, and his humiliation under the dew of heaven until he acknowledges that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. The spared stump means his kingdom will remain for him once he learns that Heaven rules, so Daniel counsels the king to break away from sin, do what is right, and show mercy to the oppressed in hopes that his prosperity may be prolonged. Judgment is announced, but repentance is still urged as the proper response to the warning.

²⁴This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king: ²⁵You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes. ²⁶As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules. ²⁷Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”