Daniel 2

“And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was…” Naming Nebuchadnezzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dream, dreamed, king. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew…” Naming Chaldeans and Syriack keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dream, interpretation, king. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include certainty, gain, gone. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter…” Naming Chaldean and Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include king, dwelling, except. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.” Naming Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay…” Naming Arioch and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the…” Naming Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:” Naming Azariah and Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not…” Naming Babylon and Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Naming Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:” Naming Blessed and Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise…” The line’s distinctive content terms include kings, changeth, giveth. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include darkness, deep, dwelleth. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of…” Naming Arioch and Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men…” Naming Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,” The line’s distinctive content terms include arms, belly, brass. Its relationship to verses 31 and 33 shows what work it does in this passage.

“His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff…” The line’s distinctive content terms include became, brass, broken. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dream, interpretation, king. Its relationship to verses 37 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a…” Naming Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of…” Naming Babylon and Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of…” Naming Daniel and Abed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.