Daniel 2

Background to Daniel

Daniel chapter 1 verse 1 of the King James Version (written "Daniel 1:1 KJV") states:

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

MSN Encarta website (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562966/Nebuchadnezzar_II.html, 2 May 2006) states:

On March 16, 597 BC, [Nebuchadnezzar II] captured Jerusalem and took Jehoiachin, king of Judah, and many of his people captive to Babylonia.

Daniel 1 then relates the following:

1. Nebuchadnezzar beseiges Jerusalem, and Jehoiakim, king of Judah, among other people of Judah, is given to Nebuchadnezzar
2. The high-up and educated people of Israel taken back to Babylon

Kingdoms of the World

Daniel 2 relates the story of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, having a dream about a great image made of different metals.

Babylon

The head of the image was made of gold, and represented the kingdom of Babylon.

Persia

The chest and arms of the image were made of silver, and represented Persia. How do we know? Daniel 2 said that another kingdom would arise after the kingdom of Babylon. Which kingdomn arose after Babylon? Refer to the following quotes:

In 539 BC, Cyrus the Great captured Babylon and incorporated Babylonia into the newly founded Persian Empire. <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761560431/Babylon_(ancient_city).html>, 3 May 2006.

It surrendered without a struggle to Cyrus, but two sieges in the reign of Darius Hystaspis, and one in the reign of Xerxes, brought about the destruction of the defences, while the monotheistic rule of Persia allowed the temples to fall into decay. <http://5.1911encyclopedia.org/B/BA/BABYLON.htm>, 3 May 2006.

Under the rule of Nabonidus the city [of Babylon] was captured (538) by Cyrus the Great and was used as one of the administrative capitals of the Persian Empire. <http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Babylon>, 3 May 2006.

The steady growth of Persian power spelled the end of Babylonia, and in 538 BC the last of the Babylonian rulers surrendered to Cyrus the Great. Babylonia became an important region of the Persian Empire. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/B/Babylonia.asp>, 3 May 2006.

We see clearly that the silver represents Persia.

http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/Read_Media.asp?ID=1456
http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/Read_Media.asp?ID=233
http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/storacle_lessons.asp

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761560431/Babylon_(ancient_city).html
http://5.1911encyclopedia.org/B/BA/BABYLON.htm
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Babylon;_ylt=AndXN_uVObp57R_lmryr3OtSt8wF
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/B/Babylonia.asp

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/P/Persia.asp
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761564512/Persia.html

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/G/Greece.asp
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Greece
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_1741501460_3/Ancient_Greece.html