Nebuchadnezzar praises Daniel’s God, and promotes Daniel. In this time, God will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed (represented by the stone). The fourth kingdom will be divided into ten smaller kingdoms, each represented by a toe. The iron and clay of the feet indicates that the kingdom is partly strong, and partly weak. When the fourth kingdom, represented by the feet, is destroyed, all other kingdoms will be destroyed along with it. The interpretation is that Nebuchadnezzar is the golden head, and the other parts of the image’s body are subsequent kingdoms (Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman). The stone became a great mountain and filled the earth. A stone, cut out without hands, struck the feet, so the rest of the image was crushed together, became as chaff, and was blown away. Daniel describes Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: an image appeared, having a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, feet of iron and clay. Before Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel acknowledges that it was God who revealed the dream to him (compare with Joseph again). Daniel gives thanks to God for the knowledge granted him. Nebuchadnezzar orders the slaughter of all the soothsayers, but God reveals to Daniel Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The Chaldean soothsayers, when brought in before the king, could give no interpretation, as they were not in possession of the dream. Nebuchadnezzar is troubled with a dream, of which nothing remained in the morning but an uneasy impression. (Compare with Joseph – another young man promoted in exile and possessing the ability to interpret dreams.) Daniel has understanding in dreams and visions. After ten days they appear more healthy than those who have eaten the king’s delicacies, so they are allowed to keep to this diet. Daniel negotiates with a steward, and is allowed to live on vegetables and water. Daniel decides that he will not defile himself with the king’s delicacies and wine. In Babylon, the Hebrew youths Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are groomed for the civil service, and given Babylonian names. The best and the brightest of Jerusalem’s young men are chosen and taken to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem and king Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar as types of Antiochus?

Given that the second half refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his provocative attempts to hellenise Jerusalem, there is also a link between the first and second halves in terms of holding onto one's faith in the face of coercion from a powerful non-Jew.

The book of daniel chapter 1