Daniel 7:1-14

Context

What happened last week?

Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for continuing to worship despite the law.

Who was king at the beginning of the chapter?

Darius

Where is all of this taking place?

Babylon

Why is Daniel in Babylon?

The ESV Study Bible Author and Title

Daniel, whose name means “God is my Judge,” was a young man of noble blood who was exiled from Judah during the time of King Jehoiakim (609–597 B.C.) and lived thereafter at the Babylonian court. After the fall of the Babylonian Empire, he served the Medo-Persian Empire that succeeded it.

Babylon, at this point, has taken over Israel after their attack on Jerusalem.

Nebuchadnezzar, who we saw earlier in the book, ruled over the part of Babylon where Daniel and his friends have been exiled.

What theme have we seen so far in the book of Daniel?

Think specifically about the stories in Daniel 3 and Daniel 6.

The ESV Study Bible Theme

The central theme of the book of Daniel is God’s sovereignty over history and empires, setting up and removing kings as he pleases (2:21; 4:34–37).

Daniel 2:21 ESV

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

Daniel 4:34–37 ESV

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Daniel 7

Daniel 7:1–14 ESV

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Who is king in chapter 7?

Belshazzar - Not Darius

While Belshazzar is king in Chapter 5 as well, it is believed that these events precede chapter 5.

What happens in verse 1?

Daniel has a vision and prepares to tell the king.

What does Daniel do immediately after he has this dream?

Writes it down and finds the king.

How many people have had a weird dream?

Ex: Falling off the loft, talking deer heads, etc.

Why did Daniel view dreams differently than we do?

God had used dreams to predict the future earlier in his life as well.

How is this different than the dream in Chapter 2? (Who’s dream is this?)

Daniel’s dream, not the king’s (Nebuchadnezzar).

Why would Daniel want to share his dream with the king?

It is about the kingdom in which they live.

What does Daniel see in his dream?

4 Winds

4 Compass Points

Wind from all different parts of the earth.

The Great Sea

A symbol of rebellion against God.

The sea is the home of evil monsters.

Psalm 74:13–14 ESV

You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

Brittanica - “Leviathan, Hebrew Livyatan, in Jewish mythology, a primordial sea serpent. Its source is in prebiblical Mesopotamian myth, especially that of the sea monster in the Ugaritic myth of Baal (see Yamm). In the Old Testament, Leviathan appears in Psalms 74:14 as a multiheaded sea serpent that is killed by God and given as food to the Hebrews in the wilderness. In Isaiah 27:1, Leviathan is a serpent and a symbol of Israel’s enemies, who will be slain by God. In Job 41, it is a sea monster and a symbol of God’s power of creation.”

When we read this passage about sea monsters, it is totally weird and off the wall. To the Hebrew people, because of their understanding of their mythology, it wouldn’t have been realistic but they would understand the imagery.

4 Beasts

Lion with Eagle’s Wings

Babylonian Empire

The Bear

Medo-Persian Empire

Ribs

Three main conquests: Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt.

The Leopard

Greek Empire

Four Wings

The Speed of Alexander the Great’s Conquests.

Four Heads

Four Main Sections of their Empire: Greece and Macedonia, Thrace and Asia Minor, Syria and Babylon, and Egypt and Israel.

Terrifying Fourth Beast

The fourth beast of the dream has a much different description. Why was the fourth beast worse? Why might the horns be significant?

Horns usually represent some sort of power.

The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire had longevity and power unlike nay empire before it. Its power had crushed other nations and had far outgrown the other three kingdoms (beasts).

The little horn.

A king who starts small but becomes significant.

*Refer to 7:8 commentary (119).

Brittanica Article

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Leviathan-Middle-Eastern-mythology