The First Dream and Its Interpretation (Part 3)

While Pharaoh’s dreams are a detail in the main story line of Yoseph’s rise to power, the story in Sefer Daniel stresses that God’s interest in communicating with Nevukhadnetzar is the primary purpose of his dreams. Nonetheless, since Nevukhadnetzar is such a sinful person, God cannot communicate with him, and therefore the dream is forgotten and Daniel is necessary. Daniel thanks God both for the content of Nevukhadnetzar’s dream and for revealing it to Daniel. God’s knowledge of man’s secrets is viewed differently by Iyov, who believes this reality damns man to fail in judgement before God – and by David as expressed in Tehillim, who views the knowledge as an opportunity for man to do better.