He was given an interpretation of a dream he had where he saw a ram and goat. He additionally interpreted the 'handwriting on the wall,' written by the finger of God, that prophesied the end of the Babylonian empire (chapter 5) and the start of the Persian Empire. This tree represented the king's life of vanity and self-promotion and his punishment of receiving the mind of an animal for seven years.ĭaniel was also given the interpretation of his own dream of four great beasts which are symbolic of world-ruling empires (chapter 7). Daniel also interpretred the king's dream of a large tree cut down (chapter 4). The image represents world empires from the time of Babylon to the End Time just before Jesus' return (chapter 2). He interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a large image of a man. He soon became known for his understand of 'visions and dreams.' The prophecies interpreted by (or given to) him include the following. At an early age, he and his three friends received positions as 'wise men' serving the king. He received special training in the royal court of Babylon. The Jewish historian Josephus alludes to this fact in his book on the history of the Jews (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 10). It is in Babylon that Daniel and his three friends, out of a tradition of kings, are likely made eunuchs for life. They are transported to Babylon while still children (Daniel 1:2 - 4, 6). It was during King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon's first of three attacks against Jerusalem that he and his three friends (their Chaldean or Babylonian names were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) become captives. His name means 'judgment of God' or 'God my judge.' He was born into Judah's royal family and was likely a relative of King Zedekiah. Daniel will be the next life we will review in our timeline.

Timeline graph in the book of daniel