The First Empire: A Head of Gold
2: 37-38
The first empire, a head of gold DIG: How does Dani’el start describing the statue? What does the king of kings mean? What significance was there in the fact that the Babylonian Empire was granted to Nebuchadnezzar by the same God who, in His omniscience, had revealed the dream and interpretation to Dani’el. What did the head of gold symbolize?
REFLECT: There is only room for one person to sit on the throne of your heart. Who sits there for you? Nebuchadnezzar was “ruler over all.” Do you allow Messiah to be “ruler over all” in every part of your life? Or are there parts of your life that you refuse to turn over to Him? What has ADONAI given to you? For better or for worse, what have you done with it?
ADONAI begins to reveal to Dani’el the initial revelation regarding the Times of the Gentiles (see Ao – The Times of the Gentiles). He provides an initial overview of the four empires that will govern this period. As the book progresses, God’s revelation becomes increasingly specific, reaching their climax in Chapter 12.
Your Majesty, you are the king of kings (2:37a). As such, the Babylonian ruler was the supreme monarch over all the kings of his generation. With a word he could take the life of virtually anyone he chose, such was his power. On the stage of history he was the great figure of his day, not only in his own eyes but in the view of the whole world. Left to himself, he might have taken pride in his position in history.77 Yet, Dani’el was quick to remind Nebuchadnezzar that his position was bestowed to him from ADONAI who had granted him dominion and honor. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory (2:37b). In other words, the Babylonian Empire was granted to the king by the same God who, in His omniscience, had revealed the dream and interpretation to Dani’el (2:28).
Not only that, ADONAI had placed in his hand all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they lived, God made the king ruler over them all (2:37c). Some have viewed this statement as hyperbole because Nebuchadnezzar did not actually control the entire world, including humans, animals, and birds. The clear implication, however, is that Ha’Shem gave him the greatest authority over the whole inhabited earth that had ever been given to a ruler. The fact that he did not choose to take control of the entire planet is beside the point. If he wanted to, Nebuchadnezzar could have kept on conquering until he ruled over every part of the known world. God guaranteed his success. Later, Daniel affirmed the king’s absolute authority when he said: O King, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted humbled, he humbled (Dani’el 5:18-19).
Babylon was the First Gentile Empire. Then Dani’el said to Nebuchadnezzar, your majesty, you are the head of gold (2:32 and 38). Obviously, this made the king very happy. When viewed from head to foot, the various metals decreased in value, but increased in strength. For the decrease in value, three points can be made. First, the value of the materials decreased from the head downward. Silver is less valuable than gold, bronze is less valuable than silver; iron is less valuable than bronze; and clay is less valuable than iron. Second there is a decrease in position moving from the head to the feet, with the head being the most important element of the statue. Third, there is a decrease in the specific gravity of the elements. Pure gold has a specific gravity of 19.32; silver has a specific gravity 10.5; bronze has a specific gravity of between 8.7 and 8.4; and iron has a specific gravity 7.7. This shows that the statue was top-heavy and weak at its feet.
Two contemporary prophets made the same point regarding Nebuchanezzar’s unique rulership. Jeremiah stated in 27:5-8: With My great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. Now I will give all your countries into the hands of My servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him. If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares ADONAI, until I destroy it by his hand.
Ezeki’el wrote in 26:7: For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army.78 Therefore, Dani’el interpreted the meaning of the head of gold as being King Nebuchadnezzar himself, the head of the Babylonian Empire. When Ha’Shem destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC, the Times of the Gentiles began. As a result, Babylon was the first of Four Gentile Empires to dominate Jerusalem. The next empire is represented by the statue’s chest and arms of silver (to see link click Az – The Second Empire: Chest and Arms of Silver).
Dear heavenly Father, praise You for how absolutely wonderful and powerful You are and will always be throughout all eternity! You are the Almighty, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says ADONAI Elohim, “Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 4:8 also 4:8, 11:17, 15:3, 16:7,14, 19:6,15, 21:22)! You are the King of kings. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). You, mighty Father, will reign through all eternity. Then the seventh angel trumpeted, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of ADONAI and of His Anointed One. And He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15)! Wow! A life of eternal joy and peace will replace earth’s trials, for me. He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Nor shall there be mourning or crying or pain any longer, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Lord, help me not look for earthly power nor rewards, but to keep my heart focused on pleasing You. Rulers and leaders come and go, but You reign eternally! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and the power of His resurrection. Amen
Not only that, ADONAI had placed in his hand all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they lived, God made the king ruler over them all (2:37c). Some have viewed this statement as hyperbole because Nebuchadnezzar did not actually control the entire world, including humans, animals, and birds. The clear implication, however, is that Ha’Shem gave him the greatest authority over the whole inhabited earth that had ever been given to a ruler. The fact that he did not choose to take control of the entire planet is beside the point. If he wanted to, Nebuchadnezzar could have kept on conquering until he ruled over every part of the known world. God guaranteed his success. Later, Daniel affirmed the king’s absolute authority when he said: O King, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted humbled, he humbled (Dani’el 5:18-19).
Babylon was the First Gentile Empire. Then Dani’el said to Nebuchadnezzar, your majesty, you are the head of gold (2:32 and 38). Obviously, this made the king very happy. When viewed from head to foot, the various metals decreased in value, but increased in strength. For the decrease in value, three points can be made. First, the value of the materials decreased from the head downward. Silver is less valuable than gold, bronze is less valuable than silver; iron is less valuable than bronze; and clay is less valuable than iron. Second there is a decrease in position moving from the head to the feet, with the head being the most important element of the statue. Third, there is a decrease in the specific gravity of the elements. Pure gold has a specific gravity of 19.32; silver has a specific gravity 10.5; bronze has a specific gravity of between 8.7 and 8.4; and iron has a specific gravity 7.7. This shows that the statue was top-heavy and weak at its feet.
Two contemporary prophets made the same point regarding Nebuchanezzar’s unique rulership. Jeremiah stated in 27:5-8: With My great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. Now I will give all your countries into the hands of My servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him. If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares ADONAI, until I destroy it by his hand.
Ezeki’el wrote in 26:7: For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army.78 Therefore, Dani’el interpreted the meaning of the head of gold as being King Nebuchadnezzar himself, the head of the Babylonian Empire. When Ha’Shem destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC, the Times of the Gentiles began. As a result, Babylon was the first of Four Gentile Empires to dominate Jerusalem. The next empire is represented by the statue’s chest and arms of silver (see Az – The Second Empire: Chest and Arms of Silver).
Dear heavenly Father, praise You for how absolutely wonderful and powerful You are and will always be throughout all eternity! You are the Almighty, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says ADONAI Elohim, “Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 4:8 also 4:8, 11:17, 15:3, 16:7,14, 19:6,15, 21:22)! You are the King of kings. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). You, mighty Father, will reign through all eternity. Then the seventh angel trumpeted, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of ADONAI and of His Anointed One. And He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15)! Wow! A life of eternal joy and peace will replace earth’s trials, for me. He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Nor shall there be mourning or crying or pain any longer, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Lord, help me not look for earthly power nor rewards, but to keep my heart focused on pleasing You. Rulers and leaders come and go, but You reign eternally! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and the power of His resurrection. Amen
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