דניאל, פרק ב׳, פסוק מ״ו

The sudden revelation of a profound secret can bring even the most powerful ruler in the world to a state of complete awe and submission before another human being. Overwhelmed by what he has just heard, King Nebuchadnezzar falls on his face and bows down to Daniel [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. The king goes so far as to order a physical meal offering and wine libations to be presented before him [מצודת דוד].

This extreme reaction stems from Nebuchadnezzar's realization that such extraordinary wisdom could not possibly originate from a normal human mind [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In the ancient world, it was common to attribute divinity to anyone who displayed supernatural abilities. Viewing Daniel as the very embodiment of holiness and a direct channel connecting God to humanity [מלבי״ם], the king wishes to turn him into a deity and worship him [רש״י, אבן עזרא]. By commanding these sacrifices, Nebuchadnezzar intends to demonstrate to all nations that Daniel has transcended ordinary human limits and ascended to a divine status [יוסף אבן יחיא].

However, there is a subtle but crucial detail in how events unfold. While the king gives the command for the offerings and libations to be brought, the act is never actually carried out. The primary approach among commentators is that Daniel firmly refuses to accept this form of worship. He actively stops the king from performing the sacrifice, ensuring that all honor and reverence are directed exclusively toward God, who is the true source of the revealed secret [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, יוסף אבן יחיא, חומת אנך]. Unlike the physical gifts mentioned later, which the king successfully gives to Daniel, the command for the sacrifices remains only a spoken intention. This highlights that while Nebuchadnezzar fully intended to worship him, the action is entirely blocked by Daniel himself [אלשיך].