Page 49 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the
feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly
broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle among

themselves with the seed of mem: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron
is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break to pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was

cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the
clay the silver and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come
to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”

As the interpretation unfolded the kaleidoscope of the royal countenance registered
still further changes. Ecstasy at the dream’s recovery shaded into amazement at the
young prophet moved triumphantly on without the suggestion of doubt or hesitation
until he had gained full mastery over the matter. The autocrat’s astonishment gave place

to unaccountable fear of some unknown god and a sense of reverence to the remarkable
young man who stood before him. During the course of Daniel’s speech ha had run the
whole gamut of emotions and expressions from proud contempt to humble adoration.

Now the mighty Nebuchadnezzar almost plunged from his throne as he prostrated
himself on his face and worshipped Daniel, crying out to the palace attendants to bring
an oblation of sweet incense to be offered before him. Embracing Daniel’s feet, he
declared with broken voice: “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord

of kings and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.”
“Yea, verily, O King, Jehovah is the God, the Lord, the Revealer, therefore worship
thou Him, and desist from any reverence toward me.” With those words he stooped and
assisted the King back on his feet.

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The news, good news, flew on the wings of the wind. Out from the palace the word
sped that the King’s dream had been recovered and interpreted and that the edict was

lifted and the wise men of Babylon saved from the terrible fate that threatened them.
Not only was there great rejoicing in the homes of the Magi, but the whole city breathed
a sigh of relief. The question was on every tongue: “Who was it that was able to perform

the miracle?”

The question was answered by the King himself, who sent forth a proclamation, that
Belteshazzar, one of the young men of the captivity of Judah, was now promoted to be
premier over the whole empire of Babylon, and the governor over all of the Magi.

The King’s attachment to the young Hebrew was such as befitted the emotional