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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Daniel 2:1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/daniel/2-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/27_Dan_02_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Daniel 2:1 - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. <a href="/nlt/daniel/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. <a href="/esv/daniel/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. <a href="/bsb/daniel/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him. <a href="/kjv/daniel/2.htm">King James Bible</a> And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. <a href="/nkjv/daniel/2.htm">New King James Version</a> Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. <a href="/nasb_/daniel/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. <a href="/nasb/daniel/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. <a href="/nasb77/daniel/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. <a href="/lsb/daniel/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. <a href="/amp/daniel/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> In the second year (604 B.C.) of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams which troubled and disturbed his spirit and [interfered with] his ability to sleep. <a href="/csb/daniel/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled him, and sleep deserted him. <a href="/hcsb/daniel/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled him, and sleep deserted him. <a href="/asv/daniel/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. <a href="/cev/daniel/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> During the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had such horrible nightmares that he could not sleep. <a href="/erv/daniel/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. <a href="/gwt/daniel/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> During the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, he had some dreams. He was troubled, but he stayed asleep. <a href="/gnt/daniel/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> In the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had a dream. It worried him so much that he couldn't sleep, <a href="/isv/daniel/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> During the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled him. As a result, he couldn't sleep. <a href="/msb/daniel/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him. <a href="/net/daniel/2.htm">NET Bible</a> In the second year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar had many dreams. His mind was disturbed and he suffered from insomnia. <a href="/nheb/daniel/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. <a href="/wbt/daniel/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, with which his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him. <a href="/web/daniel/2.htm">World English Bible</a> In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/daniel/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar has dreamed dreams, and his spirit moves itself, and his sleep has been against him; <a href="/ylt/daniel/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed hath Nebuchadnezzar dreams, and his spirit doth move itself, and his sleep hath been against him; <a href="/slt/daniel/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And in the second year to the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, and his spirit will be moved, and his sleep was broken upon him.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/daniel/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> In the second year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, Nabuchodonosor had a dream, and his spirit was terrified, and his dream went out of his mind. <a href="/cpdv/daniel/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar saw a dream, and his spirit was terrified, and his dream fled from him. <a href="/nabre/daniel/2.htm">New American Bible</a> In the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which left his spirit no rest and robbed him of his sleep. <a href="/nrsvce/daniel/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/daniel/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> AND in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream and his spirit was troubled and his sleep departed from him. <a href="/hpbt/daniel/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> In year two of the kingdom of Nebukadnetsar, Nebukadnetsar dreamed a dream, and his spirit was disturbed and his sleep was upon him<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/daniel/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him. <a href="/sep/daniel/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> In the second year of his reign Nabuchodonosor dreamed a dream, and his spirit was amazed, and his sleep departed from him. <a href="/parallel/daniel/2-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/shUZJK-vYxI?start=224" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/daniel/2.htm">Nebuchadnezzar's Dream</a> 1<a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: šə·ta·yim (Number-fd) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">In the second</a> <a href="/hebrew/8141.htm" title="8141: ū·ḇiš·naṯ (Conj-w, Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- A year. (in plura or shanah; from shanah; a year.">year</a> <a href="/hebrew/5019.htm" title="5019: nə·ḇu·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar (N-proper-ms) -- Of foreign derivation; Nebukadnetstsar, king of Babylon.">of his</a> <a href="/hebrew/4438.htm" title="4438: lə·mal·ḵūṯ (Prep-l:: N-fsc) -- Royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom. Or malkuth; or malkuyah; from malak; a rule; concretely, a dominion.">reign,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5019.htm" title="5019: nə·ḇu·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar (N-proper-ms) -- Of foreign derivation; Nebukadnetstsar, king of Babylon.">Nebuchadnezzar</a> <a href="/hebrew/2492.htm" title="2492: ḥā·lam (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To bind firmly, to be, plump, to dream. A primitive root; properly, to bind firmly, i.e. to be plump; also to dream.">had dreams</a> <a href="/hebrew/2472.htm" title="2472: ḥă·lō·mō·wṯ (N-mp) -- A dream. Or chalom; from chalam; a dream."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6470.htm" title="6470: wat·tiṯ·pā·‘em (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To thrust, impel. A primitive root; to tap, i.e. Beat regularly; hence to impel or agitate.">that troubled</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: rū·ḥōw (N-csc:: 3ms) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath.">his spirit,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8142.htm" title="8142: ū·šə·nā·ṯōw (Conj-w:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Sleep. Or shena; from yashen; sleep.">and sleep</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: nih·yə·ṯāh (V-Nifal-Perf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">escaped</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·lāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">him.</a> 2So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/41-1.htm">Genesis 41:1</a> After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, <a href="/esther/6-1.htm">Esther 6:1</a> That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him. <a href="/matthew/2-12.htm">Matthew 2:12</a> And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route. <a href="/acts/2-17.htm">Acts 2:17</a> ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. <a href="/job/33-14.htm">Job 33:14-16</a> For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. / In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, / He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings <a href="/joel/2-28.htm">Joel 2:28</a> And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. <a href="/matthew/27-19.htm">Matthew 27:19</a> While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” <a href="/acts/16-9.htm">Acts 16:9</a> During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” <a href="/1_kings/3-5.htm">1 Kings 3:5</a> One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” <a href="/numbers/12-6.htm">Numbers 12:6</a> He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. <a href="/matthew/1-20.htm">Matthew 1:20</a> But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. <a href="/acts/10-10.htm">Acts 10:10-11</a> He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. / He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. <a href="/genesis/20-3.htm">Genesis 20:3</a> One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.” <a href="/judges/7-13.htm">Judges 7:13-15</a> And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” / His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.” / When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” <a href="/matthew/27-19.htm">Matthew 27:19</a> While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, with which his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him.in.<a href="/daniel/1-1.htm">Daniel 1:1-5</a> In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it… <a href="/2_chronicles/36-5.htm">2 Chronicles 36:5-7</a> Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God… the second.<a href="/jeremiah/25-1.htm">Jeremiah 25:1</a> The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;Nebuchadnezzar.<a href="/daniel/2-3.htm">Daniel 2:3</a> And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.<a href="/daniel/4-5.htm">Daniel 4:5</a> I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.<a href="/genesis/40-5.htm">Genesis 40:5-8</a> And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison… and his.<a href="/daniel/6-18.htm">Daniel 6:18</a> Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.<a href="/esther/6-1.htm">Esther 6:1</a> On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/17-16.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-23.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/jeremiah/29-8.htm">Dreamed</a> <a href="/daniel/1-17.htm">Dreams</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-31.htm">Itself</a> <a href="/daniel/1-8.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-27.htm">Move</a> <a href="/daniel/1-18.htm">Nebuchadnezzar</a> <a href="/daniel/1-18.htm">Nebuchadnez'zar</a> <a href="/daniel/1-1.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/daniel/1-1.htm">Rule</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-22.htm">Second</a> <a href="/ezekiel/34-25.htm">Sleep</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-5.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/ezekiel/34-6.htm">Troubled</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-9.htm">Wherewith</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/daniel/2-34.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/daniel/2-34.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/daniel/2-3.htm">Dreamed</a> <a href="/daniel/2-2.htm">Dreams</a> <a href="/daniel/2-44.htm">Itself</a> <a href="/daniel/2-28.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/hosea/5-10.htm">Move</a> <a href="/daniel/2-28.htm">Nebuchadnezzar</a> <a href="/daniel/2-28.htm">Nebuchadnez'zar</a> <a href="/daniel/5-26.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/daniel/2-38.htm">Rule</a> <a href="/daniel/2-7.htm">Second</a> <a href="/daniel/6-18.htm">Sleep</a> <a href="/daniel/2-3.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/daniel/2-3.htm">Troubled</a> <a href="/daniel/11-4.htm">Wherewith</a><div class="vheading2">Daniel 2</div>1. <a href="/daniel/2-1.htm">Nebuchadnezzar, forgetting his dream, </a> 5. <a href="/daniel/2-5.htm">requires it of the Chaldeans, by promises and threats.</a> 10. <a href="/daniel/2-10.htm">They acknowledging their inability are judged to die.</a> 14. <a href="/daniel/2-14.htm">Daniel obtaining some respite finds the dream.</a> 19. <a href="/daniel/2-19.htm">He blesses God.</a> 24. <a href="/daniel/2-24.htm">He staying the decree is brought to the king.</a> 31. <a href="/daniel/2-31.htm">The dream.</a> 36. <a href="/daniel/2-36.htm">The interpretation.</a> 46. <a href="/daniel/2-46.htm">Daniel's advancement.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The "second year" is significant as it marks the consolidation of his power following his father Nabopolassar's death. This timeframe is crucial for understanding the historical context of the Babylonian Empire's expansion and dominance in the ancient Near East. The Babylonian calendar and dating system might differ from modern calculations, but this period is generally accepted as around 603 BC.Nebuchadnezzar had dreams Dreams in the ancient Near Eastern context were often seen as divine messages or omens. Nebuchadnezzar's dreams are significant as they set the stage for the unfolding of God's revelation through Daniel. In the Bible, dreams are frequently used by God to communicate with individuals, as seen with Joseph in Genesis and Pharaoh's dreams. These dreams are prophetic, revealing future events and God's sovereign plan over nations.that troubled his spirit The troubling nature of Nebuchadnezzar's dreams indicates their profound impact and the king's awareness of their importance. In the cultural context, dreams that disturbed one's spirit were taken seriously, often prompting the consultation of wise men or magicians for interpretation. This phrase highlights the king's anxiety and the limitations of human wisdom in understanding divine revelations.and sleep escaped him The loss of sleep underscores the intensity of Nebuchadnezzar's distress and the urgency of the situation. In the biblical narrative, sleeplessness often accompanies divine encounters or significant events, as seen with King Ahasuerus in <a href="/esther/6.htm">Esther 6:1</a>. This detail emphasizes the king's vulnerability and sets the stage for Daniel's role as God's chosen interpreter, foreshadowing the revelation of God's sovereignty and the establishment of His kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/n/nebuchadnezzar.htm">Nebuchadnezzar</a> The king of Babylon, known for his powerful reign and significant impact on the Jewish people during the Babylonian exile. His dreams play a crucial role in the unfolding of God's plan and revelation. 2. <a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon</a> The empire over which Nebuchadnezzar ruled. It was a center of power and culture in the ancient world and a place of exile for the Israelites. 3. <a href="/topical/d/dreams.htm">Dreams</a> In the ancient Near East, dreams were often seen as messages from the divine. Nebuchadnezzar's dreams are significant as they reveal God's sovereignty and future plans. 4. <a href="/topical/t/troubled_spirit.htm">Troubled Spirit</a> Nebuchadnezzar's disturbed state indicates the seriousness of the dreams and sets the stage for Daniel's involvement and God's revelation. 5. <a href="/topical/d/daniel.htm">Daniel</a> Though not mentioned in this specific verse, Daniel becomes a key figure in interpreting the king's dreams, demonstrating God's wisdom and power through him.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_human_affairs.htm">God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs</a> God is in control of all nations and rulers, using them to accomplish His divine purposes, as seen in Nebuchadnezzar's dreams. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_dreams_in_divine_revelation.htm">The Role of Dreams in Divine Revelation</a> While not every dream is a message from God, He can use dreams to communicate His will, as He did with Nebuchadnezzar. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_seeking_godly_wisdom.htm">The Importance of Seeking Godly Wisdom</a> Nebuchadnezzar's troubled spirit points to the need for divine wisdom, which Daniel later provides. Believers should seek God's wisdom in times of uncertainty. <a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_to_his_people.htm">God's Faithfulness to His People</a> Despite being in exile, God remains faithful to His people, using Daniel to reveal His plans and demonstrate His power. <a href="/topical/t/the_peace_of_god_in_troubling_times.htm">The Peace of God in Troubling Times</a> Nebuchadnezzar's loss of sleep contrasts with the peace that God offers to those who trust in Him, reminding believers to seek God's peace in anxious times.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_daniel_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Daniel 2</a> <a href="/q/why_no_record_of_nebuchadnezzar's_dream.htm">If Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2:1 was as significant as described, why is there no historical record outside the Bible that confirms any such event or demand from the king? </a> <a href="/q/what_did_nebuchadnezzar_dream_about.htm">What did Nebuchadnezzar dream about?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_daniel_interpret_dreams.htm">How does Daniel interpret dreams and visions in Babylon?</a> <a href="/q/are_dream_catchers_christian.htm">Are dream catchers part of Christian tradition?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/daniel/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>II.(1) The second year.--Nebuchadnezzar was proleptically spoken of as "king of Babylon" in <a href="/daniel/1-1.htm" title="In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it.">Daniel 1:1</a>, for his father did not die till after the battle of Carchemish. On the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, see Notes on <a href="/2_kings/24-1.htm" title="In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.">2Kings 24:1</a>.)Dreams.--Spoken of in <a href="/daniel/2-3.htm" title="And the king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.">Daniel 2:3</a> as "a dream." The one dream consisted of several parts, and is therefore spoken of in the plural. For the effects of the dream upon the king's mind, comp. <a href="/genesis/41-8.htm" title="And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them to Pharaoh.">Genesis 41:8</a>.His sleep brake.--i.e., his sleep finished. A similar use of the word occurs <a href="/daniel/6-18.htm" title="Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.">Daniel 6:18</a>; <a href="/esther/6-1.htm" title="On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.">Esther 6:1</a>. The anxiety which the vision caused him prevented him from sleeping again. And no wonder. The battle of Carchemish, which forced Egypt to retire within her ancient frontiers, had indeed made Nebuchadnezzar master of all the district east of the Euphrates; but there was a growing power northward of him, the Median, which he may have dreaded, though at this time he was on good terms with it, and this may have increased his alarm, and led him to feel some presentiment of evil. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/daniel/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 1-49. - DANIEL FIRST BECOMES DISTINGUISHED. Verse 1. - And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. The versions only differ verbally from the Massoretic text as represented by the above. The Septuagint renders "And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, he chanced to fall into dreams and visions, and to be troubled with his vision, and his sleep went from him." The differences here that may evidence a difference of text are slight. Theodotion and the Peshitta are very close to the Massoretic. The Vulgate renders, "In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar saw a vision, and his spirit was troubled, and his vision (somnium) fled from him." If this is the true text of the Vulgate - and it is pre-Clementine - the variation seems too great for paraphrase, and yet it is an unlikely lectional variation. It is easier to imagine the change taking place in the Latin, somnus becoming somnium, especially if the final m was represented, as so often in Latin manuscripts, by a line over the preceding vowel. And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. This forms one of the chronological difficulties in the interpretation of Daniel. There seems to be a contradiction between the statement in this verse and the chronological data afforded us by the preceding chapter. If Nebuchadnezzar was already king when he placed Daniel and his three companions in the hands of "Ashpeuaz" and assigned them three years of study, then as the three years are by implication ended when the examination took place (<a href="/daniel/1-18.htm">Daniel 1:18, 19</a>), the events narrated in this chapter must be dated not earlier than the third year of Nebuchadnezzar. Most commentators recognize this as a difficulty, the explaining of which is incumbent on them, whatever their views as to the date or authenticity of the book as a whole may be. A really great writer - and that title cannot be denied to the author of "Daniel," if the book be a fiction - could never fall into such a glaring self-contradiction. We do not deny that even very great writers have been guilty of chronological self-contradictions; but these contradictions were such as were not obvious. The only commentator who does not feel it incumbent on him, having noticed the difficulty, to give some hint of a possible solution, is Professor Bevan. From the obviousness of the discrepancy, we must assume that it was known to the writer, and from this we must further assume that the discrepancy was regarded by him as a merely apparent one, the explanation of which was so obvious at the time he wrote that it was needless to state it. In making this statement, we refer to the original documents from which our present Daniel was compiled. Another hypothesis certainly is possible - that there is a false reading here. Ewald has suggested the twelfth year, which implies that the word עְֶשרֵה (esreh) has been omitted. The main difficulty is that there is no sign that there is any difference of reading. If we are to correct the reading, we must go behind the present book to those documents from which it has been formed. If this portion of Daniel is a translation and a condensation of an Aramaic text, then תַרְתִין (tar'teen) is "two," but "three" would be תְלָת (t'lath). When the ל loses from any cause its upper part, it becomes little distinguishable from n; this renders it not impossible that in the original Aramaic narrative the events in this chapter were dated "the third year of Nebuchadnezzar," not "the second." This explanation does not apply to the older form of script as seen in Sindschirli or in Egypt. There have been various other ways of getting over the difficulty. One device, that of Josephus ('Antiq.,' 10:10. 3), maintained also by Jephet-ibn-Ali, is to date the reign from the conquest of Egypt, when Daniel is supposed to reckon that Nebuchadnezzar began to reign over the world. The conquest of Egypt, by means of certain recondite interpretations of Scripture, Jephet dates in the thirtieth year of Nebuchadnezzar; the date of this chapter, then, according to him, is the thirty-second year of Nebuchadnezzar. Rashi explains this date by referring it to the destruction of the temple. There is, however, nothing to indicate that any of these dates was ever reckoned of importance in Babylonian chronology. And, however important the destruction of the temple was to the Jews, few of them, even at the latest date criticism assigns to Daniel, would have the hardihood to date a monarch's reign from this. Another solution is that the second year is reckoned from the time when these Jewish captives stood before the king. This would have implied a different reading, but, as we have said, so far as this clause is concerned, there is no variation. Another suggestion may be made, viz. that this appearance of Daniel before the king is the same as that mentioned in the previous chapter (<a href="/daniel/1-18.htm">Daniel 1:18-20</a>). This is Wieseler's hypothesis. As a reign was not reckoned from the date of accession, but from the beginning of the year following, Nebuchadnezzar's second year might well be the third year of the training of those Hebrew captives. The occasion of their appearance before the king may not have been that he took thought on the matter - a view which, though that of the Massoretic text, is not supported by the LXX. - but may have been caused by this disquieting dream. On the supposition which we have suggested, that in ch. 1. we have a condensed version from an Aramaic original, this solution is plausible. The main difficulty, that the quiet communing implied in the nineteenth verse does not suit the fury of the king and the threatened death of the wise men, cannot be pressed, as the communing might follow the interpretation. It may seem to some better to maintain that the incidents of this chapter occurred some little time after Daniel and his three companions were admitted to the royal council. The band of captives and hostages, with the mass of the Babylonian army, arrived at Babylon, according to Berosus, some time after Nebuchadnezzar himself, who had hurried across the desert; still, a month would probably be the utmost of the difference. There might, therefore, be many months to run before the first year of Nebuchadnezzar actually began, when these captives were placed under the charge of the Melzar; so that if our suggestion of a various reading of "third" instead of "second" be accepted, the years would be over while the "third" year of Nebuchadnezzar was still proceeding. However, although many prisoners and hostages may have been sent along with the main army, after Nebuchadnezzar ]earned of the death of his father, many may have been sent earlier, and among these Daniel. The main difficulty is to imagine the orders of Nebuchadnezzar, while merely crown prince, being carried out with such exactness, or that he should be spoken of as "my lord the king" (<a href="/daniel/1-10.htm">Daniel 1:10</a>). But their training must have begun during the lifetime of Nabopolassar, if the three years were completed while the see(rod year of Nebuchadnezzar was still to finish. If we reject both these solutions, we are shut up to the idea that there is something amiss with the reading - always a thing to be deprecated - and the simplest emendation is to imagine that the "third" has been misread "second." This, as we have shown, would be easy in Aramaic. On the assumption that the text before us is a translation and condensation of an Aramaic text, it is easy to understand how all derivative texts followed its initial mistake. There is a certain importance here due to the copula "and:" "And in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar." When any cue attempts to read this verse in connection with the last verse of the first chapter, it at once becomes clear that the twenty-first verse of ch. 1. is an interpolation. It is probable that the condensation, which was likely to be considerable in the first chapter, becomes less so now, before passing from the one portion to the other; hence either the translator or some other added the note which is contained in <a href="/daniel/1-21.htm">Daniel 1:21</a>. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams. The Greek versions and the Syriac of Paulus Tellensis omit the name "Nebuchadnezzar," either as nominative or as genitive. The Peshitta follows the order of the Massoretic text. The omission does not alter the sense; possibly the proper names thus came in close juxtaposition in the Massoretic in consequence of an endeavour to condense by omission, without making any further change. It would seem that the LXX. had read נִקְרָא (niq'ra) instead of חלם (halam). The rendering is, "It happened (συνέβη) that the king fell into dreams and visions." This awkward sentence seems to be the result of a difficulty and consequent slavish following of the text before the translator; it is difficult to imagine what the reading could be which could be translated as it is in the Septuagint, and vet was not totally unlike the Massoretic text. "Dreams and visions" is the evident result of a coalescence of two renderings of חֲלמות (halomoth). It is to be observed that it is "dreams" that Nebuchadnezzar had, and yet only one "dream" is spoken cf. Kliefeth thinks this refers merely to the class, so that "dreamed dreams' is equivalent to "was dreaming." Agreeing with this is Havernick. Jephet-ibn-Ali take the plurality to refer to the contents of the dream - that it refers to the four world kingdoms and that of Israel (so Kranichfe;d and Keil); for a similar use of plural for singular, he refers to <a href="/genesis/37-8.htm">Genesis 37:8</a>. Moses Stuart thinks that it is implied that the dream was repeated. It seems to be somewhat of a mannerism of Daniel to use plural for singular, as the "visions of the head" of ch. 4. Wherewith his spirit was troubled. The same phrase occurs in regard to Pharaoh (<a href="/genesis/41-8.htm">Genesis 41:8</a>), when he had dreamed of the seven kine and seven ears of corn. The similarity of the thing to be stated might easily lead to a similarity of statement, without there being any necessary copying. If, as we believe, this portion of Daniel had an Aramaic original, the resemblance in language to Genesis proves very little. In this case also the reading of the Septuagint is different. Instead of רוּחו (ruho), "his spirit," the translators must have had בָחֲלום ἐν τῷ ἐνυπνίῳ; also instead of the feminine תִּתְפַיִם (tith'pa'em), the reading must have been יִתְפַעֶם (yith'pa'em). Though yod and tan are not readily confused, nun and tan in the older script are, and in Eastern Aramaic nun is the preformative of the third person imperfect, and a change may have been made in translating from the Aramaic. Professor Fuller, following Saadia, makes too much of the fact that, while in the present case the conjugation used is the hithpael, in Genesis it is niphal, since the niphal conjugation occurs in ver. 3. Kranichfeld holds that the "hithpael heightens the idea lying in the niphal." In Biblical Aramaic hithpael takes the place of the Hebrew niphal. And his sleep brake from him. While the meaning here is plain, the words are used in an unusual sense; the word here translated "brake from" is the passive of the verb "to be," in this precise sense only used here. The fact that the substantive verb in Eastern Aramaic has this significance (Nestle, 'Gram. Syr.,' 100) indicates that this is a case where the Syriac original shines through the translation. This is all the more obvious when we remember that in Eastern Aramaic נ (nun) was in the pre-formative. Analogous to this is the Latin use of the perfect of the substantive verb, e.g. funimus Troes; comp. <a href="/romans/6-17.htm">Romans 6:17</a>," God be thanked that ye were (η΅τε) the servants of sin." As we have said, the meaning of this verse is perfectly clear, and although there are differences of reading, there are none theft affect the sense. "In the second (or third) year of his reign, Nebuchaduezzar had a dream." To us in the West, living in the nineteenth century after Christ, it seems puerile to date so carefully a dream, of all things; but in the East, six hundred years before Christ, dreams had a very different importance from what they have now. In the history of Asshur-baui-pal dreams play a great part. Gyges submits to him in consequence of a dream In consequence of a dream Urdamane (Nut-mi-ammon) invades Egypt. Again and again is Asshur-bald-pal encouraged by dreams which appear to seers. It is ignorance of this that makes Hitzig declare, "The character of the king as here represented to us has no verisimilitude." Although Heredotus does make dreams prominent in his history, we could not imagine any of the diadochi recording and dating his dreams as does Asshur-bani-pal. <a href="/commentaries/daniel/2-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>In the second שְׁתַּ֗יִם (šə·ta·yim) Number - fd <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> Two (a cardinal number) year וּבִשְׁנַ֣ת (ū·ḇiš·naṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8141.htm">Strong's 8141: </a> A year of his נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּ֔ר (nə·ḇu·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5019.htm">Strong's 5019: </a> Nebuchadnezzar -- 'Nebo, protect the boundary', a Babylonian king reign, לְמַלְכוּת֙ (lə·mal·ḵūṯ) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4438.htm">Strong's 4438: </a> Royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom Nebuchadnezzar נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר (nə·ḇu·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5019.htm">Strong's 5019: </a> Nebuchadnezzar -- 'Nebo, protect the boundary', a Babylonian king had dreams חָלַ֥ם (ḥā·lam) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2492.htm">Strong's 2492: </a> To bind firmly, to be, plump, to dream that troubled וַתִּתְפָּ֣עֶם (wat·tiṯ·pā·‘em) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6470.htm">Strong's 6470: </a> To tap, beat regularly, to impel, agitate his spirit, רוּח֔וֹ (rū·ḥōw) Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7307.htm">Strong's 7307: </a> Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit and sleep וּשְׁנָת֖וֹ (ū·šə·nā·ṯōw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8142.htm">Strong's 8142: </a> Sleep deserted נִהְיְתָ֥ה (nih·yə·ṯāh) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be him. עָלָֽיו׃ (‘ā·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/daniel/2-1.htm">Daniel 2:1 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/daniel/2-1.htm">OT Prophets: Daniel 2:1 In the second year of the reign (Dan. Da Dn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/daniel/1-21.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Daniel 1:21"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Daniel 1:21" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/daniel/2-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Daniel 2:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Daniel 2:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>