Page 64 - Daniel

this was only the second full year of his reign) and it is entirely possible
that the wise men were much older than the king, having served
Nebuchadnezzar’s father. It would be understandable that
Nebuchadnezzar might have previously been frustrated by these older
counselors and may have had a real desire to be rid of them in favor of

younger men whom he had chosen himself (cf. a similar situation with
King Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, in 1 Kings 12:1–15). Nebuchadnezzar
might well have doubted their honesty, sincerity, and capability, and
may even have wondered whether they were loyal to him. He may also
have questioned some of their superstitious practices.

In his combined frustration with his counselors and his irritation
stemming from the uncertainty of the meaning of the dream, it is
entirely possible that Nebuchadnezzar would have suddenly hardened in
his attitude toward his wise men and demanded that they should not

only interpret the dream but also state the dream itself. It may have
been a snap decision arising from the emotion of the moment, or it may
have been the result of frustration with these men over a long period. It
is significant that the younger wise men, such as Daniel and his
companions, were not present.

To reinforce his demand for both the dream and its interpretation,
Nebuchadnezzar told his wise men they would be “torn limb from limb.”
This was not an idle threat, but was in keeping with the cruelty that
could be expected from a despot such as Nebuchadnezzar. It was all too

common for victims to be executed by being dismembered. “The
violence and peremptoriness of the threatened punishment is in
accordance with what might be expected at the hands of an Eastern
despot; the Assyrians and Persians, especially, were notorious for the
barbarity of their punishments.” 11

If, however, the wise men were able to respond to the king’s request,
they were promised expensive gifts and great honor, a custom to which
the Bible bears consistent testimony, as in the case of Joseph, Mordecai,
and Daniel himself. “Rewards” is the translation of a Persian word, a
12
singular rather than plural, and has the idea of a “present.” To receive
these, they had only to tell the king the dream and its meaning.
Obviously, the wise men were confronted with a supreme test of their
superhuman claims. If they had genuine supernatural ability to interpret