Finally, Daniel enters: At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream. Nebuchadnezzar's resort to Daniel establishes him as the king's trusted interpreter, the one wise man who has proven reliable. The reference to Daniel's Babylonian name (Belteshazzar) and the king's claim that he is named after the name of my god represents a subtle shift in the king's theology; he now names the god as his own, suggesting some level of religious convergence or at least respect for multiple divine traditions. The crucial phrase is that Daniel possesses the spirit of the holy gods—Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that Daniel has access to divine wisdom that transcends human learning. The king's respect for Daniel and reliance on him demonstrates the power of demonstrated faithfulness and competence; Daniel has proven himself trustworthy through previous service.

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