Daniel 2:12-28

A 12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 15  He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

B (16) Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

C (17-18) Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

D (19) Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision.

E (19b-20) Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

F (21-22) And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:  he giveth wisdom unto the wise,
and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

E’ (23) I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might,

D’ (23b) and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

C’ (24) Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon:

B’ (24b-25) bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

A’ (26-28a) The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.

Note: The central section may itself have a chiastic structure

F (21-22)

a. And he changeth the times and the seasons:

b. he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:

c. he giveth wisdom unto the wise,
and knowledge to them that know understanding:

b’. He revealeth the deep and secret things:

a’. he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Note: One reason for thinking this is that aa’ are linked is Genesis 1 where we are told that the lights are for seasons.

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