Daniel 2:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He states that your dream and the visions you had on your bed were as follows: You, O king, contemplated on your bed what would follow this. The One who uncovers hidden truths revealed to you what is to come. He refers to a common belief that dreams linger above the head, possibly due to the mind's focus or because the eyes symbolize the head. His words indicate that you have instigated this revelation. Rather than simply saying that God has disclosed this to you, he emphasizes that you have reflected on what lies ahead. After seizing control of the world, he deliberated on whether to expand his reign over everything or face mortality. The vastness of authority often blinds us to our own mortality.

The mindset of the Babylonian ruler was as follows: having achieved victory over all nations and subjugated every king, he believed there was no power capable of challenging Babylon's reign. Yet, Daniel reveals the identity of the force that would eventually bring down his kingdom.

Have you, O king, begun to ponder on your bed what will come to pass after these events? Unlike 'after this,' the Septuagint solely translates it as 'after the last days.' If this were the case, we would need to examine where it is mentioned regarding the last days and admonish those who believe that the world will not come to an end. The days could not rightly be termed the last days if the world were everlasting. Concerning the phrase 'thou, O king, didst begin to think,' it reveals the causes behind the dream, indicating that God has disclosed future mysteries to him, that the king himself wished to understand what was to come.

The Prophet declares, 'As you contemplated in solitude, you reflected on whether you would have eternal life or, in accordance with human law, be bound to death. You desired to understand the things that had not yet come to pass, and “He that openeth the mysteries shall declare them to be.”' Thus, the Prophet proclaims the oneness of God, dismissing the allure of polytheism. He also expresses humility regarding his own thoughts, for he states: