Daniel 7:1

In the first year of Belshazzar The visions (c. 7 12) are not a continuation of the narratives (c. 1 6), but form a series by themselves: the author accordingly no longer adheres to the chronological order which he has hitherto followed, but goes back to a date anterior to that of ch. 5 (see Daniel 5:30). In view of what was said at the beginning of ch. 5 it is, of course, impossible to estimate the -first year" of Belshazzar in years b.c.

had lit. saw.

visions of his head upon his bed The same phrase in Daniel 2:28.

then he wrote the dream With reference to the sequel (Daniel 7:2 ff.), in which Daniel speaks in the first person, and which in these words is represented as having been committed to writing by Daniel himself. The first person (with the exception of Daniel 10:1) continues from Daniel 7:2 to the end of the book.

the sum of words (or things)] contained in the revelation, i.e. its essential import.