Daniel Chapter 4 Verse 19

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

Even Daniel was reluctant to tell the king what his dream meant.

The Aramaic here literally reads “He was stupefied for one hour” but the word for “hour” can simply mean a period of time.

This verse gives us an interesting picture of the relationship between these two men.

Daniel was not happy in the least about the bad news he had for the king. Daniel’s loyalty was genuine.

But maybe he just delayed because he was scared? It seems more reasonable to believe that Daniel’s reluctance arose from his feelings for the king rather than from his fear of the king.

Notice the concern of the king for Daniel as well. “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.”

Their relationship seems to have involved mutual respect and perhaps mutual affection. Their concern seems genuine.

When Daniel at last begins to speak, he voices the fruitless wish that the dream might apply instead to Nebuchadnezzar’s worst enemies.

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