The Major Prophets: Daniel Part 1 "Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar"
The book of Daniel is one of the most exciting and intriguing books of the bible. While shorter in length than Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, this book is packed with heroic stands, miracles of God, and prophetic dreams. It gives us insight into the depths of character of a man taken from his homeland, but yet was anointed to become, like Joseph, a powerful influence in both the Babylonian and Persian Empires. His love for God was insatiable, his loyalty unmatched, and his wisdom and knowledge supernaturally given. He was given the title "One beloved of God."
Who was this young man? Why was he so special? In this four session look at the Prophet Daniel, we will be taught by another very special Bible Character, Queen Esther! In the narrative, Esther explains some of her own story, as she teaches about Daniel, and his rise to power in the Persian Empire. This is the very same empire of King Xerxes, the husband of Esther! The time period of the first lesson is 605 BC to 539 BC.
If you would like, start by watching the video lesson. Scriptures taught in this video are Daniel 1-4. You may wish to study the lesson chapter by chapter. You can pause the video at the end of each chapter and answer the questions, or complete this worksheet.
If you would like to reread the entire video lesson, scroll down to the bottom of this blog! This video is narrated by my beautiful daughter in law, Maggie Shader, who makes a lovely Queen Esther! (15:38) For Lesson Plans and Video Notes, CLICK HERE! for Chapter One. If you would like the lesson plans for all 12 lessons in a packet, CLICK HERE!
Here is an outline for the entire 12 session class.
Table of Contents of the Daniel Class
Part One: Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon)
Chapter 1; The Exile
Chapter 2: Nebuchadnezzar’s Statue Dream
Chapter 3: The Fiery Furnace
Chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar Becomes a Beast, A Lesson in Pride
Part Two: Daniel and Belshazzar (Babylon)
Chapter 7: Daniel’s Vision of the 4 Beasts
Chapter 8 Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and the Goat
Chapter 5: The Writing on the Wall
Part Three: Daniel and the Persian Empire
Chapter 6: Daniel and the Lion’s Den
Chapter 9: The Prophecy of the 70 Weeks
Part Four: Daniel’s Final Vision (Persian Empire) (Chapters 10, 11, 12)
Chapter 10: Daniel sees the “Man in Linen”/ Spiritual Warfare
Chapter 11: More prophecy about the Greek Empire and Antiochus
Chapter 12: Final Words, End times
Questions: Chapter 1 "Daniel and his Friends are Captured by Babylon" (2:38)
What character traits would you use to describe Daniel so far?
Daniel was "sent" to a place he did not want to go. What was his response? Has God ever taken you in your life to a place you did not want to go? Where was that? What was your response?
How might being obedient in the place God puts you give you new gifts needed to survive in that place and also to serve God there?
Daniel was sent to Babylon as a slave, but he remained bold and faithful. Then, God used this boldness to advance the four young men to a position of power and influence. What were the new gifts God gave to Daniel and his friends? (Knowledge and skill in literature, wisdom, and Daniel- understanding in visions and dreams.)
Why was it so important to God what his people ate?
God's law is above man's law to Daniel. How does that relate to our situation today?
What was Daniel's life like "pre-Babylon?" This is similar to "pre-Covid" for us. What would yours be like? How is it now different for Daniel and for you?
How did Daniel navigate living in a non-Jewish culture? The Babylonians believed in many gods. How is this similar/different than our culture today?
Was Daniel's "diet" a fast? Why or why not?
What was your greatest take away from Chapter 1?
Activity: Try going one day eating only water and vegetables. Be prepared to tell the group how it went!
Ready to Continue? Click HERE for Chapter 2 Lesson Plan.
Chapter 2: Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream. (5:03)
Be sure to watch the second portion of the video! Read Chapter 2, and then answer the following questions.
Chapter 2 Discussion:
Compare and contrast Joseph's story and Daniel's. How are they similar? How are they different?
Daniel, like Joseph, takes matters to God in prayer. What was Daniel's first response to the revealing of the dream?
What does Daniel say before revealing the dream and interpretation to the king? Does this show pride or humility on Daniel's part?
Because he could reveal the dream, Daniel was promoted in the kingdom of Babylon.
Why did God give Nebuchadnezzar the dream? Who was the dream for? How much of this dream has already happened? What part is next? Why is this dream important to us now?
How do you think the "wise men" of Babylon, that is, the magicians, sorcerers, princes, military leaders, advisors, etc, felt about Daniel and his friends being promoted?
What was your greatest take away from Chapter 2?
Activity: Research how many times in the scriptures Jesus is referred to as a rock or a stone.
Ready to Continue? CLICK HERE for Chapter 3 Lesson Plans.
Be sure to watch the third portion of the video!
Chapter 3: The Fiery Furnace (8:31) Read Chapter 3, and then answer the following questions.
Discussion Questions Chapter 3:
Why do you think Daniel is not present in this story?
The three Jewish men did not obey the king/government when it went against' God's law. Was God happy about that? Why or why not? What should we do?
Who did God send to help the three friends of Daniel? How do we know?
Jesus saved us from a fiery judgement as well.
Name the many parts of this miracle.
After just declaring that God was the greatest God in Chapter 2, why do you think Nebuchadnezzar build the statue in Chapter 3?
Who are the villains in the story? How can you tell this event may have been deliberately planned by enemies of the three men?
Has God ever walked with you in the fiery furnace? Tell what happened.
What was your greatest take away from Chapter 3?
Activity: What is the Talmud?
What is it like to visit Babylon today? (Goes with any lesson.)
The seven minute video below gives insight into the story of Shadrach, Meshech, and Abed-Nego. Chapter 3.
Ready to Continue?
Chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream (11:42). (Click Here for Lesson Plan Chapter 4)
Discussion Questions:
What is your greatest take away from this chapter?
In your opinion, will we see King Nebuchadnezzar in heaven? Why or why not?
According to the Talmud, Daniel is the one who cared for Nebuchadnezzar during this time. Why do you think this "God Assignment" was given to him?
What was God trying to teach Nebuchadnezzar?
What do you think the other wisemen in Babylon thought of this "proclamation?"
How does this experience Nebuchadnezzar had relate to America today?
The king was given 7 years of insanity. Was this a punishment or a blessing? Why or why not?
Timeline Events:
605 BC Daniel Taken in First Siege to Babylon
604 BC Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream
597 BC Ezekiel Taken in Second Siege to Babylon
586 BC Jeremiah presides over the death of Judah and Jerusalem, the country falls to Babylon after the third Siege
562 BC. Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream
561 BC Nebuchadnezzar becomes insane
554 BC Nebuchadnezzar is well, and is reinstated as king
562 BC Nebuchadnezzar dies. His son, Evil Merodach becomes king
559 Neriglissar (son in law) takes throne in army coup
555 Another coup, and Neriglissar's son takes the throne, he loses it to another son in law, Nabonidus
553 Nabonidus takes the throne, leads army to Northern Arabia, puts his son Belshazzar as co-regent in Babylon
539 BC King Cyrus takes Babylon for Persia
Text of the Video:
Daniel Part 1 ( Hadassah ) Chapters 1-4
My Jewish name is actually Hadassah, which means “myrtle.” But I believe you may have heard of me under my Persian name, Esther, which actually means “Star”. By God’s amazing grace I was allowed to rise to the position of Queen of the Persian Empire, when I married my husband, King Xerxes. How did I come to be in Persia? You see, I am a descendant of the Jewish exiles that were taken by force from the land of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon in his second attack on Jerusalem in 597 BC. My parents died early in my life, and I was raised by my cousin Mordecai. Mordecai’s great great grandfather, Kish, who was a Benjamite was taken in the second deportation of exiles, along with Ezekiel, his wife Eliana, and many others, and were settled in the country of Babylon along the Chebar River in 597 BC.
After that, many things happened to our people! Back in Judah, eleven years later, King Nebuchadnezzer and the Babylonians came up against Jerusalem for the third and final time, burning and destroying the city and the temple. Judah, as a nation, was gone. Jeremiah had written to the Jewish remnant living in Babylon, telling our people to settle in! Plant gardens. Build homes. We would serve the land of Babylon for a total of 70 years! The Babylonian rule lasted until 539 BC. King Cyrus of Persia invaded the ruling city of Babylon and took the city by surprise, without a fight. After that, under the newly united Medes and Persians, a group of our people were allowed to return home to Judah, along with Joshua and Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple of Yahweh! The “Edict of Cyrus,” as it was called, was decreed exactly 70 years after the time that Babylon first attacked Jerusalem.
Cyrus was the first king of the Medo-Persian Empire. My husband, Xerxes, was the fifth emperor of the Medo-Persian empire. He was an impulsive man, but a good one. I would love to tell you how I became queen! Ah, but I have not been asked to tell my own story, but the story of another Jewish descendant who rose to power in both the Babylonian and Persian empires. His name was Daniel. Often Mordecai and I would pour over the copies of the scrolls of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel and discuss their meanings. You see, Daniel was a famous dignitary in the government of Persia! But I am ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning. Let’s go back to the land of Judah, back to Jerusalem… to 605 BC.
Daniel was a young prince of Judah, living in the city of Jerusalem along with three of his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. All of the young men were upper class nobles who were well-educated, and in the process of being trained to serve in the government of Judah, which was currently in the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim. Spiritually, the kingdom of Judah was in idolatry and decline. Politically, the country was on its last legs. Through many of the prophets, Yahweh had foretold of judgement upon Judah and Jerusalem. Seemingly overnight, things went from bad to worse. General Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon came up against Jerusalem and besieged it. In this first attack, he put the city under tribute to Babylon. As a bonus, he took many of the gold and silver articles from the Yahweh’s temple, and also, the young nobles… young men that he could train up to serve the Babylonian empire back home. Daniel and his friends were deported in the year 605 BC and put under the authority of the head eunuch in Babylon for three years of training.
All of the young Jewish men were stars...good-looking, intelligent, and wise. But, more importantly, they were also dedicated to Yahweh. And Daniel? Daniel loved Yahweh most of all. Now, the boys were given rich food and wine to drink, but the food given to them violated the dietary regulations for God’s people that were outlined in the Torah. What were they to do? Bold Daniel, requested that the four of them were only given vegetables to eat! Can you imagine that? How strong their faith must have been! But God granted them favor from the chief of the eunuchs, (what a miracle of Yahweh!) and they were allowed an experiment. They could eat vegetables and drink water for 10 days, and then he would examine their appearance. At the end of the testing period, upon examination, the Jewish nobles appeared stronger and healthier than the other young men being trained! They won! They were able to keep their special diet!
After three years, they were all brought before Nebuchadnezzer, who had now advanced to the position of king. Yahweh had done another miracle. He had given them knowledge, skill in literature and wisdom. Also, Daniel had been given the gift of understanding visions and dreams. After interviewing them, the king himself decided that none of the other young men could compare to those four! In the matters of wisdom and understanding, they were ten times better than the astrologers and magicians in his realm. So, they were chosen to serve before the king. (Dan 1)
One night about a year later, King Nebuchadnezzer had a disturbing dream, so disturbing that he could not sleep. He called for all the wise men in his realm, demanding they not only give the interpretation of the dream, but the contents of the dream itself! He was so insistent that he declared that if they could NOT do as he requested, he would cut them in pieces and burn their homes. However, if they could reveal the dream and it’s meaning, they would receive gifts and great honor. I can imagine this sent the wise men into a panic. No one really knows why he was so harsh in this matter, but many speculate that since he was a young king, he was trying to eliminate his father’s top advisors who might be disloyal. But Mordecai and I believe it was all Yahweh’s plan. When the king was reminded that what he had asked the wise men to do was humanly impossible, he became angry and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon, including our four young Jewish heroes.
But Daniel and his friends came to the rescue! How? First, he asked the captain of the guard who had arrested him, “What’s going on? Why is the decree so urgent?” Wisely, Daniel then went into the king and asked him for time to pray. After having his request granted, he went to his house, and shared the prayer request with his friends. That night, after they had prayed, Yahweh revealed the secret of the dream to Daniel in a night vision! Daniel immediately began to praise and thank God! What an amazing rescue! Just like Joseph had done, so long ago, Daniel went to the king with the news, being careful to give credit to Yahweh for revealing the contents of the dream, and the interpretation. (2:1-24) “He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. It was revealed to me, not because I am wise myself, but for the sake of our lives, and also to answer the questions of your heart.” (2:30)
Daniel went on to say, “The dream that was revealed was for the “latter days.” You, Oh, king, you were watching and behold, a great image!”( 2:31) The image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet were partly of iron and partly of baked clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then, the entire statue was crushed and mixed together. The wind blew all the pieces away, so that no trace of them was found. Then, the stone that struck the feet became a great mountain and filled the entire earth. ( 2: 24-35)
“This is the dream, now we (that is Daniel, and his 3 friends ) will tell the interpretation of it before the King.” Daniel declared. He went on to tell the king that Yahweh was revealing to Nebuchadnezzer what was coming in the future. The head of gold represented himself. The God of heaven had given the king of Babylon a kingdom, power, strength, and glory. After him, another kingdom of silver would arise but would be inferior, and then another one, of bronze would also rule over all the earth. Looking back, We know now that these kingdoms represent the Persian kingdom,( of which I was queen) and also the Greeks. After that, there would be an iron kingdom-- the Romans. That kingdom would be as strong as iron! That kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. In later years, that kingdom will be divided. And-just like the feet were a mixture of iron and clay, so too that kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile. It will always be divided. In the days of these last kings, God will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. It will consume the other parts of the statue, consuming the other kingdoms, and stand forever. We know now, it will be the kingdom of Messiah!
At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face before Daniel and declared that truly Daniel’s God was the God of Gods! The king honored Daniel, gave him many great gifts, and promoted him to ruler over the whole province of Babylon and also chief administrator of all the wise men! The king even gave promotions to his three friends, too! But Daniel, Daniel had risen to celebrity status!
I guess this must have all gone to Nebuchadnezzer’s head, because he decided to build a gold statue. Since the statue was made of gold, my guess is that the huge idol probably looked like him! The statue was 90 feet tall, and 9 feet wide! Can you imagine the amount of gold it took to build it? What a sight! It was set up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. As soon as it was finished, the king sent out invitations to all his officials to attend the dedication of the statue. It was a beautiful day, and the statue was stunning. All the men gathered before the statue and the king. Then a herald announced that the symphony was going to play music, and at a given moment, everyone was required to bow down to the gold image. Whoever would not bow down, would be thrown into the fiery furnace! The music played to a crescendo, and at its height, the people all fell down and worshipped the image.
At the next moment, some of the Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews of misconduct. They told the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, ( Daniel’s friends who were now known by their Babylonian names) refused to pay regard to the king! They would not bow down to the image that the king had set up! The king became very angry. Being knowledgeable with court intrigues myself, I am wondering if the Chaldean wise men had become jealous of the success of Daniel and his friends! Was he angry at the Chaldeans for tattling, or with the Jewish men for refusing to bow? Whatever the case, he gave them one more chance to change their minds, but they would not. They were convinced Yahweh would save them! But even if he did not, they said, they would not bow down to the image. (3:18)
At this news, the king became truly furious toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He told the guards to heat the furnace seven times hotter!! Well, I am sure you have heard the story! Mighty men of valor from the army were called to bind the Jewish men. They bound them tightly, and threw them into the furnace! The fire was SO hot, that the guards themselves were killed as they carried out their orders. After a time, the king, becoming curious about their fate, looked into the furnace. Behold! The men were walking, unbound, in the furnace! Not only that, there was a fourth man, whom the king called, Bar elahin, or “Son of God” Yeshua, Jesus, was walking there with them! When the King called to the men to come out, they walked out, unaffected! Their hair was not singed, nor their bodies burned! Even their clothes were unaltered, and they did not smell of smoke in the least!
The King was so overwhelmed with this miracle that he made a decree that no one could speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! And anyone that tried to mess with their worship of him, would be cut in pieces. Then he added, “because there is NO OTHER GOD that can deliver like this! The three “miracle men” were then promoted in the kingdom!
As Mordecai had told me this story many times when I was a little girl, I later was sure this message was for me! It gave me strength in my days, to go before the king to plead for my people when it seemed all hope was lost. Yeshua was with me in my “fiery furnace” too! He promised to never leave us or forsake us, his people, … and he will walk with you in trials as well.
You may ask, Where was Daniel through all of this? No one knows! I suspect that he was out of the province on some faraway mission for the king. However, the plot formed by the enemies of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego was thwarted, and what was meant for evil, God used for good!
The next event in Daniel’s life is actually written on a scroll by King Nebuchadnezzer himself. It was written as an edict, which meant it would have gone all over the empire in 562 BC. The king was sitting at rest in his palace, when he had another dream that troubled him. As he had done before, he called the wise men of Babylon to interpret the dream, (at least this time he TOLD them the dream…) but none of them could do it. Finally, Daniel entered. By this time, Daniel was referred to as, “the master of the magicians.” But when he heard the dream, he certainly did not wish to be the one to tell the king the news. He gingerly went on to tell the dream and interpretation, which was strange indeed. It told of a great “tree” (the king himself) who was growing tall and prospering, bearing fruit, and providing a home for many animals. However, an angel, which was called a “watcher” came down from heaven, and cut down the tree (the king) , shaking its leaves and scattering its fruit. Only a stump of its roots was left. The interpretation? The king would be changed into a beast and would live that way for seven years, tied to a tree, and living in the grass of the field. Daniel relayed that Yahweh wished to humble Nebuchadnezzer, reminding him that HE was the one who had given him his kingdom! He would remain that way until he knew that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. His kingdom would be restored to him after he came to know that Heaven rules. Daniel advised the king that a humble attitude might change his future. He encouraged him, “ Be righteous, show mercy to the poor! The dream may possibly be a warning.”
One year went by and the king forgot about the dream. I am not sure just what was going through his mind, but the dream, which HAD been a warning, suddenly became true. Do you know what the king said in his pride? He said this. “Is this not Great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of My power, and for the honor of MY majesty?” While the words were still in his mouth, God reminded him of the dream. Within an hour, the king had been transformed into a beast. His hair grew like feathers, and his nails became as bird’s claws. He ate grass as oxen, and was hidden from men. (33) It is said that Daniel, himself, took care of the king during that time, but no one knows for sure.However, just as Yahweh had foretold, the king lifted up his eyes to heaven after seven years, and blessed the Lord of Heaven. He finally praised Yahweh, who lives forever!
After this experience with God, Nebuchadnezzer was never the same. He had learned his lesson! He testified of God’s glory and power, his ways of truth, and ability to discipline the proud. He was completely restored back to his right mind and body, and reinstated as monarch over the kingdom for one more year. At his death, his son, Evil-Merodach (what a name!) became king in 562 BC. (2 Kings 25:27)
During the lifetime of King Nebuchadnezzer much happened to my people, Israel. The captives who had been taken by the Babylonians during the three sieges of Jerusalem were settling into life in Babylon now. Mordecai’s great-great grandfather Kish and Ezekiel the prophet, along with the group of exiles living by the Chebar River, were hanging on to hope, as were other pockets of Jewish people settled in other places across the realm. Our people had been told by the prophet Jeremiah in a letter, that the Jewish remnant would be in Babylon for 70 years. They were not surprised when Jerusalem fell in 586 BC. The country was gone. But the captives had hope! This hope would be realized 24 years after the death of King Nebuchadnezzer, shortly after the Persians defeated Babylon. But what would become of Daniel? Be sure to come back for part 2!
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