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Potential Timeline? (Daniel 2:1)

In the third year [605 BC] of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. - Daniel 1:1 (WEB)

The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years [602 BC], that at its end they should stand before the king. - Daniel 1:5 (WEB)

At the end of the days [602 BC] which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. - Daniel 1:18 (WEB)

In the second year [604 BC?] of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. - Daniel 2:1 (WEB)

If you recall from chapter 1, we understand the opening siege to occur to occur in 605 BC, which is also understood to be the first year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (based on correlating Biblical information with other extrabiblical historical sources). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II

And then chapter 1 indicates that Daniel & his friends were in training for 3 years, which would place the end of that time around 602 BC. Chapter 1 seems to “end” with them having completed that training and being presented before King Nebuchadnezzar.

Though chapter 2 seems to take place in the second year King Nebuchadnezzar, which presumably would be 604 BC according to our dating scheme. If that’s the case, it seems perhaps a bit odd for Daniel to be seemingly presented “afresh” to King Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2, if he was already presented before him near the end of chapter 1. So what’s going on?

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Potential Timeline (Daniel 2:1)

Chapter 2 likely takes place before the end of chapter 1

End of chapter 1 would be a summary of what happened later

Regarding dates:

605-604 BC would be considered Nebuchadnezzar’s “ascension” year and not counted as his first full year
604-603 BC would be his first full year
603-602 BC would be his second full year

Lines up with ~602 BC being end of Daniel’s 3-year training period

While it’s possible that Daniel 2 is starting off about 1 year after the training period for Daniel & his friends, that seems less likely compared to an alternative understanding.

First off, the end of chapter 1 can easily be read as a concise summary of what happened after their training period. Thus, it seems possible that chapter 2 takes place before this summary at the end of chapter 1 (and quite possibly very close to the end of their training period, given the ending of chapter 2).

Secondly, the way reigns of kings are dated/counted by various cultures may not quite line up with how we might typically think about it, and given when Nebuchadnezzar seems to have become king, he likely didn’t have a “complete” year then. Thus, 604-603 BC would likely have been considered the first true year of his reign, with 603-602 BC being his second proper year. That would line up with being near the end of Daniel’s 3-year training period.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_calendar for more on Babylonian calendar systems.

“Nebuchadrezzar’s second year would be that which began in March/April 603 BC. Hebrew usage, which reckoned fractions of a year as a full year, would have referred to this as the king’s third year, and ‘three years’ (1:5) would have been said to have been completed” - Baldwin, J. G. (1978). Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 23, p. 95). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

“Probably sometime in 603 BC, Nebuchadnezzar’s reign began late in 605 BC. Babylonian records usually followed a system where year one of the king’s reign was the first full calendar year beginning after he took the throne. In Nebuchadnezzar’s case, 604 BC was his first year, so 603 BC would be his second year. The year he ascended to the throne—605 BC—was his accession year.” - Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Da 2:1). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

“The Babylonian method of dating the reigns of kings was to use the ascension-year dating system that did not count Nebuchadnezzar’s ascension year (September 7, 605 B.C. - April 1, 604 B.C.) as the first year of his reign. His ‘first year’ would have been April 2, 604 B.C. to March 21, 603 B.C., and his “second year” would have been March 22, 603 B.C. to April 9, 602 B.C. The events of chapter 2 occurred near the end of the three-year course of the study mentioned in 1:5, shortly after Daniel entered the king’s service. But it was officially the ‘second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.’” - Discovering Daniel (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0736988386/), chapter 1, p.39-40

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Chaldeans

Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be called to tell the king his dreams... - Daniel 2:2 (WEB)

Abram originally from a city in Chaldea (Genesis 11:28-31, 15:7; Nehemiah 9:7; Acts 7:4).
Killed some of Job’s servants (Job 1:17).
Specific people group who became main “heirs” to Babylonia

Chaldea <-> Babylonia largely became interchangeable terms.
Nebuchadnezzar was a Chaldean (Ezra 5:12).
Sometimes known to be “experts” in astrology & magic arts.

In verse 2, the king calls a variety of different people, although there is generally overlap in them all being involved in magical arts in some way. While we’ve technically already seen the word “Chaldean” here, I want to cover a bit more on them.

See https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Chald&version=WEB&resultspp=250 for Biblical references.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldea for more general historical background.

“Chaldeans (cf. the note on 1:4) here denotes experts in magic lore, a non-Babylonian use of the term. Herodotus (c. 450 BC) used the word in this sense. ‘The new slant to the word is easily explained as arising after the intrusion of the new Persian empire and religion, when “Chaldean” became a religious designation just as “Jew” became.’ These experts in dreams worked on the principle that dreams and their sequel followed an empirical law which, given sufficient data, could be established. The dream manuals, of which several examples have come to light,6 consist accordingly of historical dreams and the events that followed them, arranged systematically for easy reference. Since these books had to try to cover every possible eventuality they became inordinately long; only the expert could find his way through them, and even he had to know the dream to begin with before he could search for the nearest possible parallel.” - Baldwin, J. G. (1978). Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 23, p. 97). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

“The Hebrew term for “Chaldeans” was originally a designation for an Aramaic-speaking people-group in Babylon, so some biblical passages use “Chaldean” as a synonym for “Babylonian” (Ezra 5:12; Ezek 12:13). The label later became a became a technical term for people trained in astrology and so is sometimes translated “astrologers” “or “diviners.”” - Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Da 2:2). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

https://biblehub.com/interlinear/daniel/2-2.htm

Magician - https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2748.htm

Enchanter/Conjurer - https://biblehub.com/hebrew/825.htm

Sorcerer - https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3784.htm

Chaldean - https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3778.htm

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Aramaic

Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” - Daniel 2:4 (ESV)

Language change at this point from Hebrew to Aramaic through end of Daniel 7 (back to Hebrew for chapters 8-12).
Most of Old Testament originally in Hebrew (except for this part of Daniel and a few other verses).
Aramaic is language for people of Aram (modern day Syria).
Was the primary language at this time in Neo-Babylonian Empire.

It’s worth noting that at this point in the book, the original text language shifts from Hebrews to Aramaic until we get to chapter 8. Most of the Old Testament was originally written in ancient Hebrew, but this section of Daniel (and a few other places) have some verses in Aramaic.

Aramaic was the primary language of the Babylonian Empire during this time (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaic) and is the language of the Arameans (the people from Aram, or modern day Syria - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aram_(region)).

“With the reply of the ‘Chaldeans’ there is a language change in this verse from Hebrew to Aramaic, and the text continues in Aramaic as far as the end of chapter 7. Whereas AV, RV retain the indication of this change in the text, RSV, on the assumption that this was originally a marginal reference, relegates it again to the margin. This is the longest passage using Aramaic in the Old Testament, the others being Ezra 4:8–6:18; 7:12–26, and the gloss in Jeremiah 10:11.” - Baldwin, J. G. (1978). Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 23, p. 97). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

“From here to the end of ch. 7, the book is written in Aramaic instead of Hebrew. The presentation of Aramaic-speaking Chaldeans here provides a convenient means within the narrative to transition from the use of Hebrew to Aramaic. One possible reason for this switch is that Aramaic was the primary international language of the period. Since chs. 2–7 is meant to demonstrate God’s sovereignty over the nations, this part of the book needed to be readable to the whole empire—not just the Jews. In contrast, the apocalypses of chs. 8–12—written in Hebrew—were intended for a Jewish audience.” - Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Da 2:4–7:28). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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Questions (Daniel 2:1-13)

How does Nebuchadnezzar respond to the dream?

Why?

Let’s explore how Nebuchadnezzar responded to this dream (and as best as we can discern, why he responded that way):

His spirit was troubled (verse 1), and he was anxious (verse 3) to understand the dream, so he sought counsel (verse 2).

In general, he seems to be off to a good start. As we’ll see from the dream, he likely had good reason to be troubled. And seeking to understand the dream and seeking wise could is generally appropriate (even if there are issues with the “divination” kind of counsel he was seeking here).

He requested to be told both the dream and its interpretation (verses 5-9).

From verse 9, we get hints at “why” he might be requesting the dream (likely unusual) in addition to the interpretation - he’s concerned about being lied to regarding the meaning of the dream (which could be easy to do if someone were told the dream - they could easily make stuff up). So something about this dream is placing a high bar of truth for him, which is good.
I’ve read some things suggesting that one reason for wanting the dream itself is Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t remember it (other than feeling troubled), which culturally would be a bad omen. No clue if that is true or not, and the text itself doesn’t seem to really make such a possibility clear, but it’s an interesting idea.

He gives hard punishment for not being able to fulfill his request (verses 5, 12-13).

This stems somewhat from anger (verse 12) and is perhaps an overreaction (even if his advisors can’t fulfill this one request, throwing them all away, even if he could theoretically get more, seems rash in most situations). So we see some potential character flaws associated with a quick temper here.

“There can be little doubt that this dream reflected the fears of the Babylonian king, who had so recently come to the throne. ‘People who have unrealistic ideas or too high an opinion of themselves, or who make grandiose plans out of proportion to their real capacities, have dreams of flying or falling. The dream compensates for the deficiencies of their personalities, and at the same time it warns them of the dangers in their present course” - Baldwin, J. G. (1978). Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 23, pp. 102–103). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

God using dreams to communicate isn’t unusual, and there are several other places in the Bible that record God communicating through dreams. The story of Joseph in Genesis 40-41 is probably the other example closest to what we see here.

They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.”- Genesis 40:8 (WEB)
Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” - Genesis 41:16 (WEB)
That is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. - Genesis 41:28 (WEB)
The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. - Genesis 41:32 (WEB)
Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you. - Genesis 41:38-39 (WEB)

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Question (Daniel 2:10-11)

The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or Chaldean. It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” - Daniel 2:10-11 (WEB)

What does this reveal about the Chaldeans’

understanding of “gods” ?

They are right in that only a “god” could truly fulfill the king’s request.

But they seem to view “gods” as “distant”, inaccessible, which is one of the reasons for their “divination” type of approaches to try and reveal mysteries.

While we don’t “fully” dwell with God yet (1 Corinthians 13:12, Revelation 21:3), there is a sense where God did dwell with Jews (Exodus 25:8, Exodus 29:45-46) and dwells with us today (John 14:16-17, John 15:4-7, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 3:17, 2 Timothy 1:14, 1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:13). So this presents a very different contrast to these Babylonian beliefs - some kind of relationship exists to where hope for answers in a situation like this might exist. As we’ll see, God ultimately reveals the dream to Daniel, not these other magicians.

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Reading

Daniel 2:14-30

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Question (Daniel 2:1-30)

What does Daniel do in response to this situation?

There are several things Daniel seems to do up through this point in chapter 2:

Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. - Daniel 2:14 (WEB)

He responds with counsel and prudence. The words here don’t necessarily seem to have an easy mapping to English (https://biblehub.com/interlinear/daniel/2-14.htm), so you’ll see a good bit of variety in translations (https://biblehub.com/daniel/2-14.htm) - wisdom, tact, discretion, prudence, counsel, discernment are all various words that get used.

He seems to raise a question (Daniel 2:15) related to the rashness of the decree. There might be elements of trying to understand the situation and perhaps delay things to save people from the decree, giving time to rethink the whole situation.
Daniel seemed to make a request directly to the king (Daniel 2:16). That seems kind of unusual and risky, although it is interesting that Daniel seemed to give the king some hope for an answer (with Daniel just requesting some “time”), in contrast to the Chaldeans earlier basically declaring it as impossible. Where others might be seeing an impossibility, Daniel seems to see a possibility. While going directly to the kind seems a bit risky, the fact that Daniel was willing to try and give the king an answer could give him some favor with the king…and at least from Daniel’s perspective, the outcome couldn’t really be any worse than the death sentence he would already be under.
He requests of his friends to pray to God, requesting compassion/mercy (Daniel 2:17-18).
After the mystery of the dream was revealed to Daniel, he blesses God (Daniel 2:19-23).
Daniel then returns to give the dream and its interpretation (basically the rest of the chapter).
When asked if Daniel can give the dream and its interpretation, he gives credit to God (Daniel 2:27-30).

The “God in heaven” phrase (https://biblehub.com/interlinear/daniel/2-28.htm) could be a useful way for Daniel to communicate with his audience, as the concept of “heaven” could resonate with a culture heavily stooped in astrology.

“The ability to keep calm under severe shock and pressure, to think quickly and exercise faith in a moment of crisis, these are aspects of prudence and discretion seen in Daniel here” - Baldwin, J. G. (1978). Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 23, p. 99). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

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Questions (Daniel 2:20-23)

What do we learn about God from Daniel’s blessing?

What can we learn from how Daniel responds in this blessing?

Going basically line-by-line through Daniel 2:20-23 (WEB):

Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever;

The whole concept of “blessing” here brings with it something happy, joyous, favored. So the opening here starts off with praise to God.

for wisdom and might are his.

Declaring aspects of God’s power in both a conventionally “immaterial” (wisdom) sense and “physical” (might) sense.

He changes the times and the seasons.

Recognizing God’s sovereignty over the times of the world and its seasons.

He removes kings and sets up kings.

Recognizing God’s sovereignty over governing powers in this world.
It’s worth noting that this connects specifically to the dream. While Daniel might have already known this, this is something that could be learned from the dream as well.

He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.

Recognizing God giving wisdom & knowledge to people.

He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

Recognizing that God can see things that we cannot and always has light to be able to do so.

I thank you and praise you,

Returning to the concept of thanks & praise.

O God of my fathers,

Recognizing the historical situation that God has been working all through Daniel’s ancestors.

who have given me wisdom and might,

Recognizing God’s specific provision for Daniel.

and have now made known to me what we desired of you;

Recognizing God’s specific provision of the request.

for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Recognizing the larger context of the situation and how what God has revealed could be used/applied in the world.

It occurred to me when reading this that while this blessing visually might look a bit long, it’s not actually that different from some things I kind of do even relatively quickly in response to certain prayers being answered.

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Reading

Daniel 2:31-45

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Question (Daniel 2:31-38)

What is the first kingdom in this dream?

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Daniel 2:31-38 - First Kingdom

As for this image, its head was of fine gold… - Daniel 2:32 (WEB)

You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory. Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold. - Daniel 2:37-38 (WEB)

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Question (Daniel 2:31-43)

What are the second, third, and fourth

kingdoms in this dream?

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Empires After Babylon

Empire	Date Range
Medo-Persian	539-330 BC
Macedonian/Greek	330-146 BC
Roman	146 BC-476 AD

The table on this slide shows the timeline of empires (that ultimately controlled Judea) after the Babylonians. The Medo-Persian Empire is what immediately followed, which we’ll actually see later in Daniel. The Macedonian/Greek Empire followed next (largely started by Alexander the Great, and ultimately divided among four of his generals after his death) - other than some allusions that we’ll see in Daniel, the Bible doesn’t mention this must. The Roman Empire followed, which we don’t really have their rise covered in the Bible, but they are reigning during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry (this ties into the 5th kingdom being set up during this time).

*Dates on the slide largely cover the range when those empires ruled over Judea (Israel), though they obviously needed to rise to have power before then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Babylonian_Empire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_(ancient_kingdom)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_(Roman_province)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire

We aren’t given many details on the 2nd or 3rd kingdoms in this vision, but we are given more descriptive details of the 4th kingdom. As a way to potentially further solidify ties to this representing Rome, there are some details that correspond pretty well to key things about Roman history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire

“In the 3rd century, the Empire underwent a 49-year crisis that threatened its existence due to civil war, plagues and barbarian invasions. The Gallic and Palmyrene empires broke away from the state and a series of short-lived emperors led the Empire, which was later reunified under Aurelian (r. 270–275). The civil wars ended with the victory of Diocletian (r. 284–305), who set up two different imperial courts in the Greek East and Latin West.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Roman_Empire

“The terms Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire were coined in modern times to describe political entities that were de facto independent; contemporary Romans did not consider the Empire to have been split into two empires but viewed it as a single polity governed by two imperial courts for administrative expediency.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empire

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Roman_Empire,_AD_395.png for a map near the end of the Roman Empire.

Some later “early Christian” writers also seem to think the 4th kingdom here corresponds to the Roman empire:

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103526.htm - “empire which now rules” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus)
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0516.htm - search for “Romans” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolytus_of_Rome)
https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm - “refers to the Romans” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome)

“The latter power was divided into the two legs, corresponding to the eastern and western Roman empires, and then (after a very long time apparently) into the ten toes, a confederacy made up largely of European nations” - Amplified Topical Reference Bible (p.981 note)

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Question (Daniel 2:31-45)

What is the final kingdom in this dream?

“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” - Daniel 2:44-45 (WEB)

It’s clear from this passage that this final kingdom is one that God sets up to never be destroyed but one that will consume all others and remain forever. While it doesn’t necessarily explicitly state that this is some final “kingdom of God”, correlating with the rest of Scripture, it seems like this is indeed likely referring to God’s eternal kingdom.

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Jesus’ Initiates a Kingdom Through His Earthly Ministry

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” - Luke 1:31-33 (WEB)

From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” - Matthew 4:17 (WEB)

But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you. - Matthew 12:28 (WEB)

While some of the language in these verses is a bit ambiguous as to exact timeframes (https://biblehub.com/interlinear/daniel/2-44.htm), if we assume that the 4th kingdom in the vision was the Roman Empire, it would fall very much in-line that during the days of the Roman Empire is when Jesus “set up” His kingdom. You see Jesus (and John the Baptist) use “kingdom” language very frequently, and similar kingdom language is used elsewhere in the NT (https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=WEB&quicksearch=kingdom&begin=47&end=73&resultspp=250):

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” - Matthew 3:2 (WEB)
From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” - Matthew 4:17 (WEB)
As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ - Matthew 10:7 (WEB)
But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you. - Matthew 12:28 (WEB)
This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. - Matthew 24:14 (WEB)
Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.” - Mark 1:14-15 (WEB)
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” - Luke 1:31-33 (WEB)
Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were the twelve - Luke 8:1 (WEB)
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ But into whatever city you enter and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ - Luke 10:9-11 (WEB)
But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you. - Luke 11:20 (WEB)
“The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. - Luke 16:16 (WEB)
Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation; neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.” - Luke 17:20-21 (WEB)
Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near. - Luke 21:31 (WEB)
I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” - Luke 2:29-30 (WEB)
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.” - John 18:36 (WEB)
for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. - Romans 14:17 (WEB)
Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable. - 1 Corinthians 15:50 (WEB)
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love, - Colossians 1:13 (WEB)
But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom. - Hebrews 1:8 (WEB)
and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. - Revelation 1:6 (WEB)
The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!” - Revelation 11:15 (WEB)
I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. - Revelation 12:10 (WEB)

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Reading

Daniel 2:46-49

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Question (Daniel 2:46-49)

What are the results of this chapter?

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.” Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the king’s gate. - Daniel 2:46-49 (WEB)

Ultimately through this, God receives glory, and His servants (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) get rewarded. And a bunch of people don’t get killed.
While King Nebuchadnezzar does glorify God in a sense here, based on his subsequent actions and even some behavior related to bowing down to Daniel and presenting an offering, there does seem to be something “off” in his understanding of who God is in relation to mankind. There’s recognition of God’s abilities (which is important), but something seems to be missing.
Note that the placement of Daniel & his friends seems to set them up for future things that would be important.