Les Feldick Bible Study

What did Nebuchadnezzar demand that his magicians tell him?

Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his magicians tell him both the actual dream and its interpretation. He commanded all Babylon’s wise men to recover the dream and explain it; when they could not, he became furious and ordered them all destroyed. Because they failed, he commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

Les explains that Nebuchadnezzar was greatly shaken by a tremendous dream, a nightmare of nightmares, and he became belligerent and antagonistic toward all his magicians trying to get them to recover the dream. He commanded them to come in and tell him not only the interpretation of the dream, but also what the dream itself was. Les notes that these ancient Oriental kings were ruthless: if somebody could not fulfill what they were asked, they would put him to death. So the magicians were right on the line, and the king was angry and very furious because they could not recover his dream. He commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon, and the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain. They sought Daniel and his fellows, because Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were now in that same kettle of fish so far as Nebuchadnezzar was concerned. Then Daniel speaks up.