Why did Nebuchadnezzar command that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed?
Nebuchadnezzar was angry and very furious because the magicians could not recover or recount his troubling dream, much less interpret it. As a ruthless ancient Oriental king, he ordered all Babylon’s wise men slain when they failed to fulfill his demand.
Les teaches that Nebuchadnezzar was all shook up by a tremendous dream, a nightmare of all nightmares. He demanded that the magicians not only give the interpretation but also tell him what the dream was. When they could not recover the dream, he became belligerent and antagonistic, and because ancient Oriental kings were ruthless, those who could not fulfill the king’s request were put to death. Verse 12 says the king was angry and very furious and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. Verse 13 says the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain, and they sought Daniel and his fellows, who were in the same kettle of fish. Then Daniel speaks up in verse 14.
For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.