Part One
Daniel 4:1–18
I, Nebuchadnezzar was living at peace. One night I had a frightening dream. So I called the wise men of Babylon to my palace. They were to tell me the meaning of my dream. But they had no idea of what it meant.
“At last Daniel came to me. He’s the man who’s been given the spirit of the holy gods. This is the dream I told to Daniel:
“There was a very tall tree on the earth. It grew strong and its top reached to heaven. Everyone on earth could see its beautiful leaves and fruit. This tree gave food to all the people. Animals rested in its shade and birds nested in its branches. As I looked on, a holy one from heaven came. This is what he cried aloud:
“ ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches. Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals run and fly away from it. Leave the tree’s stump and its roots in the ground. Give him the mind of an animal and let seven years pass. Then everyone will know that God rules over the earth.’
“Now, Daniel, tell me what this means.”
Questions: Describe the tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. What was left when the tree was cut down?