Daniel 2:46-49--Daniel Is Promoted

Daniel 2:46-49
English Standard Version

Daniel Is Promoted
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.

---

Despite all of Daniel's attempts to make sure that everyone in the process understood that the ability to have and interpret dreams did not come from him, but from the LORD who was God, Lord, and King over heaven and earth and all that is in them, Nebuchadnezzar still responds inappropriately by falling at Daniel's feet and worshiping him.  The king says that Daniel's God must be the God of gods and Lord of kings (he's still in a polytheistic mindset where God has proven Himself to be the best at this moment, but the king is not convinced at this point that the LORD is the only God and is the one who establishes and tears down kings and kingdoms.  He missed the entire point of his dream).  The king puts the focus on Daniel and how he is wiser and better than all the other wise men of Babylon combined.

For this reason, the king gave Daniel high honors and great gifts.  He made Daniel ruler over the province of Babylon (the province that contained the capital city), and made him chief prefect over all of the wise men of Babylon (he led and commanded all the other wise men).  Daniel used his power and influence to advance the careers of his three friends who prayed for him, and they were made administrators to help Daniel with the governance of affairs in the province of Babylon.  They took care of the day-to-day issues while Daniel stayed in the king's palace as one of his closest advisors.  It is hard to miss the paralllels between Joseph and Daniel.