During the reign of King Cyrus (Dan 10:1-10:1)

“In the third year

Of King Cyrus

Of Persia,

A word was revealed

To Daniel,

Who was named Belteshazzar.

The word was true.

It concerned

A great conflict.

He understood

The word.

He had received

Understanding

In the vision.

Daniel, also called Belteshazzar, his Babylonian name, had a vision that took place in the 3rd year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, about 535 BCE. Daniel would be getting old at this time. This vision or word concerned a great conflict. Daniel understood this word because he had an understanding of this vision.

Daniel goes before the king (Dan 5:13-5:14)

“Then Daniel

Was brought in

Before the king.

The king said to Daniel.

‘So!

You are Daniel!

One of the exiles

Of Judah!

My father!

The king!

He brought you

From Judah.

I have heard

Of you.

A spirit

Of the gods

Is in you.

Light

Is found in you.

Understanding

Is found in you!

Excellent wisdom

Is found in you!’”

Daniel went before King Belshazzar. This king said to Daniel that he was one of the exiles from Judah that his father or grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, had brought from Judah. Then this king praised Daniel. He said that he heard of Daniel as someone who had the spirit of the gods in him. Also, Daniel had light, understanding, and excellent wisdom. This sounds like it is heading in the right direction as King Belshazzar met Belteshazzar, Daniel, since they had practically the same name.

The queen talked about the importance of Daniel (Dan 5:11-5:12)

“There is a man

In your kingdom,

Who is endowed

With a spirit

Of the holy gods.

In the days

Of your father,

He was found to have

Enlightenment,

Understanding,

Wisdom,

Like the wisdom

Of the gods.

Your father,

King Nebuchadnezzar,

Made him chief

Of the magicians,

Of the enchanters,

Of the Chaldeans,

Of the diviners.

He had

An excellent spirit,

Knowledge,

Understanding.

He was able

To interpret dreams,

To explain riddles,

To solve problems.

These were found

In this Daniel,

Whom the king named

Belteshazzar.

Now let Daniel

Be called!

He will give

The interpretation.’”

This queen seemed to know all about Daniel and his ability to interpret dreams, probably because she was the queen mother. She reminded King Belshazzar that his father or grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, had found Daniel to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods. Thus, he made Daniel the chief of the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners. It is not clear why he was not still the chief. This Daniel had an excellent spirit, like that of gods, to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems. The former king gave him a new name, Belteshazzar. She said that this Belteshazzar should be called to give an interpretation to this mysterious writing.

The king was the great tree (Dan 4:20-4:22)

“‘The tree

That you saw,

That grew great,

That became strong,

That its top reached

To heaven,

That was visible

To the end

Of the whole earth,

It is you!

O king!

Its leaves were beautiful.

It fruit was abundant.

It provided food for all.

Animals of the field

Lived under it.

Birds of the air

Had nests

In its branches.

It is you!

O king!

You have grown great!

You have become strong!

Your greatness has increased!

Your greatness reaches

To heaven.

Your sovereignty reaches

To the ends of the earth.’”

Belteshazzar or Daniel told the king that he was the tree that he saw in his dream, since a strong man was often equated with a big sturdy tree. After all, the king, like the tree in the dream, had grown great and strong. His greatness had reached to heaven and was visible to the ends of the whole earth, because his kingdom was so great. Daniel described the tree with its abundant beautiful leaves and fruit that provided food for everyone. He used the same remarks as in the dream about the tree being a shady place for field animals and birds to build nests on its branches.

The dream was for the king’s enemies (Dan 4:19-4:19)

“Belteshazzar answered.

‘My lord!

May the dream

Be for those

Who hate you!

Its interpretation is

For your enemies!’”

Belteshazzar or Daniel replied by calling King Nebuchadnezzar, his lord. He told the king that this dream was for those who hated him. The interpretation would surely please his enemies. In other words, there would not be good news here.

Daniel was a little stunned (Dan 4:19-4:19)

“Then Daniel,

Who was called Belteshazzar,

Was severely distressed

For a while.

His thoughts

Terrified him.”

Daniel was called Belteshazzar, his Babylonian name. He was distressed about what he had just heard. His own thoughts terrified him. Perhaps, this was not going to be as easy as it sounded.

The king asks Daniel to interpret this dream (Dan 4:18-4:18)

“‘This is the dream

That I,

King Nebuchadnezzar,

Saw.

Now you!

O Belteshazzar!

Declare the interpretation!

All the wise men

Of my kingdom

Are unable

To tell me

The interpretation.

However,

You are able!

You are endowed

With a spirit

Of the holy gods!’”

King Nebuchadnezzar had described his dream to Daniel. Now, he wanted Belteshazzar, Daniel, to given him an interpretation. All the wise men of his kingdom of Babylon were not able to give him an interpretation. However, Daniel, or Belteshazzar, was an able man endowed with the spirit of the holy gods. Daniel had some sort of divine power to interpret dreams, as was seen earlier in this work.

Daniel sees the king (Dan 4:8-4:9)

“At last Daniel

Came in

Before me.

He was named

Belteshazzar,

After the name

Of my god.

He was endowed

With a spirit

Of the holy gods.

I told him the dream.

‘O Belteshazzar!

Chief of the magicians!

I know

That you are endowed

With a spirit

Of the holy gods!

No mystery

Is too difficult

For you.

Hear!

This is the dream

That I saw.

Tell me

Its interpretation.’”

Finally, Daniel came in to see the king. As with his companions, King Nebuchadnezzar had given Daniel a Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, based on the name of his Babylonian god, Bel. The king realized that Daniel, like Joseph with the Egyptian Pharaoh, had special spiritual powers. After all, in chapter 2, Daniel knew and interpreted his dream. The king called Daniel the chief of the magicians. He thought that no mystery would be too difficult for Daniel, because of the special divine powers that he had. Thus, the king was not afraid to tell Daniel, or Belteshazzar, his dream or ask for an interpretation.

King Nebuchadnezzar questions Daniel (Dan 2:26-2:26)

“The king said to Daniel,

Whose name was Belteshazzar.

‘Are you able

To tell me

The dream

That I have seen

With its interpretation?’”

The king then turned to Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar. He wanted to know if Daniel was able to tell him his dream and its interpretation. The palace master had given Daniel this new Babylonian name of Belteshazzar in the preceding chapter, when he began his Babylonian court studies.