Daniel Chapter 2 (Part4)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: An Image

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream of mystery. He did not understand it, and none of his wise men could explain what his dream was.

“There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries”, said Daniel to the king, “and he has shown king Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the days to come.”

Daniel continued:

“As you were laying there, O, king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.

As for me, the mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. ” (Daniel 2:29-30)

Below is Daniel’s account of the king’s dream: Daniel 2:31-35 (omitted)

King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was of a great image with:

• head

• breast and arms

• belly and waist

• legs and feet

• This image was mighty and its brightness excellent.

• This was no ordinary human image. To Nebuchadnezzar, its appearance was terrible.

How terrible?

• This image’s head was of fine gold.

• Its breast and its arms of silver.

• Its belly and its thighs of brass (or: bronze).

• Its legs of iron.

• Its feet part of iron and part of clay.

★ Nebuchadnezzar also saw in the dream: “A stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.” (Daniel 2:34, KJV)

• This stone was cut out without hands, meaning, the stone was not part of human body. Yet the image was from human with a head, breast and arms, belly and thighs, legs and feet.

Which part of the image did this stone smite?

• Not on the head

• Not on the breast and arms

• Not on the belly and thighs

• Not on the legs

★ But ON ITS FEET, which were part of iron and part of clay, and broken them to pieces. “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together…...”

• Originally, the head was of gold, its breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay.

• Now, when the stone smote its feet and broke them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, the gold broken to pieces together, and they became “like chaff of the summer threshing-floors, and the wind carried them away, and no place was found for them, and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:35)

★ This was the dream that King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed. But how could the image be sometimes silver, sometimes bronze, sometimes iron, and sometimes part of iron and part of clay? He couldn’t understand.

• God revealed the secret of this dream to Daniel in a night vision. Daniel, in turn, interpreted it to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

Daniel’s Interpretation of the dream

Daniel 2:36-45

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. (Verse 36)

• “we” here indicates that Daniel’s three companions were also present when he interpreted the dream to the king.

• Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and Daniel prayed to God together; now that Daniel was interpreting the dream to the king, they were with him.

“Thou, O king, are a king of kings, for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power and strength, and glory.” (Verse 37)

★ Nebuchadnezzar was said as “a king of kings”.

• The Babylonian empire was vast, and King Nebuchadnezzar defeated many kings, conquering many nations, including the entire kingdom of Israel (both the northern and southern kingdoms).

• God gave him kingdom, power, strength and glory, even entrusted the king of Judah to him.

• Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar was a king of kings, but not the King of Kings.

• Only Jesus Christ is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. He is the ruler of kings of the earth. (Revelation 1:5, 17:14, 19:16)

“And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. (Verse 38)

• It wasn’t you, the king of Babylon who had power for all these things. These all were not yours, but God gave them into your hands.

• Not only this land was given to you, not only the people been given to you, but also the birds of the air and the beasts of the field given to you to rule. The strength and power were given to you by God. God placed you to be a king of kings. This not something you could simply do as you please.

• Daniel was guiding King Nebuchadnezzar to know this Most High God.

★ Through this dream, God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to know a fact and truth: that God is the Most High, and the authority is in God’s hand, that God has entrusted all these things to you. You are God’s servant, and God now wants you to take control of all these things. You would not have all these things if God had not entrusted them to you. Don’t act upon your own will. Don’t mess with God.

“You are that head of gold” to be continued in the next message.

但以理书第二章（4）

尼布甲尼撒的梦：人像

尼布甲尼撒作的梦是异梦，他不明白，所有的哲士也都说不出来王到底作的这个梦是什么。

“这奥秘的事就在夜间异象中给但以理显明”，但以理对王说：“只有一位在天上的神，能显明奥秘的事，他已将日后必有的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。”（但以理书2：28）

但以理继续说道：

· 那显明奥秘事的主把将来必有的事指示你。

· 至于那奥秘的事显明给我，并非我的智慧胜过一切活人，乃为使王知道梦的讲解和心里的思念。

下面就是但以理说出王作的那个梦：

但以理书2：31-35

王啊，你梦见一个大像，这像甚高，极其光耀，站在你面前，形状甚是可怕。这像的头是精金的，胸膛和膀臂是银的，肚腹和腰是铜的，腿是铁的，脚是半铁半泥的。你观看，见有一块非人手凿出来的石头打在这像半铁半泥的脚上，把脚砸碎，于是金、银、铜、铁、泥都一同砸得粉碎，成如夏天禾场上的糠秕，被风吹散，无处可寻。打碎这像的石头变成一座大山，充满天下。

→ 尼布甲尼撒王作的这个梦，是一个人像：

· 有头、有胸膛和膀臂、有肚腹和腰、有腿有脚

· 这个人像非常高，又极其光耀

· 这不是一般的人像，在尼布甲尼撒看来形状很可怕。

为什么形状很可怕呢？下面就说到：

· 这像的头是精金的

· 胸膛和膀臂是银的

· 肚腹和腰是铜的

· 腿是铁的

· 脚是半铁半泥的

★ 尼布甲尼撒在梦中还看见：“有一块非人手凿出来的石头打在这像半铁半泥的脚上，把脚砸碎。”

· 这一块石头是非人手凿出来的石头，就是说，这块石头不是从人来的。

· 这块石头打在这像的脚上，脚是半铁半泥的。这块石头不是从人来的，也不是人手凿出来的。

· 而这个像是从人来的，有人的头、胸膛和膀臂、肚腹、腰、腿和脚。

这块非人手凿出来的石头打在这像的什么部位呢？

· 没有打在头上

· 也没有打在胸膛和膀臂上

· 没有打在肚腹和腰部上

· 也没有打在腿上

★ 只打在了那个半铁半泥的脚上，把脚砸碎了。“于是金、银、铜、铁、泥都一同砸得粉碎”。

· 本来头是金的，

· 胸部和膀臂是银的，

· 肚腹和腰部是铜的，

· 腿是铁的，

· 脚是半铁半泥，

· 当这块石头打在这半铁半泥的脚上，把脚砸碎了，于是金、银、铜、铁、泥也都一同被砸得粉碎了，“成如夏天禾场上的糠秕，被风吹散，无处可寻。打碎这像的石头变成一座大山，充满天下。”

这就是尼布甲尼撒王作的梦。可是，这个像怎么一下是银的，一下又是铜的，怎么一下是铁的，一下又是半铁半泥的呢？他不清楚。

神把这个梦的奥秘完完全全地告诉了但以理。但以理也就完完全全地告诉了尼布甲尼撒王。

这就是那梦

但以理书2：36-45

这就是那梦，我们在王面前要讲解那梦。（第36节）

· 这里说“我们”，可见，在但以理对王讲解梦时，他的那三个同伴也都在场。

· 哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亚撒利亚和但以理一同祷告神；现在但以理向王讲解梦，他们也和但以理在一起。

王啊，你是诸王之王，天上的神已将国度、权柄、能力、尊荣都赐给你。（第37节）

★ 为什么说尼布甲尼撒“是诸王之王”呢？

· 巴比伦帝国版图很大，尼布甲尼撒王胜过了很多的王，很多国家都被他灭亡了，而且还把整个以色列国（北国、南国）都灭了。

· 国度、权柄、能力、尊荣，神都赐给了他，连犹大王也都交付给了他。

· 所以说，尼布甲尼撒是诸王之王，但没有说他是万王之王，因为只有基督是万王之王。

· 只有基督是万王之王，万主之主。耶稣基督是世上君王的元首。（启示录1：5，17：14，19：16）

凡世人所住之地的走兽，并天空的飞鸟，他都交付你手，使你掌管这一切。你就是那金头。（第38节）

· 这里告诉王一件非常重要的事：不是你巴比伦王有权柄、有能力，所有这一切都不是你得到的，是神把这一切交在你的手里。

· 不但把这地交给了你，不但把人交给了你，连天上的飞鸟、地上的走兽都交给了你来掌管。这个权柄是神给你的，神要你在诸王中作王，不是你想作就能作的。你是神的仆人，神要你管理这一切。如果神没有将这些交给你，你根本得不到这一切。所以，你不要乱来。

· 但以理就是在引导尼布甲尼撒王认识这一位至高的神。

“你就是那金头”，下次交通。

Daniel Chapter 2 (Part 3)

God’s People under Discipline for Seventy Years

God had already delivered the people of Judah and the land to the king of Babylon. However, the people of Judah were descendants of Abraham. God had made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and later with David. God would not break his covenant, nor would he forsake his people. God would surely watch over his people. Now that the people of Judah and the land were in the hand of king of Babylon, God must have a plan.

→ Now listen to the words of God spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 24:1-3, KJV

The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

Then said the LORD unto me, what seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

• Jeconiah, also known as Jehoiachin, was the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. ​​Jehoiachin succeeded his father as king for three months, then Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged the city with his army. Jehoiachin did not resist; instead, he led his mother, servants, nobles, and officials out of the city, and all surrendered to the king of Babylon, and took the captive to Babylon. (2 Kings 24:10-16)

• The LORD said “…… the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians” (Jeremiah 24:5)

• “After this”, the Lord God spoke through the two baskets of figs set before the temple of God.

→ The symbolism of two baskets of figs:

Basket of Evil Figs, too Rotten to Eat

Jeremiah 24:8-10 (KJV)

And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

And I will deliver them to be removed into all kingdoms of earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

• After King Jehoiachin of Judah was taken captive to Babylon, the Babylonian king made his uncle Zedekiah as king in his place. (2 Kings 24:17)

• Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, installed by the Babylonian king, yet he rebelled against him. In the ninth year of his reign, the King of Babylon led his entire army to attack Jerusalem, besieged the city. Zedekiah attempted to escape, but was captured and put on trial. The king of Babylon killed all his sons before his eyes, gouged out his eyes, chained him with bronze chains, and took him to Babylon.

• Zedekiah and those disobeyed king of Babylon were like the rotten, inedible figs, and their end was destruction, thus evil figs symbolizing those who disobey God would perish.

Basket of Good Figs

Jeremiah 24:4-7 (KJV)

Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, who I have sent out of this place into the land of Chaldeans for their good.

For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto to me with their whole heart.

• King Jehoiachin of Judah surrendered to the king of Babylon and was taken captive to Babylon, but later God raised him up. He was released out of prison, and ate bread all the days of his life. (2 Kings 25:27-30)

• Those who were taken captive with him to Babylon, and their descendants, built houses there, planted fields, had children, and prayed for peace in their cities, for if the city was at peace, they would also be at peace (Jeremiah 29:1-7). The captive Jews who obeyed God survived; they were regarded as good figs, because God’s eyes watched over them. And God would bring them back.

• God did not deliver the Jews to Nebuchadnezzar to destroy them, but to test them, so that they might have a heart that knows God. Because they did not obey God’s word and did not follow the Mosaic Law, God used the king of Babylon to take them captive to discipline them and to make them know the one true God.

→ How long does it take for God to discipline his people?

Seventy Years

Jeremiah 25:8-14 (KJV)

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; because ye have not heard my words,

Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

And this whole land shall be desolation, and astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesized against all the nations.

For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

→ When did Jeremiah preach these words of God?

• “In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 25:1).

• King Nebuchadnezzar ascended the throne in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah. ​​Upon his ascension, God’s words came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah and all the surrounding nations.

• God delivered his people into the hands of the Babylonian king because they disobeyed his word. The people of Judah and all the surrounding nations were to serve the Babylonian king for seventy years. This was God’s will.

• God’s discipline and arrangements for his people are time-bound. Whether it was the “four hundred years” of suffering that the descendants of Abraham would endure in Egypt (Genesis 15:13), or the “ten days” of tribulation that the church in Smyrna would suffer (Revelation 2:10), God’s arrangements had a time limit.

★ After the seventy years were up, the people of Judah would return.

• How would they return?

• When God started punishing Babylon. Another nation would rise up and destroy Babylon. After Babylon’s destruction, the Chaldeans would become slaves to other nations. This was God’s doing.

• For the Jews, serving the Babylonian king for seventy years was God’s way of disciplining them. However, because God had made covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, God could not break his covenant. Therefore, after the discipline, God would bring the Jews back to their place.

• God called Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian king as “my servant” (Jeremiah 25:8). A servant is someone God uses. For this reason, Nebuchadnezzar wondered if his kingdom would last forever.

• Of course, no king doesn’t want his kingdom to last forever. God has his ways; God arranges everything. God revealed all his arrangements in the dream Nebuchadnezzar had, but he didn’t understand the dream he had.

★ This dream is a mystery. Who can explain it?

→ Read again Daniel 2:28: “But there is a God in heaven that reveals mysteries. He has shown king Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the days to come.”

• This is what Daniel’s words mean: The dream you had is a mystery, and only this God in heaven reveals secrets. He has already shown you what will happen in the future. These things are certain to happen. God has arranged them, and they are bound to happen.

• Daniel continued saying to the king: “As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.” (Daniel 2:30)

• Daniel gave glory and power to God. This was what he meant: God gave this dream to you, not to me. Now God has told you, King of Babylon, about the future. Why I am also told? It’s because you don’t understand, that’s why I’m being told. It’s not because I’m very clever or wise, “but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.”

• Daniel wanted king Nebuchadnezzar to know a truth: that God reigns in the kingdoms of men, and that earthly kings should not act recklessly. If you disobey God’s will and act according to your own will, you will bear full responsibility for the consequences.

To be continued.

但以理书第二章（3）

神的子民受管教七十年

神已经把以犹大人及那地都交给了巴比伦王。可是，犹大人是亚伯拉罕的后裔，神和亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各立了约，以后又和大卫立了约，神是不会悔约的，也不会背弃他的约，神一定要看顾他的子民。现在神把犹大人以及这个地都交在了巴比伦王的手里，神一定有安排。

→ 先听听先知耶利米传讲的神的话：（耶利米书24：1-3）

巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒将犹大王约雅敬的儿子耶哥尼雅和犹大的首领，并工匠、铁匠从耶路撒冷掳去，带到巴比伦。这事以后，耶和华指给我看，有两筐无花果放在耶和华的殿前。一筐是极好的无花果，好像是初熟的；一筐是极坏的无花果，坏得不可吃。于是耶和华问我说：“耶利米你看见了什么？”我说：“我看见无花果，好的极好，坏的极坏，坏得不可吃。”

· 耶哥尼雅，又名约雅斤，是犹大王约雅敬的儿子。他接续父亲作王三个月，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒带领军兵围困城，约雅斤没有作任何反抗，而是带领他母亲、臣仆、首领、太监一同出城，投降巴比伦王。（王下24：10-16）

· “这事以后”，就是指着“巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒将犹大王约雅敬的儿子耶哥尼雅和犹大的首领，并工匠、铁匠从耶路撒冷掳去，带到巴比伦”以后，耶和华神藉着在神殿前的两筐无花果说话。

→ 两筐无花果的表征：

★ 无果花，坏的极坏，坏得不可吃：

耶和华如此说：“我必将犹大王西底家和他的首领，以及剩在这地耶路撒冷的余民，并住在埃及地的犹大人都交出来，好像那极坏、坏得不可吃的无花果。我必使他们交出来，在天下万国中抛来抛去，遭遇灾祸。在我赶逐他们到的各处，成为凌辱、笑谈、讥刺、咒诅。我必使刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫临到他们，直到他们从所赐给他 和他们列祖之地灭绝。”（耶24：8-10）

· 犹大王约雅斤被掳到巴比伦后，巴比伦王立他的叔叔西底家代替他作王。（王下24：17）

· 西底家是犹大国最后一个王，他是巴比伦王立的，然而他却背叛了巴比伦王。在他作王第九年时，巴比伦王率领全军来攻击耶路撒冷，将城攻破，他逃跑未遂，被抓住受到审判。巴比伦王在他眼前杀死他的众子，并剜了他眼睛，用铜链锁着他，带到巴比伦去。

· 他以及那些不顺从的人就是那极坏的、坏得不可吃的无花果，他们的结局就是灭绝。背神者亡。

★ 无花果，好的极好：

耶和华的话临到我说：“耶和华以色列的神如此说：被掳去的犹大人，就是我打发离开这地到迦勒底人之地去的，我必看顾他们如这好无花果，使他们得好处。我要眷顾他们，使他们得好处，领他们归回这地。我也要建立他们，必不拆毁；栽植他们，并不拔出。我要赐他们认识我的心，知道我是耶和华。他们要作我的子民，我要作他们的神，因为他们要一心归向我。” （耶24：4-7）

· 犹大王约雅斤投降巴比伦王，并被掳到巴比伦，然而后来神使他抬头（王下25：27-30）。

· 与他一同被掳到巴比伦的人以及他们的后代，要在那里盖造房屋、栽种田园，生儿育女，并为他们所在之城求平安，因为那城得平安，他们也随着得平安（耶29：1-7）。被掳去的犹大人顺从神就得以存活，他们就是那无花果，好的极好的无花果，因为神必看顾他们，使他们得好处。

· 神把犹大人交给尼布甲尼撒，并不是要灭绝他们，乃是藉着他的手试炼他们，要使他们有一个认识神的心。原来他们不听从神的话，不按着摩西律法行，神就藉着巴比伦王的手把他们掳去，是要管教他们，要他们认识这独一的真神。

→ 神对子民的管教要多久呢？（耶利米书25：8-14）

所以万军之耶和华如此说：“因为你们没有听从我的话，我必召北方的众族和我的仆人巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来攻击这地和这地的军民，并四围一切的国民。我要将他们尽行灭绝，以致他们令人惊骇、嗤笑，并且永久荒凉。这是耶和华说的。我又要使欢喜和快乐的声音，新郎和新妇的声音，推磨的声音和灯的亮光，从他们中间止息。这全地必然荒凉，令人惊骇，这些国民要服侍巴比伦王和那国民，并迦勒底人之地，因他们的罪孽使那地永远荒凉。这是耶和华说的，就是记在这书上的话，是耶利米向这些国民说的预言，都临到那地。因为有多国和大君王必使迦勒底人作奴仆，我也必照他们的行为，按他们手所作的报应他们。”

· 耶利米传讲神的这话是在什么时候呢？

· “犹大王约西亚的儿子约雅敬第四年，就是尼布甲尼撒的元年，耶和华论犹大众民的话临到耶利米。”（耶25：1）

· 尼布甲尼撒王是在犹大王约雅敬第四年登基。他一登基，神论犹大众民及四围一切国民的话就临到了耶利米。

· 神将犹大人交在巴比伦王手中，是因为他们不从神的话。犹大人和四围一切的国民都要服侍巴比伦王七十年。这是神的定意。

· 神对自己百姓的管教、安排都是有时间的。不论是亚伯拉罕的后裔必在埃及地受苦待“四百年”（创15：13），还是士每拿教会必受患难“十日”（启2：10），神的安排是有时限的。

★ 七十年满了 以后，犹大人还要回归。

· 怎样回归呢？那就是神要刑罚巴比伦了。以后有另外的国家要兴起把巴比伦国灭亡。巴比伦灭亡以后，迦勒底人就要作其他国的奴仆了。这是神作的事。

· 服侍巴比伦王七十年，对犹大人来讲，这是神要管教他们。但是，因为神于亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各、大卫都立了约，神不能背弃他的约。所以，在管教完了以后，神还要使犹大人回归。

· 神称巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒为“我的仆人”（耶25：8）。仆人，就是神所用的人。因为这个缘故，尼布甲尼撒心里就会想到，他的这个国会不会存到永永远远。

· 当然，没有一个王不想存到永永远远的。神有神的作法，神会安排一切。神将一切的安排都显明在他作的那个梦里，但他很不理解自己所作的这个梦。

· 这个梦是奥秘的事，谁能解释呢？

→ 再回到但以理书2：28：“只有一位在天上的神能显明奥秘的事。他已将日后必有的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。”

· 但以理的这话，意思是说：王你作的这个梦是奥秘的事，只有天上的这位神能显明奥秘的事，他已经把将来必有的事指示你了。这是必有的事，神都安排好了，这些事是一定要发生的。

· 但以理继续对王说到：“至于那奥秘的事显明给我，并非因我的智慧胜过一切活人，乃为使王知道梦的讲解和心里的思念。”

· 但以理把荣耀、能力归给神。神是把这个梦给你的，不是给我的。现在是神把将来的事告诉了你巴比伦王。为什么现在也让我知道了呢？就是因为你不明白，所以才告诉我。并不是因为我很聪明，并不是我很有智慧，“乃为使王知道梦的讲解和心里的思念”。

· 这就是告诉尼布甲尼撒说，神在人的国中掌权，地上的君王不要乱来。如果你不听，如果照着你的意思去作，结果你要负一切的责任。

下次交通巴比伦王作这个梦的内容。

但以理书第二章（2）

这奥秘的事就在夜间向但以理显明

尼布甲尼撒王因为没有人能够告诉他作的梦是什么，就大发烈怒要灭绝巴比伦所有的哲士，哲士包括但以理和他的同伴。

但以理从护卫长亚略那里问清了缘由，遂进去求王宽限，就可以将梦的讲解告诉王。

求王宽限，因为但以理要先求问神。他不知道王所作的梦是什么，但他知道他所信的这位神知道。只有这位神知道，也只有这位神能。

但以理将这事告诉了他的同伴哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亚撒利雅，要他们祈求天上的神施怜悯，将这奥秘的事指明，免得但以理和他的同伴与巴比伦其余的哲士一同灭亡。

在第一章里，但以理就有信心的见证。他凭着对神的信心，立志不吃祭过偶像的食物，不让这些食物来玷污他。鉴察人心的神保守了他和他的同伴，他们即使吃素菜、喝白水，但他们的面貌比用王膳的一切少年人更加俊美肥胖。

但以理他们四个少年人不接受巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒祭过偶像的食物，在神的面前把自己与巴比伦人分别出来。现在王因梦一事要灭绝包括他们在内的所有哲士，面对这样紧急的情势，他们就一定要祈求神把他们分别出来，不能让他们和巴比伦国的哲士一样地被杀，否则就没有见证了。

巴比伦的哲士们是拜偶像的。

“他们的偶像是金的银的，

是人手所造的，

有口却不能言，

有眼却不能看，

有耳却不能听，

有鼻却不能闻，

有手却不能摸，

有脚却不能走，

有喉咙也不能出声。

造他的要他一样，

凡靠他的也要如此。”（诗篇115：4-8）

★ 而但以理他们是属神的人，他们所信的神是造天地万物的神，掌管万有，一切都在神的手里。他们相信神一定给他们开一条路。为此他们祈求天上的神，祈求神的怜悯，把他们分别出来。

→ 神听了他们的祷告： “这奥秘的事就在夜间异象中给但以理显明，但以理便称颂天上的神。”（但以理书2：19）

· 神叫但以理知道尼布甲尼撒王作的梦是“奥秘的事”。

· 神藉异象将“这奥秘的事”显明给但以理，异象发生“在夜间”。夜间，即是非常安静的时候，也是异常事情发生的时候。

★ 圣经举例：

· “当夜，迦勒底王伯沙撒被杀”（但5：30）。

· 犹大受了那点饼，立刻就出去。那时候是夜间了。（约13：30）

· 主耶稣被抓捕是在夜间。（约18：1-9）

· 主的日子来到，好像夜间的贼一样。（帖前5：1-2，启16：15）

→ 但以理回应神的祷告（但以理书2：20-23）：

“神的名是应当称颂的，从亘古直到永远，因为智慧能力都属乎他。

他改变时候、日期、废王、立王，将智慧赐予智慧人，将知识赐予聪明人。

他显明深奥隐秘的事，知道暗中所有的，光明也与他同居。

我列祖的神啊，我感谢你、赞美你，因你将智慧才能赐给我，允准我们所求的，把王的事给我们指明。”

· 为什么但以理说“他改变时候、日期、废王、立王，……”这些话呢？因为尼布甲尼撒王作的这个梦就是改变日期的梦，就是废王、立王的梦。这个梦就是告诉尼布甲尼撒：你是王，但神在人的国中掌权。

· 神就是光。神知道暗中所有的，神知道你尼布甲尼撒王现在到底在想什么。

· 神藉异象启示给但以理，因此但以理就知道了尼布甲尼撒王作的梦是什么，他也就能够解这个梦了。

· 但以理非常清楚这个奥秘的事不是他凭聪明智慧的大脑就能知道的，那是神赐给他的智慧和能力叫他知道。“从亘古直到永远，因为智慧能力都属乎他”。因此，他把荣耀、智慧、能力归给神，说：“我列祖的神啊，我感谢你、赞美你，因你将智慧才能赐给我，允准我们所求的，把王的事给我们指明。”

· 于是但以理求王的护卫长亚略领他到王的面前，他要将梦的讲解告诉王。

→ 亚略急忙将但以理领到王面前，对王说：“我在被掳的犹大人中遇见一人，他能将梦的讲解告诉王。”（但2：25）

· 巴比伦人中有那么多的哲士、聪明、智慧的人，但亚略却“在被掳的犹大人中遇见一人”能讲解王的梦，而这人的地位如此卑微，是“在被掳的犹大人中”。

· 注意：不是亚略“遇见”或发现但以理能将梦的讲解告诉王，是但以理主动先向他说话。

· 王问称为伯沙撒的但以理说：“你能将我所作的梦和梦的讲解告诉我吗？”这个问话，王已经问过其他的哲士了，但无一人能将他所作的梦告诉他，现在王也同样地问但以理。

→ 但以理在王面前回答说：

“王所问的那奥秘事，哲士、用法术的、术士、观兆的，都不能告诉王。只有一位在天上的神能显明奥秘的事，他已将日后必有的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。你的梦和你在床上脑中的异象是这样：王啊，你在床上想到后来的事，那显明奥秘事的主把将来必有的事指示你。至于那奥秘的事显明给我，并非我的智慧胜过一切活人，乃为使王知道梦的讲解和心里的思念。”（但2：27-30）

· 王作的这个梦是奥秘的事，无一人能够知晓，当然也包括但以理在内。但神藉异象将那奥秘的事显明给但以理，但以理非常清楚地知道并告诉王说：“并非我的智慧胜过一切活人，乃为使王知道梦的讲解和心里的思念。”

→ 尼布甲尼撒在床上想到的是日后的事：

· 因为巴比伦王的版图很大，从地中海一直到伯拉大河（即幼发拉底河）。

· 尼布甲尼撒王登基作王，统治着这么一个地大国强的地方，所以，在他作王的第二年他就想到了一件事，他这个国能维持多久呢？能维持到永久吗？

· 日有所思，夜有所梦。王作的这个梦是奥秘的事，但只有在天上的神能显明奥秘的事，神就藉着梦把将来的事告诉了尼布甲尼撒王。

→ “主将犹大王约雅敬，并神殿中器皿几份交付他手”（但1：2）

· 是“主将犹大王约雅敬…..交付他手”，因此我们需要知道一件非常重要的事，就是神已经以色列人及那地都交给了巴比伦王。

· 巴比伦王是神的仆人，神使用他来管教自己的子民，因为犹大人不听神的话。先知耶利米就说到，从北方要来一国灭亡犹大国，还要把人民掳走，神要把犹大国所在的这个地交给巴比伦王。

· 可是，犹大人是亚伯拉罕的后裔，神和亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各立了约，以后又和大卫立了约，神不会悔约的，也不会背弃他的约，神一定要看顾他的子民。现在，神把犹大人、这个地都交在了巴比伦王的手里，神一定有安排。

Daniel Chapter 2 (Part 2)

The Mystery Was Revealed to Daniel during the Night

King Nebuchadnezzar was furious because no one could tell him what his dream was, and he issued a decree to put death to all the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his friends.

From Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, Daniel got to know the king’s harsh decree. He went in and asked the king for time because Daniel need to pray and ask God first. He did not know what the king’s dream was, but he knew that the God he trusted knew. Only this God knew, and only this God could.

Daniel told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about this matter, urging them to plead to the God of heaven for mercy concerning the mystery, so that Daniel and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

In chapter 1, Daniel had demonstrated a testimony of faith. Through his faith in God, he resolved not to eat food sacrificed to idols, nor let such food defile him. God who searches hearts preserved Daniel and his friends. Even though they ate only vegetables and drank water, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

Daniel and his three friends refused to take food offered to idols, thus before God separating themselves from the Babylonians. Now, because of the dream, the king wanted to kill all the wise men, including Daniel and his friends. Faced with such a pressing situation, they must pray to God to separate them, to protect them from being killed like any other wise men of Babylon, otherwise there would be no witness. (no difference between them and those wise men of Babylon)

★ The wise men of Babylon were idol worshippers.

Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.

They have mouths but cannot speak;

eyes, but they cannot see;

they have ears, but cannot hear,

noses, but they cannot smell;

they have hands, but cannot feel,

feet, but they cannot walk;

nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

Those who make them will be like them,

and so will all who trust in them. (Psalm 115:4-8).

★ Daniel and his friends, however, were men of God. God they trusted was the God who created heavens and earth and all things, who ruled over all things; everything was in God’s hands. They believed that God would surely open a way for them. Therefore, they prayed to the God in heavens, asking for His mercy and to separate them from the Babylonians.

→ God heard their prayer: “During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God in heavens.” (Daniel 2:19)

• God made it clear to Daniel that king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was a “mystery.”

• God revealed “the mystery” to Daniel through a vision, which occurred “at night.” Night is a time of great quiet, and also a time when extraordinary things happen.

★ Examples in the Bible:

• That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. (Dan 5:30)

• As soon as Judah had taken the bread, he went out and it was night. (John 13:30)

• Jesus was arrested at night. (John 18:1-9)

• The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, Revelation 16:15)

→ Daniel responded with praise and thankfulness. (Daniel 2:20-23)

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons; he set up kings and deposes them;

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;

He knows what lies in darkness; and the light dwells with him.

I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers;

You have given me wisdom and power;

You have made known to me what we asked of you,

You have make known to us the dream of the king.”

• Why did Daniel say, “He changes times and seaons, sets up kings and deposes them ……”? Because king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was about changing times; a dream about deposing and setting up a king. This dream was telling Nebuchadnezzar: You are a king, but God reigns in the kingdom of men.

• God is light. God knows all that is in darkness; God knows what King Nebuchadnezzar is thinking right now.

• God revealed the dream to Daniel through a vision, and thus Daniel knew the meaning of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and was able to interpret it.

• Daniel clearly understood that this mystery was not something he could know through his own cleverness; it was a gift of wisdom and power from God. “For ever and ever, for wisdom and power are his”. Therefore, he gave glory to God, saying, “I thank and praise you, God of my fathers. You have made known to me what we asked of you, and you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

• Then Daniel asked Arioch, the king’s captain of guard, to take him to the king so that he could tell the king the interpretation of his dream.

→ Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from the Judah who can tell the king what his dream means” (Daniel 2:25).

• There were many wise men among the Babylonians, but Arian said he “found a man among the exiles from the Judah ” who could interpret the king’s dream, and this man was so lowly, “among the exiles from the Judah.”

• By the way, it was not Arioch who “found” Daniel who could interpret the king’s dream. It was Daniel who initiated the communication.

• The king asked Daniel, who was called Belshazzar, “Can you tell me my dream and its interpretation?” The king had already asked other wise men this question, but none could tell him his dream; now the king asked Daniel the same question.

→ Daniel replied:

“No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these: As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind…….” (Daniel 2:27-30)

• The king’s dream was a mystery, and no one could know it, including Daniel. But God revealed the mystery to Daniel through a vision, and Daniel knew it very clearly and told the king, “…… this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind……”

→ Nebuchadnezzar, lying in bed, pondered the future:

• The Babylonian kingdom was vast, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River.

• King Nebuchadnezzar, ruling over such a large and powerful territory, began to wonder in his second year on the throne: how long could his kingdom last? Could it last forever?

• As the saying goes, what you think about during the day, you dream about it at night. The king’s dream was a mystery, but only God in heaven can reveal mysteries. God is the revealer. God used the dream to tell King Nebuchadnezzar about the future.

→ “The Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some the articles from the temple of God.” (Daniel 1:2)

• It is “The Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah…… into his hand”. Therefore, we need to know something very important: God had entrusted the king of Judah, its people and the land into hand of the king of Babylon.

• The king of Babylon was God’s servant, whom God used to discipline his people because they disobeyed God. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of a kingdom coming from the north to destroy Judah and take its people captive.

• However, the people of Judah were descendants of Abraham. God had made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and later with David. God would not break his covenant, nor would he betray his covenant. God would surely watch over his people. Now God handed his people and the land over to the king of Babylon; God must have a plan.

USA Paid Subscribers will receive a copy of my book titled “Crumbs Falling from the Lord’s Table”.

但以理书第二章（2）

这奥秘的事就在夜间向但以理显明

尼布甲尼撒王因为没有人能够告诉他作的梦是什么，就大发烈怒要灭绝巴比伦所有的哲士，哲士包括但以理和他的同伴。

但以理从护卫长亚略那里问清了缘由，遂进去求王宽限，就可以将梦的讲解告诉王。

求王宽限，因为但以理要先求问神。他不知道王所作的梦是什么，但他知道他所信的这位神知道。只有这位神知道，也只有这位神能。

但以理将这事告诉了他的同伴哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亚撒利雅，要他们祈求天上的神施怜悯，将这奥秘的事指明，免得但以理和他的同伴与巴比伦其余的哲士一同灭亡。

在第一章里，但以理就有信心的见证。他凭着对神的信心，立志不吃祭过偶像的食物，不让这些食物来玷污他。鉴察人心的神保守了他和他的同伴，他们即使吃素菜、喝白水，但他们的面貌比用王膳的一切少年人更加俊美肥胖。

但以理他们四个少年人不接受巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒祭过偶像的食物，在神的面前把自己与巴比伦人分别出来。现在王因梦一事要灭绝包括他们在内的所有哲士，面对这样紧急的情势，他们就一定要祈求神把他们分别出来，不能让他们和巴比伦国的哲士一样地被杀，否则就没有见证了。

巴比伦的哲士们是拜偶像的。

“他们的偶像是金的银的，

是人手所造的，

有口却不能言，

有眼却不能看，

有耳却不能听，

有鼻却不能闻，

有手却不能摸，

有脚却能走，

有喉咙也不能出声。

造他的要他一样，

凡靠他的也要如此。”（诗篇115：4-8）

★ 而但以理他们是属神的人，他们所信的神是造天地万物的神，掌管万有，一切都在神的手里。他们相信神一定给他们开一条路。为此他们祈求天上的神，祈求神的怜悯，把他们分别出来。

→ 神听了他们的祷告： “这奥秘的事就在夜间异象中给但以理显明，但以理便称颂天上的神。”（但以理书2：19）

· 神叫但以理知道尼布甲尼撒王作的梦是“奥秘的事”。

· 神藉异象将“这奥秘的事”显明给但以理，异象发生“在夜间”。夜间，即是非常安静的时候，也是异常事情发生的时候。

★ 圣经举例：

· “当夜，迦勒底王伯沙撒被杀”（但5：30）。

· 犹大受了那点饼，立刻就出去。那时候是夜间了。（约13：30）

· 主耶稣被抓捕是在夜间。（约18：1-9）

· 主的日子来到，好像夜间的贼一样。（帖前5：1-2，启16：15）

→ 但以理回应神的祷告（但以理书2：20-23）：

“神的名是应当称颂的，从亘古直到永远，因为智慧能力都属乎他。

他改变时候、日期、废王、立王，将智慧赐予智慧人，将知识赐予聪明人。

他显明深奥隐秘的事，知道暗中所有的，光明也与他同居。

我列祖的神啊，我感谢你、赞美你，因你将智慧才能赐给我，允准我们所求的，把王的事给我们指明。”

· 为什么但以理说“他改变时候、日期、废王、立王，……”这些话呢？因为尼布甲尼撒王作的这个梦就是改变日期的梦，就是废王、立王的梦。这个梦就是告诉尼布甲尼撒：你是王，但神在人的国中掌权。

· 神就是光。神知道暗中所有的，神知道你尼布甲尼撒王现在到底在想什么。

· 神藉异象启示给但以理，因此但以理就知道了尼布甲尼撒王作的梦是什么，他也就能够解这个梦了。

· 但以理非常清楚这个奥秘的事不是他凭聪明智慧的大脑就能知道的，那是神赐给他的智慧和能力叫他知道。“从亘古直到永远，因为智慧能力都属乎他”。因此，他把荣耀、智慧、能力归给神，说：“我列祖的神啊，我感谢你、赞美你，因你将智慧才能赐给我，允准我们所求的，把王的事给我们指明。”

· 于是但以理求王的护卫长亚略领他到王的面前，他要将梦的讲解告诉王。

→ 亚略急忙将但以理领到王面前，对王说：“我在被掳的犹大人中遇见一人，他能将梦的讲解告诉王。”（但2：25）

· 巴比伦人中有那么多的哲士、聪明、智慧的人，但亚略却“在被掳的犹大人中遇见一人”能讲解王的梦，而这人的地位如此卑微，是“在被掳的犹大人中”。

· 注意：不是亚略“遇见”或发现但以理能将梦的讲解告诉王，是但以理主动先向他说话。

· 王问称为伯沙撒的但以理说：“你能将我所作的梦和梦的讲解告诉我吗？”这个问话，王已经问过其他的哲士了，但无一人能将他所作的梦告诉他，现在王也同样地问但以理。

→ 但以理在王面前回答说：

“王所问的那奥秘事，哲士、用法术的、术士、观兆的，都不能告诉王。只有一位在天上的神能显明奥秘的事，他已将日后必有的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。你的梦和你在床上脑中的异象是这样：王啊，你在床上想到后来的事，那显明奥秘事的主把将来必有的事指示你。至于那奥秘的事显明给我，并非我的智慧胜过一切活人，乃为使王知道梦的讲解和心里的思念。”（但2：27-30）

· 王作的这个梦是奥秘的事，无一人能够知晓，当然也包括但以理在内。但神藉异象将那奥秘的事显明给但以理，但以理非常清楚地知道并告诉王说：“并非我的智慧胜过一切活人，乃为使王知道梦的讲解和心里的思念。”

→ 尼布甲尼撒在床上想到的是日后的事：

· 因为巴比伦王的版图很大，从地中海一直到伯拉大河（即幼发拉底河）。

· 尼布甲尼撒王登基作王，统治着这么一个地大国强的地方，所以，在他作王的第二年他就想到了一件事，他这个国能维持多久呢？能维持到永久吗？

· 日有所思，夜有所梦。王作的这个梦是奥秘的事，但只有在天上的神能显明奥秘的事，神就藉着梦把将来的事告诉了尼布甲尼撒王。

→ “主将犹大王约雅敬，并神殿中器皿几份交付他手”（但1：2）

· 是“主将犹大王约雅敬…..交付他手”，因此我们需要知道一件非常重要的事，就是神已经以色列人及那地都交给了巴比伦王。

· 巴比伦王是神的仆人，神使用他来管教自己的子民，因为犹大人不听神的话。先知耶利米就说到，从北方要来一国灭亡犹大国，还要把人民掳走，神要把犹大国所在的这个地交给巴比伦王。

· 可是，犹大人是亚伯拉罕的后裔，神和亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各立了约，以后又和大卫立了约，神不会悔约的，也不会背弃他的约，神一定要看顾他的子民。现在，神把犹大人、这个地都交在了巴比伦王的手里，神一定有安排。

USA Paid Subscribers will receive a copy of my book titled “ Crumbs Falling from the Lord’s Table”.

Daniel Chapter 2 (1)

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams

→ The time Nebuchadnezzar had his dreams: In the second year of his reign. (Dan 2:1)

When did Nebuchadnezzar ascend the throne?

Jeremiah 25:1-14

★ Jeremiah 25:1-14 specifies three timelines.

The first timeline: “The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” (verse 1)

• Nebuchadnezzar ascended the throne in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah.

• “In the third year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.” (Dan 1:1) At this time, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was king, but had not yet ascended the throne. He led his army to besiege Jerusalem, capturing king Jehoiakim of Judah and some others, including Daniel.

• “In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”

• Nebuchadnezzar had dreams in the second year of his reign, which occurred in the fifth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah.

The second timeline: “For twenty-three years ---- from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day ---- the word of the LORD has come to me constantly, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.” (verse 3)

• Jeremiah was called by God to speak to the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The time of his calling was “from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.”

The third timeline: “The whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, and the land of the Chaldeans for their guilt,” declared the LORD, “and will make it desolate.” (verses 11-12)

• “These nations” refer to all nations including Judah. ​​They would serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

• The attack on Jerusalem and its inhabitants by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was ordained by God.

• Nebuchadnezzar was called “my servant” by God. He was God’s servant because he was an instrument in God’s hands, used by God to discipline the people of Judah for seventy years.

• When the seventy years were fulfilled, God would punish the king of Babylon, his people, and the land of the Chaldeans.

King Nebuchadnezzar had dreams in the second year of his reign.

Daniel 2:1-11

• After having had dreams, he was “troubled in spirit and could not sleep.”

• Note: “Dreams” in plural, which means more than once he had dreams, but the dreams were of one thing ---- the same dream he dreamed more than once.

• The dream troubled his spirit so much that he could not sleep. Clearly, this dream was extremely important to him. He believed it so strongly that he couldn’t sleep. His spirit was disturbed.

• So, he summoned magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and Chaldeans—all of whom were wise men (Daniel 2:12). Chaldeans means “astrologers,” those who used astrology for fortune-telling.

• The king asked them to tell him what his dream was. In other words, instead of telling them his dream, the king asked them to recount it and interpret it.

• The king twice said, “This is what I have firmly decided” (Dan 2:5, 8). The king had decided not to tell them, and they must tell him what the dream he dreamed and interpreter it.

→ The king said, “If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So, tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

► If they could not tell the dream and interpret it, they would be cut into pieces. Torture by cutting into pieces is an extremely cruel form of execution.

► If they could tell the king’s dream and interpret it, they would be rewarded and receive great honor.

• If you have a dream but don’t speak of it, who will know what you dreamed of? If you speak of it, perhaps someone will interpret it for you.

• But the problem the Chaldeans faced was this: the king wouldn’t tell them what his dream was, yet he wanted them to recount and interpret it. Who could recount someone else’s dream?

Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.” (Daniel 2:7-9)

• This dream of the king concerned the future changes of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar said, “You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change.”

► The Chaldeans answered the king, saying:

“There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except gods, and they do not live among men.” (Daniel 2:10-11)

• What they mean is: You don’t even tell us the dream, yet you ask us to interpret it? That’s impossible! No one on earth can do what the king has asked.

★ They made king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:12)

• So, the decree was issued to put all the wise men to death. (Daniel 2:13)

• The wise men included Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. In Chapter One, it is said that the four young men of Judah came to the king at the appointed time, and the king talked with them. He found that none was equal to Daniel and his companions, so they entered the king’s service. The king tested them on everything and found that their wisdom and understanding ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. (Daniel 1:18-20)

• King Nebuchadnezzar’s order to execute all the wise men naturally included Daniel and his companions. Then “men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.”

* Message will be continued.

Postscript:

“Then the Chaldeans answered in Aramaic” (Dan 2:4).

→ There are two major passages in the Bible written in Aramaic:

• Ezra 4:8-6, 18; 7:12-26

• Daniel 2:4-7:28

→ Aramaic and Hebrew are closely related (Genesis 10:21-31, 11:10-26)

• Shem was the ancestor of the Hebrews.

• Both Aramean and Hebrew are descendants of Shem (Genesis 10:22, 25), indicating that both ​​belong to the Semitic language family.

• Abraham was called a “Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13). Hebrews are “those who crossed the river” or “those who came from the other side of the river”.

• Abraham had to cross a river, namely the Euphrates, when he came out of Ur of the Chaldeans. (Genesis 11:31)

→ Genesis 11:10-26, the genealogy of Shem

• This genealogy of Shem is after Noah’s flood.

• This genealogy does not record “Elam, Assyria, Luther and Aram” (Genesis 10:22), but begins with “Arphaxad”.

• Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. And Arphaxad, grandfather of “Eber”. (Genesis 11:14)

• Two sons were born to Eber. One was named Peleg, and his brother was named Joktan. (Genesis 10:24-25)

• However, the genealogy of Shem after the flood only records “Peleg” in order to introduce “Abram”, that is, Abraham. The salvation that God has prepared for mankind—justification by faith— begins with Abraham.

• Peleg means “divided” because in his time the earth was divided.

USA Paid Subscribers will receive a copy of my book entitled, “Crumbs Falling from the Lord’s Table”.

但以理书第二章（1）

尼布甲尼撒作了梦

→ 尼布甲尼撒王作梦的时间：他在位第二年。（但2：1）

尼布甲尼撒王什么时候登基的呢？

耶利米书25：1-14节

· 耶利米书书25：1-14节这一段交代了三个时间。

第一个时间： “犹大王约西亚的儿子约雅敬第四年，就是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒的元年，耶和华论犹大众民的话临到耶利米。” （第1节）

· 这是尼布甲尼撒王登基的时间： “在犹大王约西亚的儿子约雅敬第四年”。

· “犹大王约雅敬在位第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来到耶路撒冷，将城围困”（但1：1）。这个时候巴比伦尼布甲撒是王，但还没有登基。他带兵来围困耶路撒冷城，抓走了犹大王约雅敬和一些人，其中就有但以理。

· “犹大王约西亚的儿子约雅敬第四年，就是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒的元年”。

· 尼布甲尼撒在位第二年作了梦，这是约雅敬第五年的事。

第二个时间： “从犹大王亚们的儿子约西亚十三年直到今日，这二十三年之内，常有耶和华的话临到我，我也对你们传说，就是从早起来传说，只是你们没有听从。” （第3节）

· 耶利米被神呼召向犹大众人和耶路撒冷的一切居民说话，他被呼召的时间是“从犹大王亚们的儿子约西亚十三年”。

第三个时间： “这全地必然荒凉，令人惊骇，这些国民要服侍巴比伦王七十年，七十年满了以后，我必刑罚巴比伦王和那国，并迦勒底人之地，因他们的罪孽使那地永远荒凉。这是耶和华说的。” （第11-12节）

· 这些国民，不只是犹大人，而是一切的国民要服侍巴比伦王七十年。

· 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来攻击耶路撒冷和那里的居民，是神所命定的。

· 他被神称为是“我的仆人”。他是神的仆人，因为他是神手中的工具，神用他来管教犹大人七十年。

· 七十年满了以后，神要刑罚巴比伦王和他的国民，并迦勒底人之地。

尼布甲尼撒王在位第二年作了梦

但以理书2：1-11

· 梦，译成英文是dreams （复数），可见这梦不止作了一次，但都是同一样的梦。日有所思，夜有所梦，梦是潜意识的延伸。

· 王作了这梦以后， “心里烦乱，不能睡觉”。“心”，在原文是“灵”。

· 这梦使他灵里烦乱，不能睡觉。可见，这个梦对他来说太重要了。他非常相信这梦，相信到他不能睡觉这样一个程度。他灵里乱了。

· 于是，他召集术士、用法术的、行邪术的和迦勒底人来，这些人都是哲人（但2：12），也就是说，他们都是很聪明的人。迦勒底，意思是“星卜者”，就是用星相算命。

· 王召集他们来，要他们将王作了什么梦告诉王。意即，王作了什么梦，王不告诉他们，反而叫他们把这个梦讲出来，告诉王，并且还要他们解梦。

· 王不告诉他们他作的是什么梦，且两次讲“我已经命定”（注意小字，但2：5，8）。王的这个意思就是说：我已经定了，就是不告诉你们。

→ 王说：“你们若不将梦和梦的讲解告诉我，就必凌迟，你们的房屋必成为粪堆。你们若将梦和梦的讲解告诉我，就必从我这里得赠品和赏赐，并大尊荣。现在你们要将梦和梦的讲解告诉我。”

► 若不能把梦说出来，不能解梦，就必凌迟。凌迟，是极其残酷的死刑。

► 若能说出王作的梦是什么，并能解梦，就有奖赏，有大尊荣。

· 人作了梦，你不说出来，谁知道你作了什么梦呢？你说出来了，说不定有人会解梦给你听。

· 但此时迦勒底人的术士们遇到的问题是：王不告诉他们作了什么梦，王却要他们把王自己作的是什么梦讲述出来，还要解梦。

· 把人家作了什么梦讲述出来，谁人能这样作呢？

于是，他们第二次对王说： “请王将梦告诉仆人，仆人就可以讲解。”王回答说： “我准知道你们是故意迟延，因为你们知道那梦我已经忘了。你们若不将梦告诉我，只有一法待你们，因为你们预备了谎言乱语向我说，要等候时势改变。现在你们要将梦告诉我，因我知道你们能将梦的讲解告诉我。” （但2：7-9）

· 王的这个梦涉及到尼布甲尼撒他这个国家将来的变化，因此，尼布甲尼撒说： “因为你们 …… 要等候时势改变”，你们在故意拖我的时间。

► 迦勒底人在王面前回答，说：

“世上没有人能将王所问的事说出来，因为没有君王、大臣、掌权的，向术士，或用法术的，或迦勒底人问过这样的事。王所问的事甚难，除了不与世人同居的神明，没有人在王面前能说出来。” （但2：10-11）

· 他们的意思是说：王啊，你都不把梦告诉我们，就叫我们讲解，哪有这种事啊， “世上没有人能将王所问的事说出来”。世人包括有所的君王、大臣、掌权的，向术士，或用法术的，或迦勒底人，他们都没有问过这样的事。

· “神明”，原文字就是“神”。他们说神不住在世人中间， “王所问的事甚难”，除了神以外，没有人在王面前，能够把这个梦说出来，没有人能够知道王所作的这个梦到底是个什么梦。

王大发烈怒要灭绝巴比伦所有的哲士

但以理书2：12

· 听了迦勒底人的回答，王气忿忿地大发烈怒，吩咐灭绝巴比伦所有的哲士。王的命令发出，哲士要见杀。

· 哲士，意思是“聪明的”，就是智慧人。智慧人包括了但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利和亚撒利雅。在第一章里说到，这四个犹大少年人在王预定的时间见王，王与他们谈论。王见少年人中无一人能比但以理和他的同伴，就留他们在王面前侍立。王考问他们一切的事，就见他们的智慧聪明比通国的术士和用法术的胜过十倍。（但1：18-20）

· 因此，尼布甲尼撒王要杀掉哲士，自然也包括但以理他们。 “人就寻找但以理和他的同伴，要杀他们。”

请听下次交通。

后注： “迦勒底人用亚兰的言语对王说”（但2：4）：

→ 圣经里有两大段经文是用亚兰语写成的：

· 以斯拉记4：8-6，18；7：12-26

· 但以理书2：4-7：28

→ 亚兰语与希伯来语有很密切的关系：（创10：21-31，创11：10-26）

· 闪，是希伯子孙之祖。

· 亚兰和希伯，都是闪的后代（创10：22、25），可见这两种语言都属闪族语系。

· “希伯来人、希伯来的”与“希伯”是同族字。亚伯拉罕就被称为“希伯来人”（创14：13）。“过了河的人”、“从河那边过来的人”，就是希伯来人。

· 亚伯拉罕要从迦勒底的吾珥出来（创11：31），一定要经过一道河，就是“伯拉大河”，又叫“幼发拉大河”。

→ 创世记11：10-26记录闪的家谱：

· 这是挪亚洪水后记录的闪的家谱。这个家谱没有记 “以拦、亚述、路德、亚兰”（创10：22），而是从“亚法撒”记起，为的是引出“希伯”（创11：14）。

· 洪水以后二年，闪一百岁生了亚法撒。希伯生了两个儿子，一个名叫法勒，法勒的兄弟名叫约坍。（创10：24-25）

· 法勒，这个名字的意思是“分”，因为那时人就分地居住。

· 洪水后闪的家谱里单记“法勒”，目的就是要引出“亚伯兰”，即亚伯拉罕。神为人类预备的救赎 ---- 因信称义，就从亚伯拉罕这里开始。

USA Paid Subscribers will receive a copy of my book entitled, “Crumbs Falling from the Lord’s Table”.

Daniel (4)

Daniel Standing Before the King

Scripture: Daniel 1:3-21 (omitted)

• Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and took captives. Among these captives were members of the royal family, officials and their descendants.

• The king ordered the chief of his court officials to bring in some men from among these captives and train them so that they would be qualified to serve in the king’s palace.

→ The king’s requirements for selecting men:

• Young men without any physical defect

• Handsome

• Showing aptitude for every kind of learning

• Well informed

• Quick to understand

★ After being selected:

• They learned the Chaldean language and literature.

• The king assigned them a daily portion of food and wine from the king’s table.

• They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

→ Four young men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah

• They were from Judah, and they now faced three temptations:

Firstly, their standing before the king was a temptation. This temptation was daily.

Secondly, they were given a portion of the king’s food and wine. The food of the Babylonians was generally sacrificed to idols. Offering the idol-sacrificed food was a temptation to Daniel and his companions.

Thirdly: the chief official gave them new names with the names of idols as follows:

Daniel | Hebrew Meaning: God is the Judge

↓

Belteshazzar | Chaldean Meaning: Beloved by Bel

(Bel was the god and idol of the Chaldeans)

Hanani | Hebrew Meaning: The Grace of the Lord

↓

Shadrach | Chaldean Meaning: Shining upon the sun god

(The sun god is a god of idols)

Mishael | Hebrew Meaning: Who is the Power of God / Who can be like God?

↓

Meshach | Chaldean Meaning: Like the goddess Shakh

Azariah | Hebrew Meaning: The Help of the Lord

↓

Abednego | Chaldean Meaning: Faithful servant of the fire god Nego

• The “God” in the names of the four young men of Judah was the God they worshiped, but now their names were changed to the names with names of a foreign god. They were still young then, and they were forced to forget their own God from that moment on. It’s easy for people to forget God. Changing their names was a temptation.

→ How Daniel dealt with the temptations:

• At this time, Daniel was still a young man, but he “resolves not to defile himself with royal food and drink”. For a captive, it was such a great favor to have a portion of the king’s food and wine. To refuse it would truly be ungrateful and dangerous.

• His resolution demonstrated that he knew whom he believed and trusted. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Note the following verse 9:

“Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel”.

• It means that God was with Daniel through this temptation.

• However, the official was afraid that the king would kill him if the four young men looking worse than the other young men because they would not eat and drink what they were assigned.

• Daniel said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel and his companions, “Please test your servants for ten days. Give us nothing but vegetables to ear and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food and treat your servants in accordance with what you see!”

★ “Ten” is a number indicating “at least, minimum” or “at most”. Daniel asked them to test, not for a month or a year, but for “ten days.” To understand the meaning of “ten days,” we can read two passages.

Genesis Chapter 24: The story of finding a wife for Isaac.

• Abraham sent his servant back to his country and his own relatives and get a wife for his son Isaac.

• The servant met a young woman named Rebekah by a well. She was the granddaughter of Nahor (Abraham’s brother), and her father was Bethuel. (Genesis 22:20-22)

• The engagement was arranged, and the next morning the servant was about to take Rebekah away. Rebekah’s brother Laban and her mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few more days, at least ten days, and then she may go.” (Genesis 24:55)

Revelation 2:8-11: The Church in Smyrna

• The church in Smyrna was severely persecuted by the Roman Empire. Therefore, Lord Jesus said to the angel of this church, “The devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.”

• “Ten days” here means “at most”. God set a time-limit for his people’s trial. But do not forget one thing: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. Throughout church history, the persecution by the Roman Empire was a long, dark night for his followers. Therefore, Lord Jesus’ word to the church in Smyrna was: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

★ Daniel said to the chief eunuch, “Please test our servants for ten days. Give us only vegetables and water to drink. Then look at our faces and the faces of the young men who ate the king’s food and treat your servants as you have seen them.”

• Daniel said this because he believed in God’s authority; God could bless them with only vegetables and water. Their hearts were set on not eating anything sacrificed to idols, and they wanted to distinguish themselves.

• The commissioners agreed. After ten days, they saw that Daniel and his companions were more handsome and plump than all the young men who ate the king’s food. So the commissioners removed the food and wine that had been given to them, and they ate only vegetables and drank only water.

• These four young men overcame this temptation, and God gave them wisdom and understanding in all kinds of writing. Daniel also understood various visions and dreams. If continue reading the Book of Daniel, we will see Daniel’s interpretation of dreams, and God also gave him visions. These all indicate that he had spiritual revelations.

★ When the appointed time arrived, the chief eunuch brought them before the king.

• Daniel and his companions were of the Jewish people. There were likely more than just Daniel and his three companions among the exiles of the Jewish people; there were also others among the captives. However, only Daniel and his three companions remained with the king to serve.

• Daniel and his companions overcame temptation, and God especially blessed them, giving them all kinds of wisdom and knowledge. “The king spoke with them and found that there was no young man like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah. Therefore, they stood before the king. The king tested them on all things, and they found that their wisdom and understanding surpassed that of all the magicians and sorcerers of the kingdom tenfold.” (Daniel 1:19-20)

• Serving before the king certainly involved temptation. By trusting and relying on God, they overcame these temptations and were able to reveal God’s glory. Reading on, we will see their testimony. God used them to bring Nebuchadnezzar to know Him.

→ Daniel was still alive in the first year of Cyrus’s reign. (Daniel 1:21)

• Daniel lived a long life, until the time of Cyrus. Daniel lived under four foreign kings. Cyrus was the king of Persia.

• The king mentioned in the first chapter of Daniel is Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Bible records the destruction of Babylon in Chapter 5, and the king was then Belshazzar, descendant of Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 5:1, 30)

• Babylon was conquered by the Median and Persian kingdoms. Then Persia was replaced by Greece, and Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire.

Daniel Standing Before the King

Scripture: Daniel 1:3-21 (omitted)

• Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and took captives. Among these captives were members of the royal family, officials and their descendants.

• The king ordered the chief of his court officials to bring in some men from among these captives and train them so that they would be qualified to serve in the king’s palace.

→ The king’s requirements for selecting men:

• Young men without any physical defect

• Handsome

• Showing aptitude for every kind of learning

• Well informed

• Quick to understand

★ After being selected:

• They learned the Chaldean language and literature.

• The king assigned them a daily portion of food and wine from the king’s table.

• They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

→ Four young men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah

• They were from Judah, and they now faced three temptations:

Firstly, their standing before the king was a temptation. This temptation was daily.

Secondly, they were given a portion of the king’s food and wine. The food of the Babylonians was generally sacrificed to idols. Offering the idol-sacrificed food was a temptation to Daniel and his companions.

Thirdly: the chief official gave them new names with the names of idols as follows:

Daniel | Hebrew Meaning: God is the Judge

↓

Belteshazzar | Chaldean Meaning: Beloved by Bel

(Bel was the god and idol of the Chaldeans)

Hanani | Hebrew Meaning: The Grace of the Lord

↓

Shadrach | Chaldean Meaning: Shining upon the sun god

(The sun god is a god of idols)

Mishael | Hebrew Meaning: Who is the Power of God / Who can be like God?

↓

Meshach | Chaldean Meaning: Like the goddess Shakh

Azariah | Hebrew Meaning: The Help of the Lord

↓

Abednego | Chaldean Meaning: Faithful servant of the fire god Nego

• The “God” in the names of the four young men of Judah was the God they worshiped, but now their names were changed to the names with names of a foreign god. They were still young then, and they were forced to forget their own God from that moment on. It’s easy for people to forget God. Changing their names was a temptation.

→ How Daniel dealt with the temptations:

• At this time, Daniel was still a young man, but he “resolves not to defile himself with royal food and drink”. For a captive, it was such a great favor to have a portion of the king’s food and wine. To refuse it would truly be ungrateful and dangerous.

• His resolution demonstrated that he knew whom he believed and trusted. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Note the following verse 9:

“Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel”.

• It means that God was with Daniel through this temptation.

• However, the official was afraid that the king would kill him if the four young men looking worse than the other young men because they would not eat and drink what they were assigned.

• Daniel said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel and his companions, “Please test your servants for ten days. Give us nothing but vegetables to ear and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food and treat your servants in accordance with what you see!”

★ “Ten” is a number indicating “at least, minimum" or “at most”. Daniel asked them to test, not for a month or a year, but for “ten days.” To understand the meaning of “ten days,” we can read two passages.

Genesis Chapter 24: The story of finding a wife for Isaac.

• Abraham sent his servant back to his country and his own relatives and get a wife for his son Isaac.

• The servant met a young woman named Rebekah by a well. She was the granddaughter of Nahor (Abraham’s brother), and her father was Bethuel. (Genesis 22:20-22)

• The engagement was arranged, and the next morning the servant was about to take Rebekah away. Rebekah’s brother Laban and her mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few more days, at least ten days, and then she may go.” (Genesis 24:55)

Revelation 2:8-11: The Church in Smyrna

• The church in Smyrna was severely persecuted by the Roman Empire. Therefore, Lord Jesus said to the angel of this church, “The devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.”

• “Ten days” here means “at most”. God set a time-limit for his people’s trial. But do not forget one thing: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. Throughout church history, the persecution by the Roman Empire was a long, dark night for his followers. Therefore, Lord Jesus’ word to the church in Smyrna was: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

★ Daniel said to the chief eunuch, “Please test our servants for ten days. Give us only vegetables and water to drink. Then look at our faces and the faces of the young men who ate the king’s food and treat your servants as you have seen them.”

• Daniel said this because he believed in God’s authority; God could bless them with only vegetables and water. Their hearts were set on not eating anything sacrificed to idols, and they wanted to distinguish themselves.

• The commissioners agreed. After ten days, they saw that Daniel and his companions were more handsome and plump than all the young men who ate the king’s food. So the commissioners removed the food and wine that had been given to them, and they ate only vegetables and drank only water.

• These four young men overcame this temptation, and God gave them wisdom and understanding in all kinds of writing. Daniel also understood various visions and dreams. If continue reading the Book of Daniel, we will see Daniel’s interpretation of dreams, and God also gave him visions. These all indicate that he had spiritual revelations.

★ When the appointed time arrived, the chief eunuch brought them before the king.

• Daniel and his companions were of the Jewish people. There were likely more than just Daniel and his three companions among the exiles of the Jewish people; there were also others among the captives. However, only Daniel and his three companions remained with the king to serve.

• Daniel and his companions overcame temptation, and God especially blessed them, giving them all kinds of wisdom and knowledge. “The king spoke with them and found that there was no young man like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah. Therefore, they stood before the king. The king tested them on all things, and they found that their wisdom and understanding surpassed that of all the magicians and sorcerers of the kingdom tenfold.” (Daniel 1:19-20)

• Serving before the king certainly involved temptation. By trusting and relying on God, they overcame these temptations and were able to reveal God’s glory. Reading on, we will see their testimony. God used them to bring Nebuchadnezzar to know Him.

→ Daniel was still alive in the first year of Cyrus’s reign. (Daniel 1:21)

• Daniel lived a long life, until the time of Cyrus. Daniel lived under four foreign kings. Cyrus was the king of Persia.

• The king mentioned in the first chapter of Daniel is Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Bible records the destruction of Babylon in Chapter 5, and the king was then Belshazzar, descendant of Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 5:1, 30)

• Babylon was conquered by the Median and Persian kingdoms. Then Persia was replaced by Greece, and Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire.

但以理书（4）

但以理在王面前侍立

经文：但以理书1：3-21节（省略）

· 尼布甲尼撒来到耶路撒冷，掳走了一些人。掳走的这些人中，就有以色列人的宗室（即王室和他们的后代）贵胄（即当官的和他们的后代）。王吩咐太监长从这些被掳人的中间带进几个人，训练他们，好叫他们能侍立在王宫里。

→ 王对挑选人的要求：

· 年少没有残疾

· 相貌俊美

· 通达各样学问

· 知识聪明具备

★ 被选中后：

· 学习迦勒底的文字言语

· 王派定将自己所用的膳和所饮的酒，每日赐他们一份

· 被养三年。满了三年，他们就在王面前侍立。

→ 犹大族四少年人：但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亚撒利雅

· 这四个少年人是犹大族的，他们眼下面临的三个试探：

第一个试探：他们在王面前侍立，就是个试探。试探是每天的。

第二个试探：让他们吃王“自己所用的膳和所饮的酒”。巴比伦人，也就是迦勒底人所吃的东西，一般都是祭过偶像的。他们把这些祭过偶像的东西拿来给但以理他们吃，对但以理他们来说，这就是试探。

第三个试探：太监长把他们敬畏神的名字都改成了偶像的名字。

名字 | 希伯来文的意思 | 改后的名字 | 迦勒底文的意思

但以理 | 神是审判者 | 伯提沙撒 | 彼勒所宠爱的

（彼勒是迦勒底人的神、偶像）

哈拿尼 | 耶和华施恩 | 沙得拉 | 日神所光照的

(日神是偶像的神）

米沙利 | 谁是神的能力 | 米煞 | 像女神沙克

谁能像神

亚撒利雅 | 耶和华帮助 | 亚伯尼歌 | 火神尼歌的忠仆

· 他们本名里的“神”，是他们所敬拜的神，但现在都改成外邦人神的名字。他们那时还是少年人，要他们从现在起就忘记自己的神。人就是容易忘记神，这就是一个试探。

→ 但以理如何应对试探：

· 这个时候但以理还是个少年人，他“却立志不以王的膳和王所饮的酒玷污自己”。一个被掳之人能够享受到王的膳、王的酒，这是多么大的宠遇。若不接受，那真的是不知好歹，恐怕还会有性命危险。

· 他立志，是他在自己所信的神面前的立志。他知道自己所信的，因此立志把自己分别出来，祭过偶像的东西，他绝对不吃。吃，就是玷污自己，不吃，恐怕就要丢掉性命。

· 他立志后，就“求太监长容他不玷污自己”。注意紧接着下面一句话就是：“神使但以理在太监长眼前蒙恩惠，受怜悯”（但1：9）这就是说，神保守但以理他们胜过这试探。

· 太监长的顾虑是什么呢？他对但以理说：“我惧怕我主我王，他已经派定你们的饮食，倘若他见你们的面貌比你们同岁的少年人肌瘦，怎么好呢？这样，你们就使我的头在王那里难保。”

· 于是，但以理对太监长所派管理他们的委办说：“求你试试仆人们十天，给我们素菜吃，白水喝，然后看看我们的面貌和用王膳那少年人的面貌，就照你们所看的待仆人吧！”

★ “十”这个数字表明“至少、最少”或“最多”。但以理要求试试，不是试一个月，也不是一年，而是“十天”。关于“十天”，可以读两段经文来看“十天”所含的意思。

· 《创世记》24章55节，这里说的是“至少十天”。所以，“十天”含有“至少”的意思在内。

· 《启示录》第二章说到士每拿教会。当时他们受到罗马帝国很厉害的迫害。所以主耶稣对这个教会的使者说：“魔鬼要把你们中间几个人下在监里，叫他们被试炼，你们必受患难十日。”“十日”，这里就是“最多的”意思。神使自己的儿女受苦或试炼，是有时间限制的。主看一日为千年，千年为一日。但在整个教会历史中，对人来说，罗马帝国的迫害是漫长的黑夜，所以，主耶稣对士每拿教会的要求是：“你们务要至死忠心，我就必赐给你那生命的冠冕。”

★ 但以理对委办说：“求你试试仆人们十天，给我们素菜吃，白水喝。然后看看我们的面貌喝用王膳那少年人的面貌，就照你所看的待仆人吧。”

· 但以理说这话，既透露出有从神那里来的智慧，又显出他对神的信心有多大。因为他相信神的权柄，神能用白水、素菜祝福他们。

· 委办允准了他们。过了十天，他们见但以理他们的面貌比用王膳的一切少年人更加俊美肥胖。于是委办撤去派给他们用的膳和酒，他们就吃素菜、喝白水。

· 这四个少年人，胜过了这一个试探，神就在各样文字智慧上赐给他们聪明知识，但以理又明白各样的异象和梦兆。继续读但以理书，就会看到但以理的解梦，神也赐给他异象。这都代表他有属灵的启示。

★ 王规定的时间到了，太监长就把他们带到王的面前。

· 但以理他们是犹大族的，被掳的犹大族的人不会只有但以理他们四个人，另外在被掳人中也有其他族的人，但只有但以理他们四个少年人留在王的身边侍立。

· 但以理他们胜过试探，神也特别祝福他们，赐给他们各样的智慧知识。“王与他们谈论，见少年人中无一人能比但以理、哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亚撒利雅。所以他们在王面前侍立。王考问他们一切事，就见他们的智慧聪明比通国的术士和用法术的胜过十倍。”（但1：19-20）

· 在王面前侍立一定是有试探的。但是他们靠神胜过这些试探，能够把神的荣耀彰显出来。往下读，我们还会看到他们的见证。神就是藉着他们来使尼布甲尼撒认识神。

→ 到居鲁士王元年，但以理还在。（但1：21）

· 但以理活的年岁比较长，要一直到古列王的时代。但以理经历了四个外邦的王。

· 古列王是波斯王。

· 《但以理书》第一章这里的王是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒。第五章记录巴比伦亡国，亡国时的王是伯沙撒，他是尼布甲尼撒王的后裔、继任者（但5：1，30）。

· 巴比伦国被玛代和波斯国灭亡，以后波斯被希腊取代，希腊又被罗马帝国灭亡。

From Babel to Babylon

Genesis 11:1-9

• After the flood, Noah’s three sons, Shem, Japheth, and Ham, also had sons, and they spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with their own language.

• Genesis Chapter 11 begins, “Then all the people of the earth spoke the same language.” At that time, all the people on the earth were descendants of Noah and his three sons; they all spoke the same language and had the same accent.

• “As they moved eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.” All the people were now coming to the land of Shinar, but it appears that it was the descendants of Ham eventually dwelt in the land of Shinar and established its own kingdom.

The Land of Shinar

• The land of Shinar, Chaldea (Genesis 11:31), and Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2-4) all refer to the Babylonian region.

• Shinar was a plain located between the rivers of the Euphrates and Tigris. These two rivers are the cradle of Shinar’s culture (Sumerian civilization).

→ Genesis 10:10 says about Nimrod: “The first centers of his kingdom were Babel, Erech, Akkad and Calneh in Shinar.” (Genesis 10:10)

• Nimrod was the son of Cush and the grandson of Ham. He and all the people moved eastward. Later, Nimrod established his own kingdom in Shinar, and Babel was number one of first centers of his kingdom.

• Babel is Babylon. At that time, Babel had not yet become an empire. The first king appeared in the Bible is “King Shinar,” whose name was Amraphel (Genesis 14:1).

• Amraphiel means “the mighty people.” Soon after Abraham entered Canaan, he encountered a war between four kings and five kings. Amraphiel was king of Shinar. From Shem to Abraham, ten generations had passed, and Shinar not only had a king, but also he was the first of the four kings.

→ People attempted to build a city and a tower in Shinar

• Shinar was a plain, a good place for human development. All the people of the world moved here and decided to build a city and a tower with its top reaching to heaven in order to proclaim their name and to prevent them from being scattered across the earth.

• Cain was the first to build a city and named it after his son Enoch (Genesis 4:17).

• After the flood, people wanted to build a city in order to proclaim a human name, but this was a collective idea and action, because everyone wanted to be famous. They were either the people saved from the flood, or the descendants of those saved from the flood. They did not all remember God’s salvation, nor did they proclaim God’s salvation.

• God’s beginning word for men was to “fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28), but now the people remained in Shinar and refused to leave. And they intended to build a city to avoid scattering the whole earth. This was against God’s initial word.

• They also built a tower with its top reaching to heavens. The top of the tower was the gate to heaven (God). Men’s desire to ascend to heaven on their own effort was a collective act. However, “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven ---- the Son of Man” (John 3:13), because the body of the Son of God was not yet ready (Hebrews 10:5). No one comes to the Father except through the Son of God. The gate way to heaven and to see God is Lord Jesus, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man (John 1:51, Genesis 28:12).

• Building a city and a tower with its top reaching to heaven is a collective act of rebellion against God.

• From Noah’s drunkenness to the building of the Tower of Babel, and the state of humanity before God after the flood, all reveals a truth: if life issue from Adam is not resolved, sin reigns in his mortal body, causing him to obey the evil desires of his body, becoming a slave to sin, even to death (Romans 6:12-16).

• The main materials used to build the city and the tower were brick and bitumen. They used brick as stone and bitumen as mortar.

• After Adam sinned, the earth was cursed because of him (Genesis 3:17-18). They used the cursed clay to make bricks to build the city and the tower.

★ Solomon built the Temple, but he did not use “bricks” as materials; he used “stones.”

• Bricks are made by man; stones are made by God. The trees on the ground are the work of God (Genesis 1:12). Through tectonic shifts, plants, buried deep within the earth, are compressed over hundreds or thousands of years to form stones; that hardness is natural, not human doing.

• Bricks, however, come from the cursed earth and are made by man.

★ The church is not a physical building, but a spiritual temple.

• The church is the people whom Lord Jesus saved from sin (Matthew 1:21). They are the temple of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit, built by the Lord in three days with his life, and his body as the temple (John 2:19-21). Lord Jesus is the cornerstone of this temple.

• The Lord is a living stone, and those who believe in the Lord, coming before him, are also like living stones, being built into a spiritual temple (1 Peter 2:4-6).

• Church is God’s temple built with living stones, not bricks. Bricks are made by man; stones are from God.

→ God descended from heaven and confused people’s language.

God said, “Behold, they have become one people and speak one language. Now that they have begun to do these things, there will be nothing they will not be able to do.” (Genesis 11:6)

• Note the word “begin.” This word has two meanings in the original text: (1) to start; (2) to transgress, to forsake, to blaspheme. Meaning they no longer want God.

• “There will be nothing they will not be able to do.” Now that they are transgressing and forsaking God, there will be nothing they cannot do in the future.

• Before the flood, every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time (Genesis 6:5). After the flood, people did not remember God’s salvation, instead, they opposed God in their hearts.

• Therefore, God confused their languages, making them unable to understand one another, and scattered them across the whole earth. This was God limit or restrain God set for the arrogant people of this time, preventing them from remaining in a state of defiance, lest God destroy them at that time. God will not again use a flood to destroy people and the earth, for God has established a covenant with mankind. (Genesis 9:11)

• God granted men with abundant grace, tolerance and patience, yet people do not realize that God’s kindness leads to them towards repentance.

• The construction of the city and the tower ceased, and the city was named “Babel,” meaning “confusion.” On this confusion, Nimrod established his kingdom.

• Judging from the construction and cessation of the Tower of Babel, Nimrod was a powerful and strong man on earth, but the kingdom he initiated was one of “confusion and disorder,” which is not a good beginning.

From Babel to Babylon

• Babel is first mentioned in the Bible, telling us that Nimrod’s kingdom began with Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar”. (Genesis 10:10).

• The second appearance of Babel shows us the confusion of “Babel” (Genesis 11:9).

• The third appearance becomes “Babylon” (2 Kings 17:24-30). Babel was no longer a city, but an empire. Micah 5:6 uses “the land of Nimrod” to represent Babylon.

→ After the flood, the people built the Tower of Babel and were punished by God.

• However, people of nowadays refuse to repent and continue to build the Tower of Babel in different forms. Even now, construction of the Tower of Babel can be seen everywhere, the work is faster and more chaotic, becoming the great city of Babylon, which will ultimately face God’s final judgment, and will disappear from the world.

→ From Babel to Babylon, from chaos to people making their own idols and worshipping idols, and finally to the destruction of Judah by Babylon, and so on so forth, these events are recorded in the Bible.

• God wants us to see the how the people after the flood strayed from God and rejected Him, and how the influence of Babylon (including a beautiful robe from Shinar ----Joshua 7:1, 21) on God’s people, and to the end the captivity of God’s people to Babylon.

→ Babylon represents the world after the flood where people did not remember God’s immortal grace, but instead sought their own fame.

★ In the New Testament, Babylon is frequently mentioned:

• “God remembered Babylon the Great” (Revelation 16:19);

• “for her sins are piled up to heaven and God has remembered her crimes” (Revelation 18:5);

• Babylon the Great “has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird” (Revelation 18:2);

• She “was the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5). Babylon the Great finally fell, was punished, and was thrown into the sea by a mighty angel, never to be seen again. (Revelation 18:1, 21)

→ The influence from Babel to Babylon on all people, especially God’s people, was profound and devastating.

• Therefore, God called out to his people from heaven: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).

► Babylon was located between the two rivers of the Euphrates and the Tigris, which were also known in ancient times as the Euphrates and the Hiddekel. The land between these two rivers was Shinar.

• Babylon, in the land of Shinar, had become the Babylonian Empire.

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia (Hebrew: Shinar) and put in the treasure house of his god” (Daniel 1:1-2).

USA Paid subscribers can receive a free copy of my book entitled, “Crumbs Falling from the Lord’s Table”

从巴别到巴比伦

创世记11：1-9

· 洪水后，挪亚的三个儿子闪、雅弗、含也都生了儿子，并在地上分为邦国。

· 《创世记》第十一章开头说：“那时，天下人的口音言语都是一样”。那时天下的人当然都是挪亚和他三个儿子的后裔，他们都说着同一样的话，口音也都一样。

· “他们往东迁移的时候，来到示拿地遇见一片平原，就住在了那里。”

示拿地

· 示拿地、迦勒底（创11：31）、美索不达米亚（徒7：2-4）都是指巴比伦地区。

· 示拿地是一平原地，在两河流域之间。两河流域，指的是“幼发拉底河”（Euphrates）和“底格里斯河”（Tigris）。这两条河是示拿地文化（苏美尔文明）的发源地。

· 创世记10：10说宁录“他国的起头是巴别、以力、亚甲、甲尼，都在示拿地。”（创10：10）宁录是古实的儿子、含的孙子，他和所有的人一起往东迁移。后来宁录在示拿地立国，他国的起头首先就是“巴别”。

· 巴别，就是巴比伦，那时巴别还没有形成帝国。圣经里第一次说到的王就是“示拿王”，他的名字叫暗拉非（创14：1）。暗拉非，意思是“大能之民”。亚伯拉罕进入迦南地不久，就遇到了四王和五王之间的争战。示拿王暗拉非是四王之首。从闪到亚伯拉罕，经历了十代，示拿地不但有王了，还是四王之首。

→ 人在示拿地建城建塔

· 示拿地是一片平原，是人类发展的好地方。天下人迁移到这里不走了，并要联合起来建造一座城和一座塔，塔顶通天，第一个目的就是要传扬人的名，第二个目的就是不要人分散在全地上。

· 头一个建造城、立人名的是该隐（创4：17）；洪水后建造一座城，也要传扬人的名，但这是集体的显露，因为人人都想要扬名。他们都是从洪水中被救之人和他们的后代，但他们不记念神的救恩，也不传扬神的作为。

· 神起初对人的旨意是“遍满地面”（创1：28），但现在人停留在示拿地不走了，为了不要分散全地，就建造了一座城。这本身就是违背神起初的旨意。

· 他们还要造一座塔，塔顶通天，就是要造通向天（神）的门。人要凭自己上到天上去，这是集体的行为。但是“除了从天降下仍旧在天的人子，没有一个人升过天（约1：13），因为神儿子的身体还没有预备好（来10：5）。若不藉着神的儿子，没有人能到父那里去。到神那里去的路是神的儿子，神的使者上去下来在人子身上（约1：51，创28：12）。

· 建造一座城，建造一座塔，塔顶通天，这是集体悖逆神的行为。

· 从挪亚醉酒、到建造巴别塔，以及洪水后人在神面前的光景，说出了一个真相，就是亚当的生命问题不解决，罪就在必死的身上作王，使人顺从身子的私欲，作罪的奴仆，以至于死。（罗6：12-16）

· 他们建造城和塔主要的材料是砖和石漆。他们拿砖当石头，拿石漆当灰泥。

· 亚当犯罪后，地因他的缘故受了咒诅（创3：17-18）。他们用受咒诅的泥土烧成砖，建造城和塔。

★ 所罗门建造圣殿，所用的材料里没有“砖”，用的是“石头”。

· 砖，出自人；石头则是出自神。地上的树木是出自神的作为（创1：12）。地壳变化，植物深藏在地的深处，挤压上百年上千年后，形成石头，那种的硬是自然形成的，不是人的作为。

· 砖，是从受咒诅的土里出来的，是人作的。

★ 教会不是物质的建筑，是灵宫。

· 教会是主耶稣把自己的百姓从罪恶里拯救出来的人（太1：21），他们是神的殿，圣灵的殿，是主用生命三天之内建造起来的，是以他的身体为殿（约2：19-21）。主耶稣是这殿房角的头块石头。

· 主乃是活石，信主的人来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫（彼前2：4-6）

· 神所要建造的，不是用砖，乃是石头。砖是人作的，石头出自神。

→ 神从天上降临，变乱人的口音。

神说：“看哪，他们成为一样的人民，都是一样的言语，如今既作起这事来，以后他们所要做的事就没有不成就的了。”（创11：6）

· “如今既作起这事来”：注意“起”这个字。这个字在原文有两个意思：（1）开始；意即他们开始用人的办法宣扬人的名；（2）干犯、背弃、亵渎。意即，他们不要神了。

· “以后他们所要做的事就没有不成就的了”。他们现在作干犯背弃神的事，今后凡他们想要去作的一切事，他们就没有什么作不成的了，或者说，他们就没有受限制了。

· 洪水前，人中日所思想尽都是恶（创6：5），洪水后的人不思念神的救恩，却在心思里顶撞神。

· 因此，神就变乱了他们的口音，使他们的言语彼此不通。并且使他们从那里分散在全地上。这是神为此时的狂傲之人定的界限，不让人集中在那里，更不让人停留在顶撞神的心思里，免得神在那个时候将他们毁灭了。神不会再次用洪水灭绝人、毁坏地，因为神与人有约。（创9：11）

· 神对人丰富的恩慈、宽容、忍耐，但人竟不晓得神的恩慈是领人悔改。

· 造城、造塔的工停了，那城名叫“巴别”，意思就是“变乱”。宁录在此“变乱”上开启了自己的王国。

· 从巴别塔的建造及停工来看，宁录是世上大有能力的人、强人的头，但他起首的国却是“变乱、混乱”，这可不是好的起头。

从巴别到巴比伦

· 圣经首次提到“巴别”，告诉我们，宁录“他国的起头是巴别、以力、亚甲、甲尼，都是在示拿地”，巴别居首位。（创10：10）

· “巴别”，第二次出现，叫我们看见“巴别”的变乱（创11：9）。

· 第三次出现时就是“巴比伦”了（王下17：24-30）。巴别不再是一个城，而是帝国了。弥迦书5：6节用“宁录地”代表巴比伦。

→ 洪水后的人建造巴别塔，受到了神的刑罚，可是，人依旧不肯悔改，又以不同的形式继续建造巴别塔，及至如今，巴别塔的工处处可见，建造的工更加快速、更加混乱，成为巴比伦大城，最终要遭到神的彻底审判，世上不再见。

→ 从巴别到巴比伦，从变乱到人制造自己的神像、拜偶像，及至后来犹大国被巴比伦灭掉，这些记载在圣经里，神要我们看见，洪水后的人偏离神、不要神的经历，以及巴比伦包括示拿衣服（书7：1、21）对神子民的影响，甚至神的百姓被掳到巴比伦。

→ 巴比伦表征世界，是洪水后的人不思念神救恩、却扬人名的世界。在新约里，巴比伦也常常被提起，“神也想起巴比伦大城来”（启16：19），“因她的罪恶滔天，她的不义，神已经想起来了”（启18：5）。巴比伦大城“成了鬼魔的住处，和各样污秽之灵的巢穴，并各样污秽可憎之雀鸟的巢穴”（启18：2）；她“作世上的淫妇和一切可憎之物的母”（启17：5）。巴比伦大城，从古演变成了这样一个坚固的城，最后倾倒了，受到了刑罚，被一位大力的天使猛力地扔到了海里，决不能再见了。（启18：1、21）

→ 从巴别到巴比伦，对全地人的影响，特别是对神的子民的影响极深、极害，所以，神从天上向他的民发声呼叫：“我的民哪，你们要从那城出来，免得与她一同有罪，受她所受的灾殃”（启18：4）。

· 巴比伦，在两河流域中间，即幼发拉底河、底格里斯河的中间地带，这两条河在古代又叫伯拉大河和希底结河。这两条河的中间地带就是示拿地。

• 巴比伦就是在示拿地，已经成了巴比伦帝国。“犹大王约雅敬在位第三念，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来到耶路撒冷，将城围困。主将犹大王约雅敬，并神殿中器皿的几份交付他手，他就把这器皿带到示拿地，收入他神的庙里，放在他神的库里”（但1：1-2）。

USA Paid subscribers can receive a free copy of my book entitled, “Crumbs Falling from the Lord’s Table”

Daniel (3)

The Lord delivered …into his hand

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the LORD delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Shinar and put in the treasure house of his god. (Daniel 1:1-2)

When did Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon come to Jerusalem? It was in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah. He came and besieged the city. Note the following word:

→ “The LORD delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some the articles from the temple of God.”

• This verse does not say that Nebuchadnezzar himself took the articles from the temple of God, but rather that “the LORD delivered …into his hand.” This means that the LORD allowed him to take them.

• God allowed him to take away these articles. And God also delivered King Jehoiakim of Judah into his hand. This speaks of God’s authority.

• If it weren’t for the permission of “the LORD” (God), King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon could not have taken the things God had in the temple, and these things would not have happened. It was God that permitted. The authority was in God’s hands. God reigns in all things in the universe. God reigns in human history. God also reigns in human kingdoms.

★ New Testament records the scene of Lord Jesus being interrogated by Pilate.

Pilate said to Jesus, “Don’t you realize that I have power to free you or to crucify you?”

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:10-11).

• Pilate was a man of power on earth, and he had the authority to release Jesus or to put Him on the cross. But that authority came from God. Without God’s permission, Pilate had no authority to do this.

• “It was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer …… makes his life a guilt offering ……he poured out his life unto death…… For he bore the sin of many ……” (Isaiah 53:10-12, Romans 3:35-26)

→ He took these articles to the land of Shinar.

• The land of Shinar, along with Chaldea (Genesis 11:31) and Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2-4), refers to the Babylonian region.

• Shinar is the oldest name, originally referring to a plain located between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. These two rivers are the cradle of the Shinar’s culture (Sumerian civilization).

★ The land of Shinar was where the descendants of Ham established their kingdom:

• Ham was Noah’s youngest son (Genesis 9:24).

• Ham’s sons were Cush, Mizraim (i.e. Egypt), Put, and Canaan.

• Cush also had several sons, one of them was Nimrod. Nimrod means “rebellious”. “He was a mighty hunter before the LORD”, meaning he was a man who dared to rebel against the LORD. He grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth.

• Nimrod later established his kingdom. “The first centers of his kingdom were Babel, Elijah, Erech, Akkad and Calneh, all in the land of Shinar.” (Genesis 10:8-10)

→ Regarding the land of Shinar, we need to read Genesis 11:1-9, because this passage connects Shinar with Babel.

• Babel means “confusion.” What caused this confusion?

Next post will focus on reading “the Tower of Babel” (Genesis 11:1-9).

但以理书（3）

主将……交付他手

犹大王约雅敬在位第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来到耶路撒冷，将城围困。主将犹大王约雅敬并神殿中器皿的几份交付他手。他就把这器皿带到示拿地，收入他神的庙里，放在他神的库中。（但以理书1：1-2）

· 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒什么时候来到耶路撒冷的呢？就是“犹大王约雅敬在位第三年”他来了，将城围困。请注意下面的话：

→ “主将犹大王约雅敬并神殿中器皿的几份交付他手。”

· 这里并没有说尼布甲尼撒自己把神殿中的器皿拿走了，而是说“主将……交付他手”。这就是说，“主”允许他拿走的。

· “主”，就是指着神说的。神允许他把这些器皿拿走，神也把犹大王约雅敬交付给他了。于是，“他就把这器皿带到示拿地，收入他神的庙里，放在他神的库中”。这里就说到了神的权柄。

· 如果不是“主”（神）的允许，神在殿中的东西巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒是拿不走的，这些事也不会临到。

· 可见，尼布甲尼撒把犹大王约雅敬和神殿中的器皿带到示拿地，这是神允许的，权柄在神的手里。神在宇宙万有中掌权；神在人类历史中掌权；神也在人的国里掌权。

★ 新约记载主耶稣受到彼拉多审问的情景。

彼拉多对主耶稣说：“你岂不知我有权柄释放你，也有权柄把你钉十字架吗？”

主耶稣回答说：“若不是从上头赐给你的，你就毫无权柄办我”（约19：10-11）。

· 彼拉多是地上有权柄的人，他有权柄释放主耶稣，也有权柄把主耶稣送上十字架。但权柄是从神来的，若没有神的允许，彼拉多就毫无权柄将神的儿子送上十字架。

· 是神“定意”将他压伤，使他受痛苦，以他为赎罪祭，…… 他要担当他们的罪孽 …… 担当多人的罪……。（赛53：10-12，罗3：25-26）

→ 他就把这器皿带到示拿地。

★ 示拿地，是含的后裔立国的地方：

· 含是挪亚的小儿子（创9：24）。

· 含的儿子是古实、麦西（就是埃及）、弗、迦南。

· 古实也生了好几个儿子，其中一个儿子就是宁录。宁录，意思是“反叛、大胆”。“他在耶和华面前是个英勇的猎户”，意思是说，他是有胆量反叛耶和华的人。 “他为世上英雄之首”（创11：8），说的是他是世上大有能力、强人的头，或者说，他是世上大有能力、强人的开始。

· 或者有人会问：“宁录在耶和华面前是英勇的猎户”有什么不好？我们需要清楚的是：他的祖父是含，含曾对父亲大为不敬，致使他的后裔不是成为受咒诅的（创9：20），就是“反叛”神且“大胆”的人。在神面前既大胆又反叛，怎么可能会好呢？

· 宁录后来立国，“他国的起头是巴别、以力、亚甲、甲尼，都在示拿地。”（创10：10）

· 关于示拿地，我们需要读《创世记》11章1到9节，因为这一段经文所记载的事，就把示拿地和巴别连在一起了。

· 巴别，意思是“变乱、混乱”。变乱、混乱的起因是什么呢？

下次插读《创世记》11章1-9节。

Daniel (2)

The Babylonian king’s three attacks on Jerusalem

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. (Daniel 1:1)

→ Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem three times:

The First Time (606 BC)

2 Kings 24:1-2, 2 Chronicles 36:6-7, Daniel 1:1-6

• In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to attack Jehoiakim, chained him with bronze chains, and took him to Babylon. Daniel was among those taken captive with Jehoiakim.

• Bronze, in the Bible, represents “judgment” (Exodus 27:1-6, Revelation 1:5).

The Second Time (598 BC)

2 Kings 24:8-16, 2 Chronicles 36:9-10, Ezekiel 1:1-2

• Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king and reigned for three months. Nebuchadnezzar came to besiege Jerusalem a second time, took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. And Ezekiel was among the captives. ​​

The Third Time (588 BC)

2 Kings 25:1-7, 2 Chronicles 36:11-20, Jeremiah 52:1-11

• Zedekiah reigned for eleven years. In the ninth year of Zedikiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the Babylonian king marched against Jerusalem with his whole army, and besieged it until the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign. The Babylonian king took Zedekiah king of Judah, all the leaders, and all those who were still alive captive to Babylon.

• On the seventh day of the fifth month in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the temple of the LORD, the royal palace, and the houses of all the great families were burned down, and the walls surrounding Jerusalem were torn down.

• The people of Judah were taken captive and expelled from their homeland. The kingdom of Judah (southern kingdom) was destroyed.

→ The attack on Jerusalem by Babylon was ordained by God:

2 Kings 24:1-4

During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he changed his mind and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.

The LORD sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonites raiders against him. He sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by his servants the prophets.

Surely these things happened to Judah according to the LORD’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.

2 Kings 21:10-16

The LORD said through his servants the prophets:

“Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols.

Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring much disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.

I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and hand them over to their enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their foes,

because they have done evil in my eyes and have provoked me to anger from the day their forefathers came out of Egypt until this day.”

Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end ---- besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 33:9

Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelities.

→ The last four evil kings of Judah:

Jehoahaz did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his fathers had done. (2 Kings 23:32)

Jehoiakim did evil in the eyes of the LORD, Just as his fathers had done. (2 Kings 23:37)

Jehoiachin did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his fathers had done. (2 Kings 24:9)

Zedekiah… did evil in eyes of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD. (2 Chronicles 36:11-12)

The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:15-16)

It was because of the LORD’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. (2 Kings 24:20)

→ Of the seventeen prophetic books, two are prophetic books written during exile: Daniel and Ezekiel.

Daniel ---- In the land of exile, Babylon (Daniel 1:1-6)

Ezekiel ---- On the road to exile (Ezekiel 1:1-3)

• In the biblical order of books, Ezekiel comes first, followed by Daniel. However, chronologically, Daniel comes first, followed by Ezekiel. The prophet Ezekiel mentions “Daniel” three times, endorsing him (Ezekiel 14:14, 20, 28:3).

→ Daniel, whose name means “God’s judgment”.

• The Babylonian king’s conquest of Jerusalem was ordained by God. This was God’s judgment upon the kingdom of Judah, from its king to its people.

• God judges the whole earth. God judges all nations, but God judges his own people first. “For the time has come when judgment will begin with the household of God” (1 Peter 4:17).

• To deal with the sins of his people, God brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman, old man or aged. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. …… He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. (2 Chronicles 36:17-20).

• God’s judgment on his people is to discipline them. Whether it is discipline of the Israelites or discipline of us Christians, God the Father disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in his holiness (Hebrews 12:10). Because God is holy, we too must be holy.

• God judged, but at the same time, God gave the Israelites hope for revival: “…… Until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its Sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah. (2 Chronicles 36:20-21)

但以理书（2）

巴比伦王三次攻击耶路撒冷

犹大王约雅敬在位第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来到耶路撒冷，将城围困。（但1：1）

→ 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒三次上来围困耶路撒冷城：

第一次（主前606年）

王下24：1-2，代下36：6-7，但1：1-6

· 约雅敬在位第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒上来攻击约雅敬，用铜链锁着他，把他带到巴比伦去。与约雅敬一同被掳去的人中，有但以理。

· 铜，在圣经里表意“审判”（出27：1-6，启1：5）。

第二次（主前598年）

王下24：8-16，代下36：9-10，结1：1-2

· 约雅斤登基时十八岁，作王三个月。尼布甲尼撒第二次来到耶路撒冷，掳走第二批犹大人中有以西结。那时，是巴比伦王第八年。

第三次（主前588年）

王下25：1-7，代下36：11-20，耶52：1-11

· 西底家作王十一年。在他作王第九年十月初十日，巴比伦王率全军上来攻击耶路撒冷，将城围困直到西底家王十一年。巴比伦王将犹大王西底家、众首领及还没有死的人都掳到巴比伦去了。

· 尼布甲尼撒王十九年五月初七日，耶和华的殿和王宫、及各大户家的房屋都被火焚烧，耶路撒冷四围的城墙被拆毁。

· 犹大人被掳去离开本地。犹大国灭亡。

→ 巴比伦来攻击耶路撒冷，乃是神所命的：

约雅敬年间，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒上到犹大，约雅敬服侍他三年，然后背叛他。耶和华使迦勒底军、亚兰军、摩押军和亚扪人的军来攻击约雅敬，毁灭犹大，正如耶和华藉他仆人众先知所说的。这祸临到犹大人，诚然是耶和华所命的，要将他们从自己面前赶出，是因玛拿西所犯的一切罪，又因他流无辜人的血，充满了耶路撒冷。耶和华决不肯赦免。（王下24：1-4）

耶和华藉他仆人众先知说：“因犹大王玛拿西行这些可憎的恶事，比先前亚摩利人所行的更甚，使犹大人拜他的偶像，陷在罪里。所以耶和华以色列的神如此说：我必降祸与耶路撒冷和犹大，叫一切听见的人无不耳鸣。我必用量撒玛利亚的准绳和亚哈家的线砣拉在耶路撒冷上，必擦净耶路撒冷，如人擦盘，将盘倒扣。我必弃掉所余剩的子民（原文作“产业”），把他们交在仇敌手中，使他们成为一切仇敌掳掠之物，是因他们自从列祖出埃及直到如今，常行我眼中看为恶的事，惹动我的怒气。”玛拿西行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，使犹大人陷在罪里，又流许多无辜人的血，充满了耶路撒冷，从这边到那边。（王下21：10-16）

玛拿西引诱犹大和耶路撒冷的居民，以致他们行恶比耶和华在以色列人面前所灭的国更甚。（代下33：9）

→ 犹大国的最后四个恶王：

约哈斯行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，效法他列祖一切所行的。（王下23：32）

约雅敬行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，效法他列祖一切所行的。（王下23：37）

约雅斤行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，效法他父亲一切所行的。（王下24：9）

西底家 …… 行耶和华他神眼中看为恶的事。先知耶利米以耶和华的话劝他，他仍不在耶利米前面自卑 …… 。（代下36：11-12）

“耶和华他们列祖的神，因为爱惜自己的民和他的居所，从早起来差遣使者去警戒他们，他们却嘻笑神的使者，藐视他的言语，讥诮他的先知，以致耶和华的忿怒向他的百姓发作，无法可救。”（代下36：15-16）

“因此耶和华的怒气在耶路撒冷和犹大发作，以致将人民从自己面前赶出。”（王下24：20）

→ 在十七卷先知书中，两卷是被掳中的先知书：但以理书和以西结书

· 但以理书 ---- 在被掳之地，巴比伦（但1：1-6）

· 以西结书 ---- 在被掳的路上（结1：1-3）

· 圣经排列卷书，以西结书在先，但以理书在后。但按时间来看，但以理书在先，以西结书在后。先知以西结三次提到“但以理”，为但以理背书（结14：14，20，28：3）。

→ 但以理，名字的意思是“神是审判者”。

· 巴比伦王攻破耶路撒冷，是神所命的。这是神对犹大国从王到民的审判。

· 神审判全地，神审判万国，但神首先审判的是自己的民。“因为时候到了，审判要从神的家起首”（彼前4：17）。

· 为了对付自己百姓的罪，神使迦勒底人的王来攻击他们，不怜恤他们的少男处女，老人白叟。神将他们都交在迦勒底王手里，作他和他子孙的仆婢。（代下36：17-20）

· 神对自己百姓的审判，是管教。不论是对以色列人的管教，还是对我们信主之人的管教，父神管教我们，是要我们得益处，使我们在他的圣洁上有份（来12：10）。因为神是圣洁的，所以我们也要圣洁。

· 神审判，神同时也给与色列人复兴的希望：“直到波斯国兴起来。这就是应验耶和华藉耶利米口所说的话：地享受安息。因为地土荒凉便守安息，直满了七十年。”（代下36：20-21）

Daniel (1)

Foreword: From today on, I will translate into English Brother Chiang Jishu’s notes on the Book of Daniel. All the Bible study notes to be posted are for reference only. The Spirit of truth will guide us into all truth.

There are 17 prophetic books in Old Testament, and the Book of Daniel is one of them. Its prophecies concern not only the nation of Israel and Judah, but also concerning the entire world. Therefore, this book is very important particularly for all God’s people.

In Chapter 24 of Matthew, the disciples asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus quoted from Daniel, saying, “When you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ spoken of through the prophet …… “(Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). So the Book of Daniel speaks of the end of the age.

If we want to know, through the Book of Revelation, what will happen at the end of the age, the Book of Daniel is a book that must be read, plus the book of Zechariah. Other prophetic books speak of the end-time situation, but none as clearly or completely as Daniel.

Daniel 1:1-2

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the LORD delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Shinar and put in the treasure house of his god.

• The opening of Daniel addresses one issue of history: “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah...”

Brief of the Last Five Kings

Josiah:

· The last good king of Judah reigned 31 years. (2 Kings 22:1-2)

Jehoahaz:

· also called Shallum; reigned 3 months (2 Kings 23:30-32, Jeremiah 22:11)

Jehoiakim :

· also called Eliakim; reigned 11 years (2 Kings 23:34-37)

Jehoiachin:

· also called Coniah; reigned 3 months (2 Kings 24:8-9, Jeremiah 22:24)

Zedekiah:

· also called Mattaniah; reigned 11 years (2 Kings 25:6-7)

The relationship between last 5 kings of Judah

• Josiah was the father of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. Jehoiakim was elder brother of Jehoahaz.

• Jehoiachin was Josiah’s grandson and Jehoiakim’s son.

• Zedekiah was Jehoiachin’s uncle.

★ After Josiah’s death, his son Jehoahaz became king.

· Jehoahaz was anointed by the people of the land, but Pharaoh Necho of Egypt removed Jehoahaz and installed Josiah’s another son Jehoiakim as king of Judah.

· Jehoiakim was anointed by Egyptian pharaoh. (2 Kings 23:31-34, 2 Chronicles 36:3-4)

★ After Jehoiakim’s death, his son Jehoiachin succeeded him as king (2 Kings 24:6).

· Jehoiakim is mentioned in the first verse of the Book of Daniel.

· In the third year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up against him, chained him with bronze chains, and took him to Babylon.

· Daniel was among those taken captive to Babylon with Jehoiakim (BC 606).

This is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah:

“He will have no one to sit on the throne of David”

(Jeremiah 36:30)

★ Jehoiachin was taken captive by Babylonian king.

· Babylonian king installed Josiah’s other son Zedekiah as king. Zedekiah was Jehoiachin’s uncle.

· The LORD’s judgment against Jehoiachin:

This is what the LORD says:

“Record this man as if childless,

a man who will not prosper in his lifetime,

for none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.”

(Jeremiah 22:30)

★ Zedekiah was taken captive to Babylon by Babylonian king.

· Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, was installed as king of Judah by Babylonian king.

· He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. They killed his sons before his eyes. ……

· The Kingdom of Judah was destroyed in 588 BC.

★ The Kingdom of Judah was destroyed, becoming a province of the Babylonian kingdom. Babylonian king appointed Gedaliah as governor of the province of Judah. (2 Kings 25:22)

• The Kingdom of Israel which lasted 254 years was destroyed by Assyria in 721 BC. (2 Kings 17:5-6)

• The Kingdom of Judah which lasted 387 years was destroyed by Babylon in 588 BC. (2 Kings 25:8-22)

• After the fall of Israel, the Kingdom of Judah existed for another 133 years.

• After the fall of Israel, Judah was first controlled by Egypt (2 Kings 23:33-35); when Babylon rose to power, Judah was controlled by Babylon (2 Kings 24:1-4), until it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

★ History after Babylon:

• Babylon was conquered by the Mede and Persia.

• Persia was conquered by Greece.

• Greece was conquered by Rome.

Daniel lived through four gentile kings:

• Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (Daniel 1:1)

• Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:1)

• Darius, king of the Mede (Daniel 5:31)

• Cyrus, king of Persia (Daniel 1:21, 6:28)

但以理书 （1）

前言：从今天起，我将蒋继书弟兄读《但以理书》的记录重新整理，并译成英文。从我这里发出的所有读经笔记，仅供参考，真理的圣灵将引导我们进入一切的真理。

旧约先知书十七卷，《但以理书》是其中一卷，其预言不仅涉及到以色列国、犹大国，而且涉及到全人类。所以，这卷书非常重要。

在《马太福音》第二十四章里，门徒问主耶稣：“你降临和世界的末了，有什么预兆呢？”主耶稣就引用了《但以理书》里的话，说：“你们看见先知但以理所说，那行毁坏可憎的站在圣地”。可见，《但以理书》说到了世界的末了。

我们读《启示录》，想要知道世界末了发生什么事情，《但以理书》是必读的一卷书。除《但以理书》以外，还要读《撒迦利亚书》。别的先知书都说到了关于这个末了的情况，但都没有像《但以理书》说的那么清楚，那么完全。

犹大王约雅敬在位第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来到耶路撒冷，将城围困。主将犹大王约雅敬并神殿中器皿的几份交付他手。他就把这器皿带到示拿地，收入他神的庙里，放在他神的库中。（但以理书1：1-2）

· 《但以理书》的开头就提到了一个历史的问题：“犹大王约雅敬在位第三年”

简要回顾犹大国最后的五个王

约西亚：是犹大国的最后一个好王，在位31年。（王下22：1-2）

约哈斯 （又叫沙龙）：在位3个月。（王下23：30-32，耶22：11）

约雅敬 （又名以利亚敬）：在位11年。（王下23：34-37）

约雅斤：又名耶哥尼雅、哥尼雅 。在位3个月。（王下24：8-9，代下36：8-9）

西底家：又名玛探雅。作王11年。（王下25：6-7）

注意最后五个王之间的关系：

· 约西亚是父亲，约哈斯是他的儿子，约雅敬是他的儿子，西底家也是他的儿子。这三个儿子都是约西亚的儿子。约雅敬是约哈斯的哥哥。

· 约雅斤是约西亚的孙子，是约雅敬的儿子。

· 而西底家则是约雅斤的叔叔。

★ 约西亚死后，他的儿子约哈斯作王。

· 约哈斯，又叫沙龙（耶22：11）

· 约哈斯是国民膏的王，但埃及法老尼哥废掉了约哈斯，立约西亚的另一个儿子约雅敬作王。

· 约雅敬是埃及法老尼哥立的王。

★ 约雅敬死后，他的儿子约雅斤接续作王。

· 《但以理书》第1节就提到了约雅敬。他在位第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒上来攻击他，用铜链锁着他，将他带到巴比伦去。

· 与约雅敬一同被掳到巴比伦的人中，就有但以理（主前606）。

神论到犹大王约雅敬说：

“他后裔中必没有人坐在大卫的宝座上”

（耶利米书36：30）

★ 约雅斤被巴比伦王掳去，他的叔叔西底家作王。

· 神审判约雅斤：

耶和华如此说：

“要写明这人算为无子，是平生不得亨通的，

因为他后裔中再无一人得亨通，能坐在大卫的宝座上治理犹大。”

（耶利米书22：24-30）

★ 西底家被巴比伦王掳到巴比伦去。

· 西底家是犹大国最后的一个王，他是巴比伦王立的王。

· 他被带到利比拉，在那里受到巴比伦王的审判。巴比伦王在西底家的眼前杀了他的众子……

· 主前588年犹大国灭亡。

★ 犹大国灭亡，成为巴比伦王国的一个省。巴比伦王立基大利作犹大省长（王下25：22）。

· 以色列国在721 B.C 被亚述国灭亡，存世254年（王下17：5-6）。

· 犹大国在588 B. C 被巴比伦灭亡，存世387年（王下25：8-22）。

· 以色列灭亡后，犹大国又存在了133年。

· 以色列国灭亡后，犹大国先受埃及挟制（王下23：33-35）；当巴比伦兴起后，犹大国又受巴比伦国挟制（王下24：1-4），直到被巴比伦尼布甲尼撒灭亡。

★ 巴比伦国以后的历史：

· 巴比伦国被玛代和波斯国灭亡。

· 波斯国又被希腊灭亡。

· 希腊被罗马灭亡。

但以理经历了四个外邦的王

· 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒（但1：1）

· 尼布甲尼撒的儿子伯沙撒（但5：1）

· 玛代王大流士（但5：31）

· 波斯王居鲁士（但1：21，6：28）