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informed the king of what Daniel desired。 So the king bid them
delay the slaughter of the magicians till he knew what Daniel's
promise would come to； but the young man retired to his own
house； with his kinsmen； and besought God that whole night to
discover the dream； and thereby deliver the magicians and
Chaldeans； with whom they were themselves to perish； from the
king's anger； by enabling him to declare his vision； and to make
manifest what the king had seen the night before in his sleep；
but had forgotten it。 Accordingly； God； out of pity to those that
were in danger； and out of regard to the wisdom of Daniel； made
known to him the dream and its interpretation； that so the king
might understand by him its signification also。 When Daniel had
obtained this knowledge from God； he arose very joyful； and told
it his brethren； and made them glad； and to hope well that they
should now preserve their lives； of which they despaired before；
and had their minds full of nothing but the thoughts of dying。 So
when he had with them returned thanks to God； who had
commiserated their youth； when it was day he came to Arioch； and
desired him to bring him to the king； because he would discover
to him that dream which he had seen the night before。
4。 When Daniel was come in to the king； he excused himself first；
that he did not pretend to be wiser than the other Chaldeans and
magicians； when； upon their entire inability to discover his
dream； he was undertaking to inform him of it； for this was not
by his own skill； or on account of his having better cultivated
his understanding than the rest； but he said； 〃God hath had pity
upon us； when we were in danger of death； and when I prayed for
the life of myself； and of those of my own nation； hath made
manifest to me both the dream； and the interpretation thereof；
for I was not less concerned for thy glory than for the sorrow
that we were by thee condemned to die； while thou didst so
unjustly command men； both good and excellent in themselves； to
be put to death； when thou enjoinedst them to do what was
entirely above the reach of human wisdom； and requiredst of them
what was only the work of God。 Wherefore； as thou in thy sleep
wast solicitous concerning those that should succeed thee in the
government of the whole world； God was desirous to show thee all
those that should reign after thee； and to that end exhibited to
thee the following dream： Thou seemedst to see a great image
standing before thee； the head of which proved to be of gold； the
shoulders and arms of silver； and the belly and the thighs of
brass； but the legs and the feet of iron； after which thou sawest
a stone broken off from a mountain； which fell upon the image；
and threw it down； and brake it to pieces； and did not permit any
part of it to remain whole； but the gold； the silver； the brass；
and the iron； became smaller than meal； which； upon the blast of
a violent wind； was by force carried away； and scattered abroad；
but the stone did increase to such a degree； that the whole earth
beneath it seemed to be filled therewith。 This is the dream which
thou sawest； and its interpretation is as follows： The head of
gold denotes thee； and the kings of Babylon that have been before
thee； but the two hands and arms signify this； that your
government shall be dissolved by two kings； but another king that
shall come from the west； armed with brass； shall destroy that
government； and another government； that shall be like unto iron；
shall put an end to the power of the former； and shall have
dominion over all the earth； on account of the nature of iron；
which is stronger than that of gold； of silver； and of brass。〃
Daniel did also declare the meaning of the stone to the king （18）
but I do not think proper to relate it； since I have only
undertaken to describe things past or things present； but not
things that are future； yet if any one be so very desirous of
knowing truth； as not to wave such points of curiosity； and
cannot curb his inclination for understanding the uncertainties
of futurity； and whether they will happen or not； let him be
diligent in reading the book of Daniel； which he will find among
the sacred writings。
5。 When Nebuchadnezzar heard this； and recollected his dream； he
was astonished at the nature of Daniel； and fell upon his knee；
and saluted Daniel in the manner that men worship God； and gave
command that he should be sacrificed to as a god。 And this was
not all； for he also imposed the name； of his own god upon him；
＇Baltasar；＇ and made him and his kinsmen rulers of his whole
kingdom； which kinsmen of his happened to fall into great danger
by the envy and malice ＇of their enemies＇； for they offended the
king upon the occasion following： he made an image of gold； whose
height was sixty cubits； and its breadth six cubits； and set it
in the great plain of Babylon； and when he was going to dedicate
the image； he invited the principal men out of all the earth that
was under his dominions； and commanded them； in the first place；
that when they should hear the sound of the trumpet； they should
then fall down and worship the image； and he threatened； that
those who did not so； should be cast into a fiery furnace。 When
therefore all the rest； upon the hearing of the sound of the
trumpet； worshipped the image； they relate that Daniel's kinsmen
did not do it； because they would not transgress the laws of
their country。 So these men were convicted； and cast immediately
into the fire； but were saved by Divine Providence； and after a
surprising manner escaped death； for the fire did not touch them；
and I suppose that it touched them not； as if it reasoned with
itself； that they were cast into it without any fault of theirs；
and that therefore it was too weak to burn the young men when
they were in it。 This was done by the power of God； who made
their bodies so far superior to the fire； that it could not
consume them。 This it was which recommended them to the king as
righteous men； and men beloved of God； on which account they
continued in great esteem with him。
6。 A little after this the king saw in his sleep again another
vision； how he should fall from his dominion； and feed among the
wild beasts； and that when he halt lived in this manner in the
desert for seven years； （19） he should recover his dominion
again。 When he had seen this dream； he called the magicians
together again； and inquired of them about it； and desired them
to tell him what it signified； but when none of them could find
out the meaning of the dream； nor discover it to the king； Daniel
was the only person that explained it； and as he foretold； so it
came to pass； for after he had continued in the wilderness the
forementioned interval of time； while no one durst attempt to
seize his kingdom during those seven years； he prayed to God that
he might recover his kingdom； and he returned to it。 But let no
one blame me for writing down every thing of this nature； as I
find it in our ancient books； for as to that matter； I have
plainly assured those that think me defective in any such point；
or complain of my management； and have told them in the beginning