Daniel 2 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

1. Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream that he cannot remember (1)
2. His advisors fail to tell him the dream, so he orders their execution (2–13)
3. Daniel appeals for time, and God shows him the dream (14–19)
4. Daniel praises God (20–23)
5. Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar his dream and its meaning (24–45)
6. Nebuchadnezzar rewards Daniel and his friends (46–49)

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in Daniel’s prayer of thanksgiving in 2:20–23.